(Last Update: 01.02.2025) Until today driving in paris and I have received many questions about parking and have tried to provide many answers to each person's own problem. Now it's time to write an informative article answering these questions as neatly as I know how. In another article Where Should You Park Your Car in Paris? Parking in Paris While answering the question, I would like to share with you what I know about driving in Paris in this article.
First of all, I should point out that for driving in Paris (France) Your normal driver's license obtained from Turkey is valid for 6 months. In other words, you can drive or rent a car with your Turkish driver's license for 6 months from the moment you enter the borders of the European Union. I hear that some countries ask for an international driver's license, but I have never encountered such a situation in France, any other EU country, or America...
Those who will stay for more than 6 months, that is, those who have a residence permit and will live here, must change their driver's license to a French driver's license within 1 year without the need to take any exam. Although this subject is very easy in theory, it can be very long and difficult in practice due to the terrible French bureaucracy.
If you accidentally apply to renew your driver's license after 1 year has expired, you will be too late, then your driver's license will not be renewed; You have to take exams to get a French driving license from the beginning. If you change during the normal period, there is no exam, so I recommend you not to miss this period, otherwise the process of getting a new driver's license in France is as difficult as you would believe.
Rent a car It is very difficult for me to tell you "this company is good" or "that company is bad". I think the ideal solution is to go to price comparison sites and search many sites. rent a car You can make a choice that suits you among the results offered to you by the company. My advice to you about renting a car: Be sure to rent a car with GPS or don't forget to bring your own GPS device. The roads in France are incredibly complicated. If you have a GPS, you will be comfortable and pray for me.
Of course, I'm talking about renting a car for your beautiful trips outside of Paris. The first thing I can say about driving in Paris is this: Driving in Paris is not a smart thing to do. As I always say, Paris is a small but extremely busy city, the size of Üsküdar and Beşiktaş combined. While some places astonish people with their wide boulevards, many of the intersections are arranged according to a chaotic traffic light system that we are not used to, created according to the disorder's own system.
What I mean by disorder here is not that the rules are not implemented, but that traffic lights and pedestrian priorities at chaotic intersections have created a very complex tangle of relationships. Sometimes I search the so-called irregular intersections of Istanbul with a candle; There are such intersections here that a lot of triangular roads have come together and they all seem to lead somewhere they want. You can't imagine how long it took me to get used to it.
So, if you are coming from another country or city with your own car, or if you are someone like me who enjoys driving in another country and you insist on driving in Paris, then first of all I wish you patience :) Especially in the city, the lane lines are not clear, the lanes get narrower. It's getting wider, there are no warning signs on some of the median strips in the middle of the road, you risk hitting the bottom of your car, especially at night, cyclists and especially motorcyclists coming from the preferred bus route when turning left and right can pose a danger, many more :)
After we settled in Paris, we were determined not to buy a car for a long time. It was revolutionary for even someone like me, who enjoys driving, to get used to living without a car. If I remember correctly, we lived without a car for the first six months. I really wanted to have a car, but "unfortunately" we didn't need a car at all :) So we didn't have the slightest reason to buy a car; You don't know how difficult this is for someone like me who loves driving :) Fortunately, it was a snowy winter day. to the hospital emergency room We had to go and neither the ambulance nor the ambulance came that day. taksi It was so easy to find. That day, we decided that we would have a car, even if it was simple, and keep it in our garage even if we didn't use it.
We bought a car and if you asked him how many times he took it out of the garage, believe me, I don't know either. So much so that the battery would die when the car was stopped being used. Go and make friends to feed That's when you need to ask for help. Until I bought a better car, I was setting an agenda every 15 days, going down to the garage and starting the car so that the battery wouldn't discharge again :) Think about how often I used the car :) Sometimes we would go out of Paris to recharge the battery, the purpose being to travel. Well, of course, driving in forested areas outside Paris and enjoying the roads while visiting castles is different; It is also very enjoyable to set off by car to visit the beautiful cities of France.
