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Driving in France from the UK: tolls, Crit'Air and rules

France charges distance-based tolls on most motorways: take a ticket and pay at the exit, or pay online within 72 hours on barrier-free sections such as the A13/A14, A79 and A69. Many cities have low-emission zones (ZFE) that need a Crit'Air sticker (5.11 EUR for a UK car, official site only). Carry a hi-vis vest and warning triangle.

Checked on 11 November 2026 against official sourcesPrices in EUR unless shown otherwise

Toll system
Distance tolls
Vignette
None
Low-emission zones
YesSticker or registration
Currency
EUR
On this page

How do tolls work in France?

Most French motorways are tolled by distance and run by private concession companies such as Sanef, APRR/AREA and VINCI Autoroutes. On classic sections you take a ticket on entry and pay at the exit barrier. Barrier-free (flux libre) sections now operate on the A79 in the Allier, the Paris to Normandy A13/A14 and the A69 Toulouse to Castres, plus the Boulay interchange on the A4: cameras read your number plate and you must pay within 72 hours. The km figures below are APRR's published tariff distances (distance tarifaire) for class 1 vehicles from its 1 February 2026 tariff table.

Who runs the roads

How to pay

  • On most motorways you pay at toll barriers. APRR/AREA also run sections with ticket-free entry, where your number plate is read on entry and you still pay at the exit barrier.[25]
  • Barrier-free (flux libre) sections: the A79 in the Allier (ALIAE), the A13/A14 between Paris and Caen (Sanef) and the A69 Toulouse to Castres (Atosca); the Boulay interchange on the A4 is also free flow. Gantries read your number plate and the amount due is calculated at the end of the section.[2]
  • You have 72 hours to pay a free-flow toll: on the motorway company's own website by bank card (Sanef for A13/A14 and A4, ALIAE for A79, Atosca for A69), at a tobacconist or newsagent in the Nirio network (card or cash), or automatically with a correctly fitted toll tag. Registering online is optional.[2]
  • On sanef.com you enter your number plate, check the amount and pay by card, or create a free account to have each passage charged automatically and get a reminder email before the 72-hour deadline.[1]
  • If you do not pay within 72 hours, the operator sends a payment notice to the registered keeper: the unpaid toll plus a fixed 90 EUR charge, reduced to 10 EUR if paid within 15 days. If still unpaid after two months, an increased fixed fine of 375 EUR is issued.[2]
  • Beware of fake text messages and emails asking you to pay a toll balance. Pay free-flow tolls only on the official Sanef, ALIAE or Atosca websites, at Nirio outlets, or by toll tag.[2]

Example toll prices

  • Fleury-en-Biere toll (A6, south of Paris) to Villefranche-Limas toll (A6, north of Lyon)

    41.30 EUR[3]

    Distance: 430.28 kmVehicle: Class 1 (car), APRR tariff from 1 February 2026

  • Fleury-en-Biere toll (A6, south of Paris) to Beaune Nord (A6)

    25.90 EUR[3]

    Distance: 274.13 kmVehicle: Class 1 (car), APRR tariff from 1 February 2026

  • Chalons-la-Veuve (A26, Champagne) to Villefranche-Limas toll (A6, north of Lyon)

    45.90 EUR[3]

    Distance: 459.21 kmVehicle: Class 1 (car), APRR tariff from 1 February 2026

Changes coming

  • Because of works closing the Saint-Cloud tunnel on the A13, the Government has made the A14 free in the Paris to provinces direction only, Monday to Friday (not weekends or public holidays), for vehicle classes 1, 2 and 5 (cars and motorcycles), from 16 November 2026 until June 2027.[4]

Checked on 11 November 2026 against the official sources linked in this section.

Low-emission zones and stickers

France has 25 active low-emission zones (ZFE). They use the Crit'Air sticker system, and the rules differ by city. The law sets a minimum calendar of restrictions only for agglomerations that regularly exceed air-quality limits, which the Ministry says are now Paris and Lyon. Parliament voted to abolish ZFEs in 2026, but the Constitutional Council struck that article down on 21 May 2026, so the zones remain in force. A UK car must display a Crit'Air sticker to enter a ZFE.

