Drive in France
Do I need an International driver’s license ?
Any driver’s license written in Latin characters is accepted by car rental agencies for tourists – as long as it is valid.
French law requires an International Permit to accompany valid driver's licenses that are not in French. Canadian licenses are in French, and there is an exception for UK licenses.
What are the speed limits in France ?
Unless specified otherwise, the speed limits are :
- 50 kms/hr in cities
- 90 kms/hr in the countryside
- 130 kms/hr on the highways
In miles per hour, this is about :
- 30 miles/hr in cities
- 55 miles/hr in the countryside
- 80 miles/hr on the highways
Can I get a fine while renting a car in France ?
Yes, car renters are obliged by the law to provide your driver’s information in case there is an infraction during the rental period.
The car renters will also charge an administration fee for about 25 to 30€ per fine.
It is in your interest to pay the fine online as soon as received to avoid any late fees.
Can I get a highway toll pass included with my rental ?
We are sorry but highway toll pass is not available to foreign travelers in France.
You will need to pay each toll when you go through it with either coins/bills or with a credit card.
Is there a phone holder included with the car rental ?
We are sorry, it is not included. We warmly recommend getting one from home and testing it before departure.
Where is it best to buy gas in France ?
You will find gas available everywhere in France.
Please note that gas is much more expensive at highway resting areas, so fill-up before getting on the highway.
Gas is cheaper at supermarket stations (Leclerc, Super U, Auchan, Carrefour…) compared to traditional gas stations (Total, BP, Shell, …).
What is the best GPS to navigate in France?
We highly recommend using the Waze phone app, which is the best at including traffic, roadwork, and navigation options.
If you are used to Google Maps or Maps, they also work well in France.
Portable GPS like Garmin will not be as updated as the above and will end up being more expensive, so we do not recommend them.
Should a GPS be built into your rental car, we still recommend using Waze as many of these systems are not fully up-to-date and do not take into account roadwork and traffic.
