United Kingdom → France

Driving in France when you know the United Kingdom

Differences first, worst-to-get-wrong first. Rules that match are folded away at the bottom.

What's different (15)

Which side of the road you drive on

Critical

United Kingdom · homeLeftChecked 3 Aug 2026

France · destinationRightChecked 3 Aug 2026 · official source

Speed limit on the motorway

Critical

United Kingdom · home70 mph — about 113 km/hChecked 3 Aug 2026

France · destination130 km/h — about 81 mph110 in rain. Lower limits are signed in tunnels and roadworks.Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source

Speed limit on country roads

Critical

United Kingdom · home60 mph — about 97 km/hSingle carriageway roads.Checked 3 Aug 2026

France · destination80 km/h — about 50 mphDepartments may sign 90 on some roads. Sections with two lanes in the same direction are 90 on those lanes.Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source

Speed limit in towns and cities

CriticalVaries by region

United Kingdom · home30 mph — about 48 km/hEngland and Scotland. Wales uses 20 mph as the default in built-up areas.Checked 3 Aug 2026

Wales20 mph — about 32 km/hThe default in built-up areas. Some roads are signed back up to 30.Checked 3 Aug 2026

France · destination50 km/h — about 31 mphCan be raised to 70 where signed. The Paris ring road is 70. Many city centres are signed lower.Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source

How much alcohol you may have in your blood

CriticalStricter than at homeVaries by region

United Kingdom · home80 mg/100ml — about 0.8 g/lEngland and Wales. Scotland uses a lower limit.Checked 3 Aug 2026

Scotland50 mg/100ml — about 0.5 g/lChecked 3 Aug 2026

France · destination0.5 g/l — about 50 mg/100mlChecked 3 Aug 2026 · official source

Whether you need an International Driving Permit

Critical

United Kingdom · homeNot requiredA full foreign licence is accepted on its own for visits.Checked 3 Aug 2026

France · destinationDepends on where your licence is fromEU and EEA licences are accepted as they are. Other licences must be in French or carried with an official translation or an International Driving Permit.Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source

Which side you overtake on

Important

United Kingdom · homeRightChecked 3 Aug 2026

France · destinationLeftOvertaking on the right is only for passing a vehicle turning left, or trams.Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source

Speed limit on a dual carriageway

Important

United Kingdom · home70 mph — about 113 km/hChecked 3 Aug 2026

France · destination110 km/h — about 68 mph100 in rain.Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source

Age below which a child needs a child seat

Important

United Kingdom · home12 yearsUntil age 12 or 135 cm tall, whichever comes first.Checked 3 Aug 2026

France · destination10 yearsA child under 10 must use a restraint suited to their size and weight.Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source

Winter tyres

Important

United Kingdom · homeNot requiredChecked 3 Aug 2026

France · destinationRequired where signs say soIn 34 mountain departments from 1 November to 31 March, marked zones require either four winter tyres (3PMSF marking) or snow chains on board. Zones are signed at their entrance.Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source

How you pay for motorways

Important

United Kingdom · home

Toll booths
City charges

Almost all motorways are free. The M6 Toll and several bridges and tunnels charge. London and Durham charge to drive in the city centre.Checked 3 Aug 2026

France · destination

Toll booths
Electronic tolls with no barriers

Most motorways are tolled. Newer free-flow sections (A13, A14, A79) have no barriers — pay online or at a tobacconist within 72 hours, or fines follow the number plate.Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source

Hands-free phone calls

Good to know

United Kingdom · homeAllowedThe phone must be in a holder or fully hands-free, and must not block your view.Checked 3 Aug 2026

France · destinationAllowed, with restrictionsEarpieces, earphones and headsets are all banned while driving. Only systems built into the car are allowed.Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source

Who has priority at a roundabout

Good to know

United Kingdom · homeTraffic already on the roundabout goes firstGive way to traffic approaching from your right, unless signs say otherwise.Checked 3 Aug 2026

France · destinationDepends on the signsAlmost all roundabouts have give-way signs, so traffic already on the circle has priority. On the rare unsigned ones, entering traffic from the right has priority instead — Place de l'Étoile in Paris works this way.Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source

Emergency number

Good to know

United Kingdom · home999112 also works and reaches the same service.Checked 3 Aug 2026

France · destination112Direct lines also work: 15 medical, 17 police, 18 fire.Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source

Typical fines

Minor

United Kingdom · home

Holding a phone — fine from 200 GBP, 6 points (Drivers who passed their test within the last 2 years lose their licence instead.)