Crit'Air (certificat qualite de l'air)

Needed to drive in French low-emission zones (ZFE) and during pollution-alert traffic restrictions. Vehicles registered abroad order from the official site with a legible photo or scan of the registration certificate (V5C). Price shown on the official site for a vehicle registered abroad: 3.11 EUR plus 2.00 EUR postage outside France, i.e. 5.11 EUR per vehicle.[5]

Official price: 5.11 EUR[5]

Official site (opens in a new tab)

Before you order

Only buy from certificat-air.gouv.fr: the official site shows the ministry logo and ends in .gouv.fr. Beware of intermediaries and fraudulent sites that charge more.

  • All of France: Active ZFEs

    25 low-emission zones are currently active in France, including Grand Paris, Lyon, Grenoble, Strasbourg, Lille, Rouen, Reims, Bordeaux, Toulouse, Montpellier, Marseille (Aix-Marseille-Provence), Nice, Nantes and others. Each sets its own restrictions; check the city's page before you go.[22]

    Official page (opens in a new tab)

  • All of France: Legal minimum where air limits are regularly exceeded

    In agglomerations that regularly exceed air-quality limits, the law requires restrictions on diesel cars over 18 years old (Crit'Air 4) from 1 January 2024, then diesel cars over 14 years and petrol cars over 19 years (Crit'Air 3) from 1 January 2025. The Ministry says two agglomerations remain in this category: Paris and Lyon. Other large agglomerations must only have some form of traffic restriction.[6]

    Official page (opens in a new tab)

  • All of France: ZFEs remain in force after the 2026 repeal vote

    Although Parliament adopted an article abolishing ZFEs, it was not enacted: the Constitutional Council censured it on 21 May 2026 in its decision on the economic simplification law. ZFEs therefore stay in force under the 2021 Climate and Resilience law.[9]

    Official page (opens in a new tab)

  • Paris (Grand Paris): ZFE metropolitaine du Grand Paris (77 communes)

    Crit'Air sticker compulsory, including when parked during restriction hours. Crit'Air 3, 4, 5 and unclassified vehicles are restricted (Crit'Air 3 added on 1 January 2025: diesel cars registered before 2011, petrol before 2006). Applies Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm; cars may drive 8pm to 8am, at weekends and on public holidays. Until 31 December 2026 checks are occasional and for information only.[7]

    Official page (opens in a new tab)

  • Lyon: ZFE Metropole de Lyon

    Since 1 January 2025 Crit'Air 5, 4, 3 and unclassified vehicles are banned (diesel first registered before 1 January 2011, petrol before 1 January 2006), 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, driving and parking. Covers Lyon, Caluire-et-Cuire and the parts of Villeurbanne, Bron and Venissieux inside the Laurent Bonnevay ring road, plus the M6, M7 and ring roads. Fine 68 EUR for cars; also fined if no Crit'Air sticker is displayed.[8]

    Official page (opens in a new tab)

  • Grenoble: ZFE Grenoble Alpes Metropole (13 communes)

    Crit'Air 3, 4, 5 and unclassified vehicles are restricted (Crit'Air 3 since 1 January 2025), but the Metropole has extended the education period with no fines for any vehicle until 30 June 2027. Not displaying a Crit'Air sticker can still be fined.[10]

    Official page (opens in a new tab)

  • Strasbourg: ZFE-m Eurometropole de Strasbourg

    Crit'Air 5 banned since January 2023 and Crit'Air 4 since January 2024. Crit'Air 3 will be banned from January 2027, and Crit'Air 2 from January 2028 in Strasbourg, Schiltigheim, Ostwald and Holtzheim. Each new ban is preceded by an education period without fines.[11]

    Official page (opens in a new tab)

  • Lille: ZFE Metropole Europeenne de Lille (95 communes)

    A Crit'Air sticker is compulsory for all vehicles, including cross-border vehicles, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, across the whole metropolitan area. Since 1 January 2025 unclassified vehicles (registered before 1 January 1997) are banned.[12]

    Official page (opens in a new tab)

  • Rouen: ZFE-m Metropole Rouen Normandie

    The zone is open to vehicles with Crit'Air 0, 1, 2 or 3 stickers; Crit'Air 2 and 3 vehicles can still drive inside it.[23]

    Official page (opens in a new tab)

  • Reims: ZFE-m du Grand Reims

    Crit'Air 5 banned since 1 January 2022 and Crit'Air 4 since 1 January 2023. A 5-year moratorium means no restriction on Crit'Air 3 before January 2029.[24]

    Official page (opens in a new tab)

Checked on 11 November 2026 against the official sources linked in this section.

What must I carry in France?

  • A CE-marked high-visibility (yellow) vest kept within reach and an approved warning triangle are compulsory. Failure to show them at a roadside check: fine of up to 38 EUR. Wear the vest if you leave a vehicle stopped on or beside the road.[14]
  • A breathalyser is not compulsory in the car.[14]
  • Radar detectors are banned: holding, carrying or using one can be fined up to 1,500 EUR and the device is seized.[14]
  • Winter rule (Loi Montagne): from 1 November 2026 to 31 March 2027, in mountain municipalities listed by the prefects of 34 departments (Alps, Corsica, Massif Central, Jura, Pyrenees, Vosges), cars, vans and motorhomes must either carry snow chains or socks for at least two drive wheels or have four winter tyres. Only 3PMSF (three-peak mountain snowflake) tyres count instead of chains. Signs mark the start and end of these zones.[13]
  • Crit'Air sticker if you will drive in a low-emission zone (ZFE).[5]

Checked on 11 November 2026 against the official sources linked in this section.

Speed limits and alcohol

Built-up areas
50 km/h[16]
Outside built-up areas
80 km/h[16]
Motorways
130 km/h[16]
Drink-drive limit
0.5 g/l (0.2 g/l for drivers on a probationary licence and for bus and coach drivers)[16]

Motorways 130 km/h (110 km/h in rain); dual carriageways with a central reservation 110 km/h (100 in rain); 90 km/h where signed on some two-way roads; 50 km/h everywhere if visibility is under 50 m. Probationary drivers (first 3 years): 110 on motorways, 100 on dual carriageways, 80 elsewhere (French road safety delegation, see source 15).

Checked on 11 November 2026 against the official sources linked in this section.

What UK drivers need

  • You can drive in France on a UK photocard driving licence; you do not need an international driving permit (IDP). With an old paper licence, update it to a photocard or get the correct IDP.[19]
  • Display a UK sticker on the back of the car unless your number plate shows the UK identifier with the Union flag. Old GB stickers are no longer valid: cover or remove them.[18]
  • Take your log book (V5C) and your insurance certificate if you are taking your own vehicle.[21]
  • You do not need a green card to drive in the EU, but you must have valid vehicle insurance.[20]
  • GOV.UK says that, depending on the country, you may need extra equipment such as a reflective jacket and warning triangle, emission stickers and headlight converter stickers.[21]
  • FCDO travel advice: all vehicles driving in central Paris, Lyon and Grenoble must display a pollution (Crit'Air) sticker from 8am to 8pm, Monday to Friday, and police give on-the-spot fines for driving offences including speeding.[17]
  • FCDO travel advice: people may try to enter vehicles, including camper vans, on roads to the Channel ports to reach the UK. Keep doors locked, keep moving where safe and do not leave the vehicle unattended.[17]

For documents, insurance, pets and border checks that apply to every country, see the driving to Europe checklist.

Checked on 11 November 2026 against the official sources linked in this section.

Sources

Every fact above links to one of these official pages. The numbers match the small links next to each fact.

  1. 1.
    Autoroute en flux libre : les solutions de paiement (opens in a new tab)

    Sanef (motorway concession company), autoroutes.sanef.com. Checked on 11 November 2026.

  2. 2.
    Peage en flux libre : pour des trajets plus fluides, plus sereins et plus ecologiques (updated 10 November 2026) (opens in a new tab)

    Ministere de la Transition ecologique (French Government), ecologie.gouv.fr. Checked on 11 November 2026.

  3. 3.
    Tarifs de peage, reseau APRR, classes 1 a 5, en vigueur au 1er fevrier 2026 (PDF) (opens in a new tab)

    APRR (motorway concession company), voyage.aprr.fr. Checked on 11 November 2026.

  4. 4.
    Autoroute A14 : mesure exceptionnelle de gratuite (6 November 2026) (opens in a new tab)

    Sanef (motorway concession company), autoroutes.sanef.com. Checked on 11 November 2026.

