Before travelling to France, it is important to familiarise yourself with the rules of the road, especially as the country's road network is renowned for its good quality and is one of the densest in the world. Find out what rules you should follow, what documents you need to take and what you need to know about traffic rules in France in general

International car insurance policy “Green Card” for traveling abroad

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France is famous for its picturesque roads and high level of road safety. However, before you drive in this country, you need to familiarise yourself with the basic rules of the road, as well as know in what situations you can face fines.

It should be noted that the road network in France is of good quality and is one of the densest in the world. Most motorways (with blue signs) are tolled. National (green signs) and departmental roads are free. Traffic congestion is common, especially in and around major cities and during holidays. 

Basic rules of the road in France

The car is driven on the right side of the road. Overtaking is allowed only on the left. But there is a nuance: on roads with two or more lanes in each direction, you cannot drive in the left lane if the right lane is free.

As for the speed limit:

- in a settlement: 50 km/h;

- outside of a settlement: 90 km/h;

- motorway: 110 km/h;

- motorway: 130 km/h;

- minimum speed on the motorway: 80 km/h.

Also in France, it is mandatory to use dipped beam during the daytime in poor visibility conditions and when driving through tunnels. Children under 10 years of age are not allowed to ride in the front seat. A child seat or booster is required for children weighing less than 18 kg.

At the same time, do not forget that the use of seat belts is mandatory for all passengers. In case of violation of this rule, you may be fined 135 euros.

The main fines for traffic violations in France

Speeding - from 68 to 1500 EUR.

Improper parking - 17 EUR.

Violation of overtaking rules, running a red light - 135 EUR.

Failure to wear seat belts - from 46 EUR.

Talking on the phone without hands free - from 35 EUR.

The presence of alcohol in the blood is more than the norm and up to 0.8 ‰ - 135 EUR, over 0.8 ‰ - 4500 EUR and deprivation of rights for up to 3 years.

Failure to wear a reflective vest - 90 EUR.

No breathalyser (since November 2012) - 11 EUR.

A driver will have to pay about 17 EUR for improper parking.

By the way, in France, as well as in Ukraine, you can pay a fine online. This can be done here.

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Eco-sticker Crit'Air: what is it and who needs it?

The Crit'Air sticker (vignette Crit'Air), also known as the air quality certificate (certificat qualité de l'air), is mandatory in some cities in France.

Last year, it was not possible to enter 11 major French cities that had established low-emission zones without the sticker. Cities that require the sticker: Paris, Lyon, Aix-Marseille, Toulouse, Nice, Montpellier, Strasbourg, Grenoble, Rouen, Reims and Saint-Etienne.

The Crit'air sticker indicates the environmental class of a vehicle, which is determined based on air pollutant emissions.

There are six types of stickers:

- Crit'Air 0 (green): electric or hydrogen vehicles;

- Crit'Air 1 (purple): gas vehicles, plug-in hybrids, petrol vehicles registered from 1 January 2011 (Euro 5 and Euro 6);

- Crit'Air 2 (yellow): petrol vehicles registered from 1 January 2006 to 13 December 2010 inclusive (Euro 4) and diesel vehicles registered from 1 January 2011 (Euro 5 and Euro 6);

- Crit'Air 3 (orange): petrol vehicles registered from 1 January 1997 to 31 December 2005 inclusive (Euro 2 and 3), diesel vehicles registered from 1 January 2006 to 31 December 2010 inclusive (Euro 4);

- Crit'Air 4 (burgundy): diesel vehicles registered from 1 January 2001 to 31 December 2005 inclusive (Euro 3);

- Crit'Air 5 (grey): diesel vehicles registered between 1 January 1997 and 31 December 2000 inclusive (EUR 2).

You can check the information about your vehicle's environmental class and order a Crit'Air sticker online at this website.

Toll roads

France has a widely developed system of toll roads (péage). To pay, you use special points where you can pay in cash, by credit card or with special devices for automatic payment (télépéage). Fares depend on the distance travelled and the category of vehicle. Information about tolls and routes is available on the official websites of toll road operators.

The fact is that different companies are responsible for different roads and prices may vary depending on the weight of your car and its condition. You can learn more about the tolls on the road you need using a special map, which you can find here.

Documents required for driving in France

Driving licence;

Certificate of registration;

Technical passport;

Insurance certificate.

The last document is very important when driving a car in this country. Lack of insurance can lead to a fine of 3750 euros, and in case of a second offence, it will double. Therefore, we recommend that you prepare this document in advance before travelling to France. On the Visit Ukraine website, you can purchase a Green Card for travelling to many countries. It takes a few minutes to complete, but once you have this document, you eliminate all risks of violating the rules.

We remind you! Most major cities in Portugal have a convenient and efficient public transport system, but to get to know this beautiful and colourful country better, it is better to organise a flexible and leisurely car trip. Read more about the peculiarities of traffic rules, common fines and the cost of toll roads in Portugal here.

Want to know more? Read the latest news and useful materials about Ukraine and the world in the News section.

Darya Rogova is the head of the Visit Ukraine insurance department

A Green Card is not only a mandatory document for traveling abroad by car, but also a guarantee of financial security and safety for the driver and passengers. To avoid risks and fines, take out international insurance on the Visit Ukraine portal. We cooperate only with reliable insurance agents.