Checked 3 Aug 2026

France · destination

Holding a phone — fine from 135 EUR, 3 points

Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source

Known on one side only (19)

What you must carry in the car

United Kingdom · homeNot yet verified

France · destination

Warning triangle
High-visibility vest

The vest must be within reach and worn if you leave a broken-down car on the road. Missing either is a 135 euro fine.Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source

Speed limit in rain or snow

United Kingdom · homeNot yet verified

France · destination

Motorway — 110 km/h
Dual carriageway — 100 km/h

Applies when rain or other precipitation is falling.Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source

Speed limit for drivers who passed their test recently

United Kingdom · homeNot yet verified

France · destination

Motorway — 110 km/h
Dual carriageway — 100 km/h
Country roads — 80 km/h

For the probationary period: 3 years after the test, or 2 with accompanied driving. Applies whatever the weather.Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source

Speed limit when towing a trailer or caravan

United Kingdom · home

Motorway — 60 mph
Dual carriageway — 60 mph
Country roads — 50 mph

Checked 3 Aug 2026

France · destinationNot yet verified

Alcohol limit for drivers who passed their test recently

United Kingdom · homeNot yet verified

France · destination0.2 g/lFor the whole probationary period. In practice this means do not drink at all.Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source

Priority to traffic coming from the right

United Kingdom · homeNot yet verified

France · destinationYes — traffic from the right goes first at unmarked junctionsAt an unmarked intersection, traffic from the right has priority. This catches out visitors — a car pulling out from a small road on the right may have the right of way.Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source

Height below which a child needs a child seat

United Kingdom · home135 cmUntil 135 cm tall or age 12, whichever comes first.Checked 3 Aug 2026

France · destinationNot yet verified

Youngest age a child may sit in the front

United Kingdom · homeNot yet verified

France · destination10 yearsExceptions: a rear-facing baby seat with the airbag off, no back seats, no rear seatbelts, or the back full of other under-10s.Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source

What the lines and painted kerbs mean

United Kingdom · home

Double yellow line — no parking. No waiting at any time, even without an upright sign.
Single yellow line — no parking during signed hours. The hours are on nearby time plates, not on the road.
Double red line — no stopping. Red routes. No stopping at any time.
Single red line — no stopping. Red routes. Applies during the times shown on nearby signs.
White zigzag line — no stopping. Marks the approach to a pedestrian crossing.

Checked 3 Aug 2026

France · destinationNot yet verified

How long you may drive on your own licence

United Kingdom · home12 monthsCounted from when you last entered Great Britain.Checked 3 Aug 2026

France · destinationNot yet verified

When you must switch your headlights on

United Kingdom · homeNot requiredHeadlights are required at night and when visibility is seriously reduced.Checked 3 Aug 2026

France · destinationNot yet verified

Parking on the pavement

Varies by region

United Kingdom · homeNo single national answer:

EnglandAllowedExcept London, where it is banned. Discouraged everywhere, and obstructing the pavement can be fined.Checked 3 Aug 2026

ScotlandNot allowedChecked 3 Aug 2026

WalesAllowedDiscouraged, and obstructing the pavement can be fined.Checked 3 Aug 2026

France · destinationNot yet verified

Parking facing against the traffic

United Kingdom · homeAllowedBy day only. At night you must not park facing against the traffic flow unless in a recognised parking space.Checked 3 Aug 2026

France · destinationNot yet verified

How far you must park from a junction or crossing

United Kingdom · home

A junction — 10 m

Advisory rather than a fixed law, except where markings say otherwise.Checked 3 Aug 2026

France · destinationNot yet verified

What happens if you park wrongly

United Kingdom · homeNot yet verified

France · destination

A fine
Towing

Obstructive parking can mean immobilisation and the pound, not just a fine.Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source

When winter tyre rules apply

United Kingdom · homeNot yet verified

France · destination1 November to 31 MarchChecked 3 Aug 2026 · official source

Snow chains

United Kingdom · homeNot yet verified

France · destinationRequired where signs say soChains on the drive wheels satisfy the mountain-zone rule if you do not have winter tyres. A specific sign can make chains compulsory on a given road.Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source

Low-emission zones

United Kingdom · homeIn many citiesLondon has its own ultra low emission zone. Clean air zones operate in Bath, Birmingham, Bradford, Bristol, Portsmouth, Sheffield and Tyneside, and Scottish cities have separate low emission zones. Most only charge vehicles that miss emissions standards.Checked 3 Aug 2026

France · destinationNot yet verified

Congestion charges

United Kingdom · homeIn some citiesLondon and Durham.Checked 3 Aug 2026

France · destinationNot yet verified

Same in both (5)

Youngest age you may drive — 17 years official source
Holding a phone while driving — Not allowed official source
Turning at a red light — Not allowed official source
Who must wear a seatbelt — Everyone, in every seat official source
Whether police can fine you on the spot — Yes — visitors must pay at the roadside official source