France has set up specific areas that are passable by vehicles only with an appropriate anti-pollution sticker ("vignette") displayed, known as CRIT’Air.
The sticker must be displayed clearly in the windscreen of your vehicle when in these specific areas, otherwise you could be fined up to €135. The sticker must be obtained before travel and it can be purchased online at a cost of €4.91 including postage. Vehicles registered outside France must also display it.
Make sure to purchase only on the official CRIT'Air website of the French government, which you can find by clicking here, along with useful information on the scheme. To purchase, you will need a legible photo or scan of your registration cert, and up to 10 days for postal delivery. Once acquired, it remains valid for the vehicle as long as the details on it are legible.
The CRIT’Air sticker is classified into 6 categories, each represented by a colour, from the most pollutant vehicles (CRIT'Air 5 = grey), to the most recent and environmentally friendly (green). In some cities, vehicles with higher CRIT'Air stickers will be forbidden from entering.
You can check what classification sticker you need by entering your vehicle details on the French government site here. You will need the vehicle’s engine Euro emission rating, which is usually detailed on your vehicle registration documents, sometimes titled as ‘Exhaust Emissions’. When driving in France, the following signs indicate where the zone starts and finishes:
You can find out more information about what areas CRIT'Air applies to, and what the specific rules are for each location here.
Driving in France is different from driving in either Ireland or the UK. And not just from the perspective of driving on the right-hand side, rather than the left. Here are a few tips to help you on your way.
Please note that as rules and laws may often change, you should check with official sources before making any arrangements. Here are a few websites to help with this:
France – Official – Transport Advice
Ireland – Official - Travel Advice
UK – Official - Travel Advice
The RAC
The AA (UK)
AA Ireland
French Embassy in Ireland
French Embassy – UK
Drivers must be aged 18 or over and hold a full, valid driving licence to legally drive in France. Riders of mopeds or motorcycles up to 125cc must be aged 16 or over.
Driving licences issued in the EU, the UK, and EEA countries are accepted. International driving permits are recognised but not required.
What’s Required:
- You must carry a full valid driving licence. Non-EU licence holders are required to have an International Drivers Permit, while driving in the EU. Check if you need an IDP.
- Motor insurance certificate
- Proof of ID (Passport)
- Vehicle registration document
- ‘Clean Air’ sticker (Crit’Air vignettes). Certain cities require you to display a Crit'Air sticker on your windscreen.
- Reflective jackets - One for each car occupant and these must be kept inside the vehicle within easy reach
- Warning triangle – for each car
- UK / IRL sticker – if not designated on the vehicle number plate
- Headlamp beam deflectors – stick-on or manual adjustment depending on your vehicle.
Drivers of vehicles must carry and be able to produce a valid driving licence. Irish Drivers with a full driving licence don’t currently need an additional licence to drive in the EU. In the event of the UK leaving the EU with no deal, holders of GB driving licenses and GB registered cars should note the following:
- Non EU licence holders are required to have an International Drivers Permit.
- GB registered/insured cars would no longer benefit from the EU’s automatic third-party motor insurance cover, and will need a physical Green Card as evidence of Insurance. These are issued by insurance companies, currently fee-free.
- Furthermore, drivers towing GB registered caravans on trailers will be required to have two green cards for insurance purposes – one for their vehicle and one for the unit they are towing.
However, drivers will no longer benefit from the EU’s automatic third-party motor insurance cover,and will need a physical Green Card as evidence of Insurance. These are issued by insurance companies, currently fee-free. Furthermore, drivers towing caravans on trailers will be required to have two green cards for insurance purposes – one for their vehicle and one for the unit they are towing.
Drivers of vehicles must carry and be able to produce a valid driving licence. UK and Irish Drivers with a full driving licence don’t currently need an additional licence to drive in the EU. The Green Card Free Circulation Area (GCFCA), which comprises all 30 European Economic Area (EEA) countries as well as the UK, Andorra, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia and Switzerland. UK-based drivers do not therefore need to carry green cards for their vehicles when travelling to Ireland / France. All drivers must continue to ensure that they have sufficient insurance in place for travel to the EU / Britian in their own vehicle and it will now be important to take the certificate of motor insurance with you when travelling abroad.