AMA Driving in Paris is really unnecessary, especially in the city center. Bus, metro, tram, RER ve commuter train In the transportation map woven with - even I - I felt so little need for a car. Of course, the pleasure of driving around an empty city on a Sunday morning when there is no one on the street is different, or walking around in areas with monumental buildings at midnight while listening to light music in the car, but in daily life it is really a pleasure. You don't need a car in Paris. Cars are a pain in the streets of Paris. As I always say: Paris is a city designed for horse-drawn carriages in the 19th century, and it was absolutely torture for motor vehicles…
Moreover 05.11.2024 According to a new application that started on Entering Paris's 1-2-3-4 zones by car is banned. Only vehicles used by people who live / work in that area and have official permission will be allowed to enter. This practice ZTL (zone traffic limit) It is said and it looks like there will be serious penalties. I experienced this practice during my trip to Italy in the fall of 2024, and I was unable to enter the center of many cities such as Rome, Florence, Pisa by car. The same situation now applies to the center of Paris. French speakers, More information about ZTL Paris in the official article on this link They can find it.
Traffic rules in Paris are very clear, they are not much different from the rules we know in Turkey, but especially You should never forget that even if the green light is given to us when turning right and left, pedestrians always have priority since the green light is mostly given to pedestrians at the pedestrian crossing. In fact, most of the time, while the light is green for you, it is also green for the vehicle that will be turning; Whoever has the right of way must pass first. You should be seriously careful.
At pedestrian crossings where there are no lights I don't even want to think that you don't give way to someone who is turning to the street to cross the street, it's like a constitutional rule: At pedestrian crossings, pedestrians always have priority! Also, at roundabouts, the vehicle entering the intersection must give way to the vehicle coming from the left. I was bored until I figured out this rule, I couldn't understand who was entering, who was leaving, who was going to give way to whom :)
They are very sensitive about speed limits. A few years ago, not in Paris but I remember that in a village in France, whose name I have forgotten, I was fined 20 euros for "excessive speed" because I did not notice the speed limit of 30km and drove at 100km. And since this punishment came after such a long time, people neither remember which village it was nor on which road they made such a "mistake". In June 2018, on a road near Versailles, in a place where the speed limit was 50 km, the "speed" was 56 km. I got a 90€ fine for what I did. If you do not pay the fine within 15 days, it becomes 135€; Let me say okay…
Where to check traffic fines I don't know, especially vehicles with foreign plates I have no idea whether he was punished or not, where and how the punishment was sent. I guess it's coming home... If anyone knows and shares it with us, I'd be happy.
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Ring road surrounding Paris in the peripheral speed limit 50 km limited to, The legal speed limit in Paris city center is 30 km And you constantly come across an intersection and you have to stop and go all the time. mercenary outside Paris Although the speed limit on highways is 130 and sometimes 110, on intercity state highways it is 90 km, not 80 km. It would be useful for you to pay attention to this.
Another detail you should pay attention to when driving in Paris: Before you reach the turnoff, pay attention to the arrows on the ground.. Sometimes you will come across bookmarks that show arrows only to the right or only to the left. If you enter this lane, you must turn in the direction the arrow points. So, for example, if you drive in a lane that gives arrows to the right and continue straight through the intersection, you will both disrupt the traffic order and have a high probability of being penalized.
honking, flashing It's totally forbidden! Can be perceived as swearing. Although a place like Istanbul jungleAs a calm person who did not honk his horn or throw flashlights even when I was living in , I said that I quickly got used to the French conditions in these matters. like in my homeland I can say I feel it. However, the traffic stress and stressed drivers of being in a big city are also present here. They're not that annoying because they pop up every now and then. So, if you hear a horn honking while driving in Paris, you might wonder, "Well, they didn't honk?" Please don't ask :)
There were some days when single or double license plates were applied as part of the fight against air pollution. But As of 2017, cars were classified according to their environmental pollution levels as “Crit'air" Tags called "0, 1, 2, 3" have started to be given. According to these tag numbers, certain vehicles are prevented from entering traffic when necessary. This is valid not only for Paris (as far as I know) but also for Lille, Lyon, Strasbourg, Grenoble and Toulouse. If you are going to come to these cities by car, from this link You need to get a label. You are not allowed to enter these city centers without this sticker on your car window....
