Renting a car in France
Most of the big international car rental companies operate in France, as well as multiple French and European companies. To rent a motor vehicle in France, you’ll need to be at least 25 years old (some companies will rent to those 21 and over) and have a credit card in your name. For the best prices and availability, it’s always recommended to reserve a car ahead of time.
As long as you’re staying in France for less than 90 days, you won’t need a French license. You can simply use your US driver’s license. It’s also smart to get an international driving permit (IDP) before leaving on your trip. It includes your name, photo, and driver information, translated into 10 languages. While they’re not required in France, there are other countries in Europe that don’t accept US driver licenses, so having an IDP on hand is helpful if you decide to extend your road trip to other countries on the continent.
You’ll also want to have a travel insurance policy in place that includes coverage for car rentals. While you will be offered insurance through the car rental company you use, it can be expensive and may not protect you as completely as you’d like. A battleface travel insurance policy with rental vehicle damage coverage provides protection if the vehicle you’re renting internationally is damaged in a collision, or if it’s damaged due to vandalism, windstorms, fire, hail, or floods. A battleface plan will also cover both you and your traveling companion, as long as both of you are licensed drivers and are listed on the rental agreement.
French rules of the road
Whenever you’re preparing to drive in a different country, it’s important to become familiar with the local rules of the road. Here are the most important things to know about driving in France:
Drive on the right
Just like in the United States, you’ll drive on the right side of the road, in a car with the steering wheel on the left-hand side.
Traffic to your right has the right of way
Known as “priorité a droite,” in France, you must yield to traffic coming in from your right. The only exception is on major autoroutes and toll roads, where the rule doesn’t apply. You’ll know the rule doesn’t apply when you see a road sign that consists of a yellow diamond with a white border.
No right turn on red light
A simple but commonly overlooked rule among foreign drivers: in France, you can’t turn right on a red light. You have to wait until the traffic light turns green.
Seat belts
The driver and all passengers are required to wear a seat belt at all times, and drivers caught without seat belts will be fined. Children must use a child seat until they’re tall enough to safely sit without one, and children under 10 years of age are not allowed to travel in the front passenger seat.
Speed limit
In 2018, French speed limits were lowered across the country in a bid to reduce traffic accidents and save lives. Throughout the country, you’ll see blue signs with numbers circled in red. These show the maximum speed for the road type, in kilometers per hour. Note that new drivers are required to drive slower than experienced drivers. And some road signs indicate slower limits when it’s raining. Fines for speeding can be quite high, and speed cameras are used in enforcement.
Driving under the influence
Drunk driving laws in France are stricter than in the United States. The limit is set at 0.5 grams of alcohol per one liter of blood, which is the equivalent to a blood alcohol limit of 0.05%. Penalties include fines and prison time.
Distracted driving
It’s against the law to use your mobile phone while driving in France, although hands-free use via Bluetooth is allowed. It’s also illegal to use an earpiece or headphones while driving.
Toll roads in France
If you’re traveling between large cities or cross-country, you’ll find yourself driving on toll roads — there are more than 90 toll roads in total across France. Different routes are managed by different companies, but most have options to pay by chip enabled credit cards or debit cards. Cash payment is only available at manned toll booths, which can be hard to find.
What to do in case of an emergency
Getting in a car accident in a rental car or having a maintenance emergency is something you hope never happens, but it’s important that you know what to do if it does. After safely pulling over to the side of the road, dial 112 on your mobile phone to be connected to emergency services. If you’re driving on a main road or motorway, you can also use the orange emergency telephones, which are placed every two kilometers along major highways.
As you wait for assistance, be sure to turn on your hazard lights and set out a reflective triangle at the roadside some way back from your car. Also ensure you exchange contact information with any other drivers involved and take pictures of the accident.
If you experience a motor vehicle accident while traveling, you’ll be relieved you chose to purchase travel insurance with rental car coverage. Not only will you be protected from repair charges, but you’ll be able to call upon benefits like baggage damage and loss coverage and trip interruption coverage. And with travel medical insurance you’ll be protected if you or your covered travel companions are injured, or in a worst-case scenario medical evacuation coverage may become crucially important in case of serious injury. If you do experience an emergency, be sure to call the battleface 24/7 travel assistance hotline as soon as possible — the experts there can offer guidance in just about any situation.
