Page 415 - Lonely Planet France’s Best Trips (Travel Guide)

France Driving

Guide

With stunning landscapes, superb highways and one of
the world’s most scenic and comprehensive secondary
road networks, France is a road-tripper’s dream come true.

DRIVING LICENCE & DOCUMENTS Driving Fast Facts
Drivers must carry the following at all
times: ¨ Right or left? Drive on the right
¨ passport or an EU national ID card ¨ Manual or automatic? Manual
¨ valid driving licence (permis de conduire; ¨ Legal driving age 18
most foreign licences can be used in France for ¨ Top speed limit 130km/h on
up to a year) autoroutes (highways, motorways)
¨ car-ownership papers, known as a carte ¨ Signature car Citroën 2CV
grise (grey card)
¨ proof of third-party liability assurance
(insurance) usually in the packet of documents in the
glove compartment. Make sure the report
An International Driving Permit (IDP) is includes any proof that the accident was
not required when renting a car but can be not your fault. If it was your fault you may
useful in the event of an accident or police be liable for a hefty insurance deductible/
stop, as it translates and vouches for the excess. Don’t sign anything you don’t fully
authenticity of your home licence. understand. If necessary, contact the
police (%17).
French-registered cars have their
insurance-company details printed on a lit-
INSURANCE tle green square affixed to the windscreen
Third-party liability insurance (assurance (windshield).
au tiers) is compulsory for all vehicles
in France, including cars brought from
abroad. Normally, cars registered and HIRING A CAR
insured in other European countries can
circulate freely. Contact your insurance To hire a car in France, you’ll generally
company before leaving home to make need to be over 21 years old, have had a
sure you’re covered, and to verify whom to driving licence for at least a year, and have
call in case of a breakdown or accident. an international credit card. Drivers under
In a minor accident with no injuries, 25 usually have to pay a surcharge (frais
the easiest way for drivers to sort things jeune conducteur) of €25 to €35 per day.
out with their insurance companies is Car-hire companies provide mandatory
to fill out a Constat Amiable d’Accident third-party liability insurance but things such
Automobile (accident report), a standard- as collision-damage waivers (CDW, or assur-
ised way of recording important details ance tous risques) vary greatly from com-
about what happened. In rental cars it’s pany to company. When comparing rates

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