If you are coming from abroad, you still need to have a Crit'Air stamp. They claim they will send it to your address but I In June 2024 NiceI still haven't received my Crit'Air stamp for the car I bought on , even though I ordered it three times, I had to cut out the QR code part of the e-mail I received and put it on the dashboard of my car, and that's how I drive around; if there's an inspection, I'll show you the printout of my invoice. So, as you can see, there are things that drive people crazy in France. Okay, let's buy a stamp, but at least let it be automatically assigned to the license plate, let's not bother with paperwork, right?
Evening traffic is a disaster, especially on weekends. I will never forget once, I went to France to celebrate my birthday. to the castles area I made the mistake of leaving Paris in Friday evening traffic, as I was a tourist at the time and had no idea about Paris' traffic. I was surprised at what happened when I saw the huge convoys of vehicles. PeripheralIt is very difficult to leave and throw yourself out of the city in such times. Especially if high highway fees If I tell you it will blow your mind. Paris - Nice If you go between there by car, it's just a highway fee. 89€ you pay; It's really like "child pain" 🙂 That's why If you are going to only one place outside the city and will not be wandering around much, it may be wiser to take the train.. Of course, provided that you buy your train ticket in advance… For this TCDD of France one SNCF's web page Check it out if you want.
Highways are more or less at our standards, even outside the city they are almost Because there is no highway lighting anywhere I don't find it successful enough, but for some reason the French are proud of their tolled and expensive highways. Only in the Brittany region are the highways free of charge... Accommodations on the highways are the usual resting facilities; The highway rest facilities in France are very dull and simple compared to the facilities in Turkey. Also, during the holiday season, these places get incredibly crowded. If you choose to avoid the money and go off the highway, you can pass through wonderful routes and do not pay toll, but this time the road is so long that I cannot explain. Because you have to pass through city centers frequently and the speed limit drops to 50 km or even 30 km. The places you see are beautiful, but the road never ends. Not to mention the risk of exceeding the speed limit and the possibility of receiving a traffic ticket...
I don't know how they do it, but traffic congestion forecasts on intercity roads are broadcast on television during special holidays such as Eid Seyran. Estimates are given as to how full each road will be. Strangely enough, these predictions turn out to be true.
What I mean is that there is quite heavy traffic both in Paris and on the ring roads outside Paris. Once, I drove my dear friend Ali's car in the evening. Charles de Gaulle AirportI had to drop it off at , I never went to the airport by car again after that day :)
Driving in Paris is all well and good. One of the most important things you should pay attention to are motorcycles, but especially cyclists and those who wander around with other strange wheeled vehicles... Bicycle use is common in the city and they do not ride on the right side of the road at all, they can just center the lane and ride calmly. You should pay special attention to such cyclists. You already know that you should pay attention to motorcyclists, but cyclists can be overlooked, I would like to warn you about that. Sometimes even scooter-style skateboards other than bicycles, sagway You may come across two- or even single-wheeled battery-powered mini vehicles; You should be careful not to damage them and cause problems.
I think that's all I can say about driving in Paris for now. If you have anything you would like to add or correct, please share your experiences with us by writing in the comments section... Oh, and as of July 1, 2015 Talking on the phone with a Bluetooth headset while driving is prohibited In fact, this ban even covers motorcycles and bicycles, to that extent. I have no idea how much this ban is enforced…
I kindly ask you to obey the traffic rules while driving and to respect other drivers and pedestrians. Please do not hit the road without wearing seat belts, especially in the front and back seats. The rules are there for all of us and our safety.
May you have many beautiful paths that you will reach with joy and pleasure.
In the video above, the largest square in Paris Concorde SquareA beautiful memory from the mass vehicle parade held in , with hundreds of classic cars participating. If you are interested in classic cars like me, I believe you will have a good time watching the French drive antique cars just for fun.
Enjoy watching.
