Tips for Driving in France
France is one of the world's most popular destinations with numerous attractions spread across the entire country. Get familiar with local rules, signs, and types of rental cars available before you embark on your journey.
Driver’s Checklist
- Warning triangle
- Headlight adjuster
- High visibility jacket. Required if you break down
- Unused breathalyser. It is required by law to carry an unused breathalyser.
Speed Limits
- Autoroutes: 130 km/h
- Dual carriageways: 110 km/h
- Main roads: 90 km/h
- Built up areas: 50 km/h
112 is the European emergency number
Park Smart
- Parked vehicles must be parked in the same direction as the traffic flow.
- On one-way streets, parking is permitted on both sides of the street.
- Paid Parking: Road signs will indicate the areas where parking is restricted and must be paid for, either at meters or auto machines, called ‘stationnement à la carte’.
Dos
- Keep an eye on your speedometer! France is full of unmarked police cars with mobile speed cameras on board.
- Buy your fuel off the motorway.If you want to have some holiday cash left to spend on goodies, look out for large hypermarkets as they’ve got the cheapest fuel.
- Look out for an old-fashioned rule known as priorité à droite. Which means that you have to give way to cars coming from the right - even if you are on a major road and they are on a minor.
- If you’re smart you’ll get a Liber-t tag. Do this before you travel on the autoroute. It’s linked to your bank account so you can dodge the queues and go straight through the automatic toll lanes labelled with an orange ‘t’.
Don'ts
Using the speed camera detector in your satnav is against the law. You could be slapped with a fine if you’re caught using one, so make sure you turn it off!
Don’t let kids sit in the front. By law, children under 10 are required to sit in the back - which saves on arguments.
Don’t use your horn in a built-up area. It’s a serious no-no, except in cases of immediate danger.
The drink drive limit in France is one of the lowest in Europe (0.05mg/ml) so, if you’re stopping for lunch in wine country, make sure there is a designated driver.
Using headlights is not mandatory all the time. It’s only required during bad weather and at night.
RENTING IN FRANCE
Car Rental Locations
You’ll find an Enterprise Rent-A-Car location perfect for your adventure.
- Airport: Begin the trip as soon as you arrive. Airports are usually located near major roadways that will allow you to get on the road quickly.
- Neighborhood: Great for day trips or to begin your journey after a visit to a major city.
- Train Station: Rent at a train station to explore a region further.
Legal Requirements for Driving in France
- Proof of ID – usually a passport.
- Minimum age to rent a vehicle is 21.
Roadside Assistance
We offer 24-hour roadside assistance where permissible. On motorways, however, only the official breakdown service (police and service vehicles) may be used. Make contact via orange emergency phones placed every 2 km.
Cross Border Regulations
- Renters picking up a vehicle in France will have unlimited travel in mainland France.
- Renters wanting to travel outside of the mainland to authorised countries must make arrangements directly with the Enterprise branch and must return the vehicle to a location in mainland France.
LOYALTY CLUB INFORMATION
Enterprise Plus
Include the Enterprise Plus number at the time of reservation to earn points on qualifying rentals in Europe. Members can redeem points for free rental days at thousands of participating Enterprise® locations worldwide.
Emerald Club
Emerald Club® makes the car rental experience faster with Priority Service. Include the Emerald Club member number at the time of reservation to earn credits toward free days on qualifying rentals.
Considering Taking A Road Trip To Another Country?
Check out all of our Driving Guides and learn the rules of the road for: