Driving in France

Information on Driving in France

Driving in France is easy most of the signs are the same as the UK.

The cost of fuel is about 10% cheaper than the UK but if you use the toll roads a lot then there is not much difference.

Before you go to France get a warning triangle, spare bulbs GB plate. Plus you need a disposable breathalyser twin pack at a cost of about 6 pounds.Make sure that it is legally compliant for use in France

Also you want the stick on headlight converters even if you are not driving in the dark.The French police were doing spot checks when we got off the ferry You could get an on the spot fine

The open road in France

The main things to watch about driving on the right is turning left and roundabouts.

You have to remember to look left instead of right like you do in the UK.

The roads in France are very straight and fairly quite by UK standards. The roads only gets busy in the main cities. If you are travelling long distances the toll roads are best but can work out expensive.

There are regular parking areas ever 10k where you can pull off with some facilities.

Every 25k there is fuel and full service facilities we found them better than UK motorway services.

Service Station

Something else I noticed this year is more speed cameras in rural areas, not on the scale of the UK.

The cameras have a clear warning sign before you reach them.

Most small towns and villages have free parking.

If not you seem to park on the pavement rather than the road.

Buying petrol or diesel in France is different than the uK they have very few roadside filling stations. Most fuel is sold at the large supermarkets 24 hours.

It is best to get your fuel before 7pm you can pay a cashier. After 7 you can pay by credit card not easy if you do not read French you could loose your card.Plus not all fuel pumps take UK cards.

Navigating in the rural area can be interesting you come to a crossroad.

It will have a good signpost showing four different villages none on your map.

One of the charms of driving in France is to get lost and find a hidden village or Chateau.

This year I got a sat nav which I use after I got lost trying to find our rented gite.Which was between two small villages on a unnamed road.it is much easier with the Sat Nav. The French post code areas are larger than in the UK so in remote areas you are on your own for the last half mile.If you are looking for your holiday gite on an unmarked road in the middle of nowhere.You are better using the Latitude and longitude this will get you to a few feet of your Gite.Google will convert any address for you.

One of the best things about driving in France is seeing the small villages and towns off the beaten track

The best reason to take the car to France.All the food and wine you can bring back.

Places to stay

Holiday Manor House 3 Bedrooms , 3 Bathrooms , Sleeps 8 Bayeux,Normandy

Bayeux: luxury, chic and charm (more Pastel) Beauty and authenticity are our passion; usability is our pleasure. Come live a few days or more of castle life with us, in our Orangery, which adjoins our small pure 18th century castle, located in an area of ??almost 2 hectares.

Elegant and timeless decoration inspired by the 18th century, the refinement of the detail, stone fireplaces, noble materials, fabrics of editors, antique furniture

Bayeux (7km), D-Day beaches (15km), * Deauville, Honfleur, Mont St. Michel and many others, * Castles, manor houses, gardens, fantastic landscapes, immense sandy beaches * Gastronomy, wines, markets, local specialties ...

Apartment of 160 m ² any comfort (underfloor heating 2nd generation, 2 bathrooms): Living room, dining room, equipped kitchen, master suite with bathroom, on the ground floor. 1st floor: 2 large bedrooms with cathedral ceiling, each with a large bed (160/200) and an old sofa, convertible into a comfortable single bed. A bathroom to share.

Private terrace with old-fashioned claustras, climbing plants, magnificent view of the Seulles valley, garden furniture and dining table, as well as free access to the gardens.

Find your Holiday cottage here

Keep Up To Date, With Most Recent Pages

For sale house for renovation Eymoutiers 87120 Limousin France

Fantastic Listed 16th Historical 4 Story House with Garage Situated in centre of medieval market town on Eymoutiers in the Limousin 87120 Stone and half-timber

Continue reading "For sale house for renovation Eymoutiers 87120 Limousin France"

House and land for sale Pyrenees-Atlantiques

LAND AND HOUSE FOR SALE IN THE BÉARN REGION, PYRÉNÉES-ATLANTIQUE Situated in the heart of the Béarn region in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques, a parcel of land

Continue reading "House and land for sale Pyrenees-Atlantiques"

Apartment for sale Villefranche sur mer

An apartment in a villa containing only 4 flats, Is offered for sale with splendid views over the bay of Villefranche/ Cap Ferrat Within 2 minutes away

Continue reading "Apartment for sale Villefranche sur mer"

House and Gite for sale Loubéjac in Dordogne

French property on 6,9 hectares of land with an attached forest and a source in a meadow with a pond. One house and its barn which has been turned into

Continue reading "House and Gite for sale Loubéjac in Dordogne"

Apartment to rent wth amazing view of Paris

Sunny apartment in south west area of Paris 16e/Boulogne; Last 12 floor of the building with a fantastic 360° view of Paris!!! With a big balcony, hardwood

Continue reading " Apartment to rent wth amazing view of Paris"

SAINT JEAN PIED DE PORT - SUR LE CHEMIN DE SAINT JACQUES DE COMPOSTELLE -PAYS BASQUE

In Saint Jean Pied de Port ( Basque country ), in the historic center, rue de la Citadelle, 30 m from the reception of the Pilgrim, is this beautiful Gite

Continue reading "SAINT JEAN PIED DE PORT - SUR LE CHEMIN DE SAINT JACQUES DE COMPOSTELLE -PAYS BASQUE"

A large family home with land for sale Juignac, Charente

A lovely partially renovated stone family house in the Charente region of France. This is very close to the town of Montmoreau and approximately twenty

Continue reading "A large family home with land for sale Juignac, Charente"

House for sale La Creuse, 23300: Limousin

Pretty, detached two-bedroom stone house in La Creuse, Limousin €118,000 negotiable plus Notaire’s fees Situated on a tiny lane leading to a footpath,

Continue reading "House for sale La Creuse, 23300: Limousin"

Vimy Ridge,WWl battlefield,photos and guide

Vimy Ridge famous WWl battlefield photos of our visit and our guide to the site

Continue reading "Vimy Ridge,WWl battlefield,photos and guide"

Montreuil sur Mer France,our visit old walled town

Montreuil sur Mer France a old town with ramparts photos of our visit and travel guide to the town.

Continue reading "Montreuil sur Mer France,our visit old walled town"

For sale converted barn St Sulpice les Feuilles, 87160, Haute Vienne

Stunning converted barn, St Sulpice les Feuilles, 87160, Haute Vienne Price €199,999 A lovely converted barn, set in a socially active and friendly hamlet

Continue reading "For sale converted barn St Sulpice les Feuilles, 87160, Haute Vienne"

For sale stone farmhouse Lot France

Semi-detached stone farmhouse located at the edge of a pretty village in the Lot. A great location for all the tourist attractions of the Lot and the

Continue reading "For sale stone farmhouse Lot France"

Montreuil sur Mer Citadel,photos and guide of the Citadel and ramparts

Montreuil sur Mer Citadel and ramparts photos taken on our visit to the fortress tourist information.

Continue reading "Montreuil sur Mer Citadel,photos and guide of the Citadel and ramparts"

For sale Solid and friendly house in the centre of a lively Vosgean village

Asking Price: 25000 Euros. A semi-detached house in the centre of a small but vibrant Vosgean village that is very friendly to non-French people.

Continue reading "For sale Solid and friendly house in the centre of a lively Vosgean village"

Kennels/Cattery for sale Villeneuve sur Lot, in Lot & Garonne

Successful Kennels/Cattery for sale currently run by couple in late 60’s. Premature sale due to health problems. The Kennels have been in existence

Continue reading "Kennels/Cattery for sale Villeneuve sur Lot, in Lot & Garonne"

Montreuil-sur-mer,a French town,travel guide,Hotels and cottages

Montreuil-sur-mer a French town travel guide.Find a hotel or gite accommodation in Northern France for your holidays

Continue reading "Montreuil-sur-mer,a French town,travel guide,Hotels and cottages"

House for sale 56480 St Aignan Morbihan

If you like fishing and healthy walks, this pretty house is located near lake Guerlédan and the canal from Nantes to Brest. You will enjoy its beautiful

Continue reading "House for sale 56480 St Aignan Morbihan "

For sale 6 bedroom house Mariol 03270 France

Beautifully renovated one story 6-bedroom house on private domain With a close view on Château de Mariol with shared pool (12 owners on the domain).

Continue reading "For sale 6 bedroom house Mariol 03270 France"

For sale large house La Doree Mayene 53190 France

Large detached 4 bed house (Grand Maison), with two bathrooms two large reception rooms Boasting original elegant open marble fire places, and above

Continue reading "For sale large house La Doree Mayene 53190 France"

For sale detached house Villefranche de Lonchat Dordogne

In the heart of the French wine region, a lovely detached modern house (built in 2011) With 120m2 living space. 3 bedrooms (one of which is en suite),

Continue reading "For sale detached house Villefranche de Lonchat Dordogne"

Honfleur Normandie,busy tourist town and port,hotels and cottages

Honfleur Normandie busy tourist port photos and travel guide of our visit.Book a hotel or a gite to rent for your holidays

Continue reading "Honfleur Normandie,busy tourist town and port,hotels and cottages"

Detached house for sale Evron Mayenne

For Sale House / Villa EVRON - 5 rooms - 100m 2 125,000 euros or nearest offer plus notaires fees House - High pavilion on basement and covered in

Continue reading "Detached house for sale Evron Mayenne"

For sale 2 room apartment Cannes

In a nice residence, secured with caretaker , residential area low Croix des Gardes sea side Sale of a two-room apartment of 45 sqm with a terrace of

Continue reading "For sale 2 room apartment Cannes "

4 bed luxury villa with pool near Carcassonne and Limoux, South of France

2010 architect designed with stunning uninterrupted views over vineyards to Pyrenees. B&B potential. €445,000 Plot size 2100m2. Habitable area 205m2 For

Continue reading "4 bed luxury villa with pool near Carcassonne and Limoux, South of France"

For sale Duplex apartment Antibes, France.

Situated on a quiet pedestrian street, minutes walk from the famous Marche Provençal, beaches, bars, restaurants and Port Vauban. 20 minutes from

Continue reading "For sale Duplex apartment Antibes, France."

House for sale La Creuse, 23300: Limousin

A STRESS-FREE TURN-KEY HOME FOR €120,000 PLUS NOTAIRE’S FEES FOUR MINUTES FROM LA SOUTERRAINE, 23300 So, will it be a

Continue reading "House for sale La Creuse, 23300: Limousin"

Beautiful 3 Bedroom Villa with pool for sale – Argeliers 11120 – Aude.

For sale Provencal style villa €279,000.00 Situated in sought after village bordering the Canal du Midi. This spacious detached property is set out over

Continue reading "Beautiful 3 Bedroom Villa with pool for sale – Argeliers 11120 – Aude."

For sale 2 houses, shed and 9000m2 of land Hardanges, Pays de la loire

Description Sale of 2 houses, shed and 9000m2 of land, wood heating and pellet stove, double glazed windows, slate roof, attic insulation. house 1 *

Continue reading "For sale 2 houses, shed and 9000m2 of land Hardanges, Pays de la loire"

See our new page on Camping in Normandy

Places to visit

• try Boulogne sur Mer
• The seaside town of Saint Valery sur Somme
• The market town of Desvres
• The village of Montcavrel

Home Page › Northern France index › Driving in France

Custom Search