16 Comments
Hello, first of all, thank you for your efforts on this site. I'm thinking of renting a car for the summer to explore places outside Paris. Are highways as expensive as they say? Should I choose options such as train instead of car?
Hello, first of all, thank you for your nice comment. Yes, highways are incredibly expensive. If I'm not mistaken, I last paid around 50 euros one way as a highway toll between Paris and Montpellier. Since the pricing is not done all at once, it is not easy to calculate. You often pass through toll booths.
Trains are also cheap if purchased in advance, otherwise they can be as expensive as planes.
Hello, first of all, Mr. Ahmet's warning to change your driver's license within the first year is very appropriate. However, the fact that you have made this application on time does not guarantee that your driver's license will be changed easily and quickly, and the reason is, as you know, bureaucracy.
The first requirement for changing your driver's license is to have your residence card; My advice is to start the exchange process as soon as you receive your residence card; Because you will need to collect documents for this and the subsequent evaluation process takes much longer, unfortunately, this is proven by experience.
Even though I made my application within the first 1,5 months; 1 year and 2 months have passed since my application, and according to French law, I have been prohibited from driving with my local Turkish driver's license for 4 months, and I have still been without a car for 4 months. If you say you won't go out of Paris by car or do heavy grocery shopping, there is no one better than you. But in other cases it can be difficult.
Let me also talk about crit'air; The label you will receive is valid within the borders of France, but for example, I have a friend who was fined in the city center of Brussels with his 2 crit'air vehicles that are accepted within Paris. Therefore, it would be beneficial to research the rules of the cities you will visit by car beforehand.
Hello Mr. Tolga,
Thank you very much for sharing your experience with us. I'm sure it will be a warning and a guide for many people.
I hope your problem will be resolved as soon as possible and you can start driving again.
I wish you happy days.
In the meantime, get well soon. It's so sad for Notre Dame and for the world.
You can try it, thanks for your reply.
I want to rent a scooter in Paris, not a car. I think the rental system is a bit complicated and difficult for tourists. Barcoded or something. But it would be very practical. I wonder if I should bring my scooter in my suitcase?
I've never rented a scooter before, but I think it's an easy process. You download the application and define your credit card. You scan the barcode of the scooter you found and start using it. You are charged for what you use. When you're done, you scan the barcode and leave it wherever you want without obstructing passage...
Most importantly, you forgot to mention that vehicles exiting from the right have priority.
This blog is enriched with your additions. After all, I share what I know and what comes to my mind, and the more you remind me, the more the content gains value. Of course, we cannot always say that those coming from the right have priority, it is also necessary to pay attention to the main road - secondary road distinctions. At roundabouts, priority is given to the vehicle coming from the left. Thanks.
I passed the driving license exam in France, but I had to settle in TR before I could get my driving hours. Is there any possibility of transferring my file there to TR, thank you
Hello,
In fact, it is not something I know anything about, but in my opinion, since you are not considered to have received your driver's license in France, the steps you have gone through will not have any equivalent in Turkey. I think the same thing applies when coming from Turkey to France. As a result, there is an agreement between the two states regarding the replacement of existing driving licenses; Otherwise, I do not think that there will be a file transfer during the driver's license process and that your file in France will be accepted in Turkey. However, of course, it would be beneficial to find someone who is an expert in this field and ask them.
Happy Days.
My 10-year-old daughter, who went abroad for the first time after our trip in June, immediately noticed that there was no horn blowing and was very surprised. Of course, we heard the horn sound a few times, but it is very rare for an Istanbulite... Life is heaven for pedestrians, people get so used to jumping in the middle of the road that one should not get too used to comfort in order not to fall victim to an accident when returning to Istanbul. There is also such a good public transportation network that there is no need for a car. Again, a very nice article, thank you :)
Hello Ms. Aylin,
I just noticed this comment of yours, I apologize for my late thanks.
Thank you very, very much…
So, do the same things apply for a motorcycle license?
Unfortunately, I have no knowledge about motorcycles. All I know is that engines up to 125cm3 can be used with a Class B driver's license. Motorcycle licenses obtained from TR should be valid for 6 months here too, but I'm not sure.