Driving holidays France. Crossing to France with a car. Ferries to France from England with Drive-Alive Holidays.

Driving to France. Drive-Alive motoring holidays in France.

How to get to France by car.

Driving in France is much pleasanter than in the UK. Although the population of the two countries is similar, France is roughly twice the size of the UK so traffic is much lighter. You'll soon get used to driving on the right, and then you can sit back and enjoy the wide open roads and wonderful scenery.

Use the Drive-Alive website to find your route, choose your ferry crossings, hotels and holiday homes, all at great prices.

Getting to France - follow the links below for more information. Use the links in the side bars to book.

The shortest and quickest route is across the English Channel.
Eurotunnel from Folkestone to Calais takes 35 minutes and runs up to four times per hour at peak times.
P&O Ferries takes from one and a quarter to one and a half hours from Dover to Calais, with comfortable modern vessels with shops, restaurants and cafes on board. Sailings are frequent.
Sea France offer a taste of France as soon as you step onboard these French ships which cross between Dover and Calais in just one and a quarter hours.
If you're going to Western France or coming from Western Britain you can save on driving by crossing with:
Brittany Ferries from Portsmouth, Poole and Plymouth to Caen, Cherbourg and St Malo.
P&O Ferries Portsmouth sail to Le Havre until September 30th 2005 when this route will be discontinued.
For more detailed information on all ferry routes to France.
Buy road maps of Europe online for delivery to your door.
Interactive route planner for journeys through France and Europe.
Motoring rules and regulations in France.

Drive Alive! In France drive on the right!

When driving in France be especially careful setting off from service stations or restaurants in France on the left side of the road. Look left, then look right, then cross over to the right-hand side of the road.

Speed limits in France, shown below, are implemented rigorously. Radar traps are frequent. In France, anyone caught travelling at more than 25km/h above the speed limit can have their licence conviscated on the spot.

Take care when overtaking in France - allow more space between you and the car in front so you can see further down the road ahead.

France has strict drink driving laws - alcohol limits of 0.5 are stricter than the UK where the limit is 0.8.

More information on French motoring regulations
Motorway Autoroute and Tunnel Tolls
Distance Chart in miles and kilometres
Relative Carbon Emissions

Seat belts front and rear are obligatory everywhere in France.

Remember - Speeding and other traffic offences in France are subject to on-the-spot fines.

International Driving Permits are not required for France.

In France a full UK driving licence is required, and the minimum age for driving is 18.

Children under 10 are forbidden to travel in the front seat in France.

Warning triangles should be carried at all times.

At roundabouts give way to traffic from the left.

In towns, if no priority is shown, give way to traffic from the right.

Speed Limits and Alcohol Limits in France

Motorway	Dual Carriageway	Open Road	Town	Alcohol Limit
130 km/h (110 when wet)	110 (90 when wet)	90 km/h	50 km/h	0.5

All information on this page is provided as a service to our clients. It is intended as a guide to the more important rules for the different countries to which we offer driving holidays. It is not meant to be a comprehensive document. We try and keep the information on this page up-to-date, but we cannot be held responsible in any way for any consequences arising from any inaccuracies. If you find a mistake or would like to send us some additional information, please email us. Your co-operation is appreciated.