  5. 5.
    Certificat qualite de l'air Crit'Air, vehicule immatricule a l'etranger (opens in a new tab)

    Ministere de la Transition ecologique (official Crit'Air site), certificat-air.gouv.fr. Checked on 11 November 2026.

  6. 6.
    Zones a faibles emissions (ZFE) (opens in a new tab)

    Ministere de la Transition ecologique (French Government), ecologie.gouv.fr. Checked on 11 November 2026.

  7. 7.
    La zone a faibles emissions metropolitaine (opens in a new tab)

    Metropole du Grand Paris, metropolegrandparis.fr. Checked on 11 November 2026.

  8. 8.
    Zone a Faibles Emissions (ZFE) : projet et deploiement dans la Metropole de Lyon (opens in a new tab)

    Metropole de Lyon, zfe.grandlyon.com. Checked on 11 November 2026.

  9. 9.
    Point d'etape : la ZFE reste en vigueur (updated 5 August 2026) (opens in a new tab)

    Metropole de Lyon, zfe.grandlyon.com. Checked on 11 November 2026.

  10. 10.
    ZFE Grenoble : des evolutions en 2026 (opens in a new tab)

    Grenoble Alpes Metropole, zfe.grenoblealpesmetropole.fr. Checked on 11 November 2026.

  11. 11.
    La Zone a Faibles Emissions-mobilite (ZFE-m), calendrier (opens in a new tab)

    Ville et Eurometropole de Strasbourg, strasbourg.eu. Checked on 11 November 2026.

  12. 12.
    Zone a faibles emissions (ZFE) (opens in a new tab)

    Metropole Europeenne de Lille, lillemetropole.fr. Checked on 11 November 2026.

  13. 13.
    Winter tires, chains: what are your obligations until March 31, 2027? (published 20 October 2026) (opens in a new tab)

    Service-Public.fr (Prime Minister's office), service-public.fr. Checked on 11 November 2026.

  14. 14.
    Mandatory equipment in the car: safety vest, triangle... (verified 2 November 2026) (opens in a new tab)

    Service-Public.fr (Prime Minister's office), service-public.gouv.fr. Checked on 11 November 2026.

  15. 15.
    Reglementation de la vitesse au volant (opens in a new tab)

    Securite routiere (French road safety delegation, Ministry of the Interior), securite-routiere.gouv.fr. Checked on 11 November 2026.

  16. 16.
    Road rules and safety - France (opens in a new tab)

    European Commission, Your Europe (content supplied by French authorities), europa.eu. Checked on 11 November 2026.

  17. 17.
    France travel advice: Safety and security (opens in a new tab)

    GOV.UK (FCDO), gov.uk. Checked on 11 November 2026.

  18. 18.
    Displaying number plates: flags, symbols and identifiers (opens in a new tab)

    GOV.UK (DVLA), gov.uk. Checked on 11 November 2026.

  19. 19.
    Driving abroad: check if you need an international driving permit (opens in a new tab)

    GOV.UK, gov.uk. Checked on 11 November 2026.

  20. 20.
    Vehicle insurance: driving abroad (opens in a new tab)

    GOV.UK, gov.uk. Checked on 11 November 2026.

  21. 21.
    Driving abroad (opens in a new tab)

    GOV.UK, gov.uk. Checked on 11 November 2026.

  22. 22.
    Les ZFE francaises (opens in a new tab)

    Ministere de la Transition ecologique (Mieux respirer en ville, national ZFE portal), mieuxrespirerenville.gouv.fr. Checked on 11 November 2026.

  23. 23.
    Zone a Faibles Emissions mobilite (ZFE-m) (opens in a new tab)

    Metropole Rouen Normandie, zfe.metropole-rouen-normandie.fr. Checked on 11 November 2026.

  24. 24.
    Zone a faibles emissions mobilite (ZFE-m) du Grand Reims (updated 27 January 2026) (opens in a new tab)

    Grand Reims, grandreims.fr. Checked on 11 November 2026.

  25. 25.
    Le peage reinvente : entree sans ticket et peage en flux libre (opens in a new tab)

    APRR (motorway concession company), peagereinvente.aprr.fr. Checked on 11 November 2026.