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7 Ways To Conquer Driving To France From The UK

Well, I did something I never did before… I drove to France from the UK! Panicked was an understatement, but I quickly realised it wasn’t as bad as I thought.

Road signs in France showing Savigny-sur-Orge (centre) to the left and Saint-Genevieve-des-Bois, Morsang-sur-Orge, Villemoisson-sur-Orge, Epinay-sur-Orge, Savigny-sur-Orge (Grand Vaux) to the right

I have always had this burning desire to travel more, but I never made the effort. The only travelling I did was in my dreams lol.

But this year I wanted to do things differently, so I decided to take a road trip to France. I am so extra sometimes because why wouldn’t I take the train or plane like a normal person 😂.

To be honest I love throwing myself into the deep end and challenging myself, and this was a challenge. However, this trip was one of the best trips I have taken – and cheaper as well!

I have picked up some tips and tricks that you will find useful if you find yourself driving to France from the UK!

Read below to find out more!


Contents

  1. Remember France drives on the right
  2. You need to modify your car for France
  3. Don’t forget your passport
  4. Book your ferry in advance
  5. France measures distance in kilometres, not miles
  6. You will need a Crit d’Air sticker for busy cities
  7. France uses Essence and Gazole for car fuel

Remember France Drives On The Right

It is well-known that the UK is one of the few countries in Europe (and the world) that drives on the left-hand side of the road. Knowing this, I had to gear myself up to drive on the right. When I was driving off the ferry my heart was beating out of my chest, but after 20 minutes I was driving like I was driving on the right my entire life!

One of my tricks to driving on the right is to be near the curb. When driving on the left in a right-driver car, the driver is positioned in the middle of the road, this is not the case in France! Another thing you need to know is how we turn right in the UK is how they turn left in France – do not be tempted to drive on the left when turning left, always return to the right side of the road.

Roundabouts in France

Another road feature to pay attention to is the roundabouts. In France, drivers enter the roundabout on the right and they exit on the right. This can be disorientating, to say the least! One thing that has helped me tackle roundabouts in France is a lane safety sticker that adheres to your windshield. This sticker gives you a gentle reminder of how to drive on the roundabouts in France. Don’t worry right-side drivers, this sticker also works when you drive in countries like the UK – just flip the sticker over!

Lane safety sticker to remind drivers which side to drive on, in France
Lane safety sticker to remind drivers which side to drive on.

One road feature in France that doesn’t exist in the UK, and can be dangerous if you’re not paying attention, is turning left on a flashing amber light, but only when the road is clear. This can be scary as pedestrians are also crossing the road, which means you need to be hyper-vigilant not to hit anyone crossing the road. Make sure you look properly and turn the corner with caution to ensure everyone’s safety.


You Need to Modify Your Car For France

If you thought you could drive to France from the UK without making adjustments to your car- you’re WRONG! France has some rules UK drivers need to adhere to before they cross the English Channel.

You need headlight adapters for night-time driving in France

In the UK car headlights point slightly to the left (towards the edge of the road), and this is great for left-side road drivers. The problem with UK headlights is the risk of dazzling drivers as the highlights point into the middle of the road, and into drivers’ eyes. The solution to this is to invest in headlight adapters. The only time you wouldn’t need to adapt your headlights is when your headlights are centred and point straight ahead.

You need a warning triangle and Hi-Vis Vests for all Passengers

In France, slapping on your hazard lights is not going to cut it this time! You need a physical red warning triangle to warn other drivers if you have broken down. Another thing that hasn’t been implemented in the UK is the provision of high-visibility vests for all passengers – even young children. Don’t make the mistake of throwing them in your car boot either, they need to be in the car for easy access whenever you need it.

Speed Camera Detection is Banned in France

It’s not really a car modification, but something that is important to know. One thing Google Maps and Waze got right is showing where the speed cameras are (even though I never need to know because I do not speed – ever). In France, they are not having it! You need to turn off speed detection on your GPS before you starting driving on French roads. Go into your settings on your GPS and switch it off – the last thing you need is trouble in your driving experience.

You need a UK sticker on your car or license plate

It is important to show that you are a UK driver, especially in countries that drive on the right. You can buy a magnetic UK sticker that goes at the back of your car or you can purchase a license plate that has UK and the Union Jack flag on the side. Remember that ‘GB’ is no longer valid since the UK left the European Union, so make sure your sticker clearly says ‘UK’.

This may seem a lot to travel to France, but it is better to set your car up for success. The great thing is Amazon sells a driving kit that makes driving to France so easy!

Driving kit for driving to France from the UK
Driving kit for driving to France from the UK – affiliate link provided

Don’t Forget Your Passport!

For the LOVE OF GOD, do NOT forget your passports! You will be refused entry into France, and you will waste your time and money. Passports are not just for planes, it’s for any time you want to leave the UK.

Passports need to be kept in a safe place where you will not forget them but don’t leave them in your car, in case your car gets stolen (stranger things have happened).

