Explore France
France is most UK motorhomers' first European adventure, and it is easy to see why. The roads are good, the campsites are plentiful, and the food alone justifies the ferry ticket. That said, France has its own way of doing things. This guide covers the practical essentials to sort before you drive off the ramp: peage tolls, Crit'Air stickers, and a few rules that catch people out every year.
Last verified: 3 April 2026
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Driving rules
Police give on-the-spot fines for speeding. Fixed speed cameras are common and well-signed.
Speed camera detectors and any sat-nav with a radar-alert function are illegal in France, even if the device is switched off.
Driving tips
- Carry your passport or photocard licence at all times. Police can ask you to prove your identity and you are required to do so on the spot.
- Keep your doors locked in slow-moving or stationary traffic. Opportunist theft at junctions does happen, particularly near the Channel ports and around Paris.
- Covering your face in a public place is illegal and can result in a fine of 150 EUR.
- If you witness or are involved in an accident on a motorway, use the orange emergency phones located every 2 kilometres along the hard shoulder.
- The priorite a droite rule still applies in some rural areas and on certain roundabouts. It is marked by a red triangle with a black cross. Where you see it, traffic joining from the right has priority over you.
- Mobile speed cameras are common and often unmarked. On-the-spot fines can be issued and must be paid in cash.
- Toll classification: motorhomes over 3.05 metres in height are charged at Class 4 rates, not Class 2. If your vehicle has three axles, expect to be charged at Class 3 at manned toll booths.
Required kit
Vehicles over 3,500 kg
If your motorhome is over 3.5 tonnes, France requires you to display Angles Morts blind-spot stickers. These warn cyclists and pedestrians that large vehicles have restricted visibility around them.
Towing a caravan
Around the Channel ports, keep the habitation door locked whenever you step away, even for a short break. People do attempt to hide in parked motorhomes and caravans near the port areas.
Tolls and vignettes
Tolls
France uses a ticket-based toll system called the peage. You collect a ticket when you join the motorway and pay when you exit. Cards are accepted at all toll booths.
Toll-free routes do exist. On French road signs, look for routes marked Bis. They are slower and better suited to shorter legs or when you want to explore rather than cover ground.
Vignette
France does not use a vignette. Unlike Switzerland or Austria, there is no annual sticker to buy. You pay per journey at the toll.
Low emission zones
Order online: https://www.certificat-air.gouv.fr/en/
The Crit'Air sticker is compulsory between 8am and 8pm on weekdays in the affected city zones. Some older vehicles are banned outright regardless of the sticker. Order well in advance as stickers are posted from Strasbourg and can take four weeks or more to arrive.
Supermarkets and shopping
Budget
Mid-range
Premium
Opening hours
Most supermarkets are closed on Sunday afternoon. In rural areas, shops frequently shut between 12:00 and 14:00 for lunch. It is worth planning your shopping around both.
Alcohol
French supermarkets stock an excellent range of wine at very reasonable prices. Good bottles start from around 3 to 5 EUR.
Local tips
- Pick up paracetamol and any other medicine from a pharmacy (look for the green cross sign). Supermarkets do not sell it.
- Bread is best bought fresh each day from a boulangerie. Even tiny villages usually have one.
- Rural shops often shut between 12:00 and 14:00 for lunch. Plan your shopping around it.
- Most towns hold a weekly market (marche). They are worth seeking out for local cheese, fruit, and veg.
Motorhome LPG and gas in France
France uses the Dish fitting for Autogas refills. LPG (called GPL in France) is easy to find at supermarket fuel stations such as Leclerc, Intermarche, Carrefour, and Super U, and at most motorway service areas. For keeping a refillable tank topped up, France is one of the more straightforward countries in Europe.
The main local bottle brands are Antargaz and Le Cube. Both are sold at supermarkets and fuel stations. You will need a matching regulator pigtail to connect them to your UK motorhome.
UK Calor bottles cannot be swapped or exchanged anywhere in Europe. Either carry a 3-piece adapter kit or fit a refillable system before you leave. Read our complete guide to motorhome gas and LPG in Europe.
Motorhome electric hook-ups in France
Most French campsites offer 6A hook-ups, which gives you roughly 1,380 watts to play with. Some sites have 10A pitches available at extra cost. 16A is unusual unless you are on a large commercial chain site. A domestic kettle draws more than 6A on its own and will trip the breaker immediately.
The bollard boxes on French sites are usually locked. If you do trip the breaker, you cannot reset it yourself. You will need to find the warden, which is not ideal at midnight.
Reverse polarity is a common issue on French campsites. UK consumer units only switch the Live wire, which means a reversed supply can leave appliances live even when you think they are off. Carry a socket tester and a crossover cable. On larger coastal or Loire valley sites, voltage can also drop from 230V to around 200V when you are at the far end of a long daisy chain of pitches. That drop can be enough to make your fridge switch back to gas automatically.
Read our complete guide to motorhome electric hook-ups in Europe.
Documents you need
Your own vehicle
- Passport
- UK Photocard Driving Licence
- Vehicle Log Book (V5C)
- Insurance Certificate
- Travel Insurance Proof
Rental or hire vehicle
- VE103 Certificate
- Driving Licence Check Code
- International Driving Permit (if you still hold a paper licence)
Travelling with dogs
What to pack
- Dog lead
- Water bowl
- Vaccination records
- AHC
Food import rules
Meat, milk, and products containing either cannot be brought into France from the UK. The main exceptions are powdered baby milk and medically prescribed pet food.
Border and entry
Useful links
Common questions
Do I need a breathalyser to drive a motorhome in France?
Technically yes. French law requires you to carry one, though the fine for not having one has never been enforced. They cost next to nothing and most motorhomers keep one in the glovebox. It is not worth the hassle of a roadside discussion over something so cheap.
What is a Crit'Air sticker and do I need one for my motorhome?
Crit'Air is a colour-coded windscreen sticker that shows your vehicle's emission category. You need one to enter low emission zones in Paris, Lyon, Grenoble, and a growing number of other French cities. Order yours online at certificat-air.gouv.fr and allow up to four weeks for delivery.
How much do French motorway tolls cost for a motorhome?
Tolls in France are charged by distance. As a rough guide, budget 15 to 20 EUR per 100 km on the autoroute. You can pay by card at the toll booth, or pick up a Liber-t electronic tag if you want to use the faster lanes.
Can I take my dog to France in a motorhome?
Yes. Your dog needs a microchip, a rabies vaccination that is at least 21 days old, and an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) from your vet issued within 10 days of travel. Coming back to the UK, your vet must administer a tapeworm treatment between 24 hours and 5 days before you arrive home.