The network for charging is becoming more and more extensive. However, it is a good idea to plan your journey in advance. There may be different types of plugs or different charging cards required.

Before travelling, be sure to check whether any mountain passes have been closed. For more information, see: alpenpaesse.de (in German).

The busiest Saturdays of the summer season are also known as ‘Black Saturdays’. Black Saturdays are in the last week of July and the first week of August every year. On those days, there are a lot of delays, especially on the toll roads heading south.

Information on schedules, departures and fares is available from ferry companies such as blunavytraghetti.com, corsicaferries.com, corsicalinea.com and mobylines.com. Be sure to ask the ferry company in advance if you can take gas cylinders on board.

Driving with dipped headlights is mandatory in the dark, with poor visibility conditions and in tunnels. You have to yield to the traffic on your right at junctions with two equivalent roads. Trams always have right of way. Traffic on a roundabout has right of way when indicated by a priority sign. If there is no sign, then traffic coming from the right has right of way. On mountain roads, uphill traffic has the right of way over downhill traffic (but on narrow mountain roads the easiest vehicle to manoeuvre must give way).
Holding a telephone while behind the wheel is not permitted, not even when stopped (hands-free calling is permitted). Drivers are also not allowed to wear headphones or earphones (not even those from a car kit).
Attention! Children under 10 are not allowed to sit in the front seat and must sit in the back seat (a baby in a seat with the back facing forwards is permitted in the front seat).
Speed camera warnings are prohibited. Remove any speed camera locations in France (if necessary) from your navigation software. Winter tyres are not compulsory.

Smoking in vehicles is prohibited in the presence of children under the age of 18.
No devices with a screen may be located within the driver’s field of vision (with the exception of navigation devices).
You are required to use your hazard lights to warn others of any sudden braking or if you are the last car in a traffic jam. You are obliged to maintain a lateral distance of at least 1.50 metres when overtaking cyclists.
It is never permitted to cross a solid line or even to touch it with your wheels. Parking is prohibited next to a yellow line, as well as in other circumstances.

A warning triangle and safety vest are mandatory to have in your vehicle. An alcohol tester is also required in the car, but you will not be fined if it is not present. These testers are available from petrol stations, supermarkets and at webshop.acsi.eu.

A camper van or car/caravan combination may be up to 2.55 metres wide and 18.75 metres long (the caravan itself may be up to 12 metres long). There is no maximum height limit. A camper van or car/caravan combination that is over 7 metres wide and/or over 3.5 tonnes in weight must be driven at least 50 metres away from similar camper vans, combinations or lorries. In addition, on motorways with three or more lanes heading in the same direction, it is not permitted to drive in the leftmost lane with a long camper van or car/caravan combination longer than 7 metres, unless you are intending to turn left.

Wearing a bicycle helmet is mandatory for children up to age 12, even if they are seated on the back. In the dark (and in poor visibility conditions), you are required to wear a safety vest outside of urban areas. It is forbidden to make calls or use apps on a mobile phone or to wear earphones or headphones when cycling. It is not permitted to transport a passenger older than 14. Children up to the age of 5 have to be in a bike seat with a safety belt. Cycling side by side is only permitted if you are not obstructing traffic, and is prohibited after sunset.

Tolls are charged on most motorways in France. Toll roads are indicated by the blue péage signs. If you prefer not to pay tolls, you can follow the green signs indicating alternative routes, usually the N roads. You can pay tolls in cash or by credit card. Please note that your toll ticket is only valid for 24 hours. For more information, see: autoroutes.fr.
If you frequently drive in France, you may find it worthwhile to pay with an electronic toll box (télepéage). You can then drive through the fast lanes (Liber-t) at toll stations. For more information, see: bipandgo.com/en.

An increasing number of French departments and cities are introducing environmental zones in an effort to reduce air pollution. Only vehicles with a valid environmental sticker (certificat qualité de l'air or vignette Crit'Air) are permitted inside environmental zones. The rules vary from place to place and are set to become stricter over the coming years. Environmental zones are often only in force on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The sticker can only be ordered online via the official website certificat-air.gouv.fr. There are six different stickers for different types of vehicles. Be sure to order the vignette in time, it costs less than €5. If you do not have a valid environmental sticker on the windscreen of your car in the relevant environmental zone, you risk getting a fine of tens of euros.

You are required to position your warning triangle at least 30 metres behind the car. Attention! Warning triangles may not be placed on motorways. The driver is required to wear a safety vest. In the event of a breakdown on or near a motorway, it is not permitted to call a breakdown service yourself, but instead are required to call the motorway police at 112 or call for help via an orange emergency panel or via the SOS Autoroute app (see: sosautoroute.fr). A dépanneur (breakdown service) will then tow you to a garage. In the event of a breakdown on other roads, you can arrange for breakdown assistance yourself through your insurance company. It is forbidden to tow a car or to repair it yourself on motorways.

With more than 11,000 campsites, France is the biggest camping country in Europe. Be sure to book in advance if you want to go inland to the Ardèche or Dordogne or to the major coastal areas. Inland campsites are often larger, better equipped and cheaper than those along the coast. Free camping outside of campsites is allowed with the permission of the landowner, but it is prohibited on beaches and in protected areas. Ask at the town hall or at the gendarmerie.
You should bear in mind that some facilities, such as swimming pools, restaurants, snack bars, pizzerias, etc., are generally only open in July and August. In the swimming pools, it is only allowed to swim in swimming trunks (not in boxer shorts, Bermuda shorts etc., for reasons of hygiene), and for ladies a bathing cap is often required.
Twin-axle caravans are generally not permitted at municipal campsites.