Please check to see if your passport is in date. You will not be allowed to travel on a passport that has less than three months left. At the time of writing, you do not require a visa to enter France from the UK, but things can definitely change, so be mindful!

A picture of two hands exchanging a British passport.

Image credit: https://www.ukabroad.net/french-words-on-blue-british-passport/
Image credit: U.K. Abroad

Book Your Ferry In Advance

There are two ways to cross the English Channel with your car – train or ferry. I haven’t travelled to France via train before, but here is what I know about Ferry travel.

Dover is not the only place to take a ferry to France, consider Poole, Portsmouth or Plymouth to go to different areas in France. Dover to Calais is the most popular ferry route when driving from the UK. You will find Dover on the Kent coastline and you will see some beautiful white cliffs when you are there. The Dover seaport advises you to reach the port at least one hour before your allotted time – so leave early! It takes 90 minutes to cross the English Channel, so it is a quick way to get to mainland Europe.

The French border is in the UK, entry will be denied to France if you don’t have the correct documentation so, again, DON’T FORGET YOUR PASSPORTS! You need to keep your passports in your car, so you can hand them to border control easily.

One great thing about travelling to France by car is being able to carry as much luggage as you want! You are not restricted by strict luggage weight, like aeroplanes. Pack up your car with all your essentials, just make sure whatever you bring is legal to bring into France.

Different Ferries to France

The three main ferry companies that travel to Calais are Irish Ferries, P&O Ferries and DFDS. The company I used is Irish Ferries when travelling to France. Services offered by the ferries are similar. The ferries cross the English channel 15 times a day, hot and cold food are available, and pets are allowed onboard. The ship has loads of seating, duty-free shipping and foreign exchange. Certain ships also have kids’ entertainment and a member’s club.

I used Direct Ferries to compare different ferries and their prices. Click here to book your ferry and do it well in advance to get the best price.

An Irish Ferries boat with the White Cliffs of Dover in the background.
An Irish Ferries Boat

What Happens on the Ferry to France

So, now you are on the ferry, great! The first thing to do is park your car – the seaport workers will direct you. Once you park your car you won’t be able to gain access until disembarkation, so bring whatever you need before going upstairs.

Once upstairs you have options of getting some food and drink, doing some duty-free shopping, exchanging your pounds into euros and getting a good view of the sea from the upper decks. Be sure to listen to all announcements, especially the safety announcements.

After 90 mins the boat will dock and you will be ready to drive in France. Remember, to start driving on the right when you drive off the ferry.


France Measures Distance in Kilometres

When driving in the UK, miles are the standard – but not in continental Europe. In France, kilometres are used and it can be very confusing.

The great thing is most cars have both miles and kilometres on the speedometer. If your car only reads MPH, get yourself a speed converter sticker that sticks on your windshield.

Such a useful tool to keep you from speeding and getting into trouble with the French police – not something you want on your holiday!

In addition, be sure to brush up on your French road sign knowledge as the signs are sometimes different from the UK.

A key piece of French road information is road speed changes with the weather. One example is on the Autoroute (the French equivalent to the Motorway), on dry roads the speed is 130kph, but in wet conditions, it drops to 110kph.


Crit D’Air for Busy Cities in France

Think of ULEZ (Ultra Low Emission Zone) in London, but French! One thing about driving in Paris is it is super-duper congested! This means Paris (and other busy cities in France) is on a mission to reduce the amount of high-polluting vehicles on their roads.

The AirBnB I rented was on the outskirts of Paris, so I paid for one for no reason loooooool. But if you are driving inside the Paris périphérique, or other large cities (Lyon, Lille, Toulouse, Marseille and more) you will need a Crit D’Air sticker for your car. When you think about the Crit D’Air sticker, think about the old tax stickers to prove your car is taxed, (you get the picture).

Your sticker will have a number, this will determine how polluting your car is through the age and engine type of your vehicle. The higher the number the more polluting your car is.

You can order your Crit D’Air sticker online from the official French government website, don’t worry you can translate the website into English or Dutch. You would be wise to order your sticker well in advance because it took nearly three weeks for mine to arrive in the post.

A image of the different numbered Crit D'Air stickers in France

Credit: https://www.vignetteshop.co.uk/emissions-stickers/crit-air-france
Image of the different Crit D’Air stickers available in France

Please be aware that cars rated 5 will not be allowed to enter the city mentioned above and cars rated 4 will have heavy restrictions.


France Uses Essence and Gazole for Car Fuel

This is very important to know. Your car will thank you for knowing the difference between Essence and Gazole. Essence is what we call Petrol and Gazole is diesel. French petrol stations have different types of Essence and Diesel fuel – like the UK. Pay close attention to the fuel you give your car to avoid a very expensive and inconvenient car problem.


These are all the nuggets of knowledge I picked up while driving to France. Use them to your advantage to enjoy your trip abroad. Remember to have fun and soak in the beauty of France.

Thank you for reading!

Shenice Geneva x

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