Driving in France - Offences and Penalties

What are the main driving offences and punishments in France?

We provide a summary of what you can expect if you break the Code de la Route.

Those resident in France from within the EU who commit an offence that would otherwise result in restriction, cancellation, or suspension of a French driving licence, or loss of points on the licence, are also required to exchange their foreign licence for a French one. In practice, they may not require you to do this for a minor offence, but do not bank on it!

Fines and imprisonment can also be applied against those driving in France on a foreign driving licence.

In relation to some of the offences listed below, as well as the penalities listed, you may also be liable to immediate roadside licence disqualification and/or confiscation of the vehicle.

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Major Offences

Driving Offence	Imprisonment	Fine	Penalty Points	Licence Suspension
Causing death by dangerous driving	≥ 5 years	≥ €75,000	6	5-10 years
Causing serious injury by careless driving	≥ 3 years	≥ €45,000	6	5-10 years
Driving with excess alcohol (≥ 0.4 mg/l in breath sample, or ≥ 0.8 g/l in blood sample)/Failing to co-operate with a breath test	2 years	€4,500	6	3 years
Drink driving - Second offence	4 years	€9,000	6	3 years
Driving under influence of drugs/Failing to co-operate with preliminary test	2 years	€4,500	6	3 years
Driving without a licence	1 year	€15,000	-	-
Driving whilst disqualified	2 years	€4,500	6	3 years
Contravening a driving ban	2 years	€4,500	-	3 years
Hit and run	2 years	€30,000	6	5 years
Breaking speed limit by over 50 kph - Second offence	3 months	€3,750	6	3 years
Failing to co-operate	3 months	€3,750	6	3 years
Driving with false registration	5-7 years	€3,750 - €30,000	6	3 years
Driving with no insurance certificate	-	€3,750	-	3 years
Perturbing or obstructing traffic	2 years	€4,500	6	3 years
Display of device to modify the moped/motorbike speed limiter	2 years	€30,000	-	3 years
Display of device to locate or disturb speed cameras	2 years	€30,000	-	3 years

Minor Offences - 5th Class

Driving Offence	Fine	Penalty Points	Licence Suspension
Driving with TV monitor in field of vision	€1,500	3	-
Use of illegal speed camera detector	€1,500	6	-
Causing (light) injury by careless driving	€1,500	-	3 years
Breaking speed limit by over 50 kph	€1,500	6	3 years

Minor Offences - 4th Class

Driving Offence	Fine	Penalty Points	Licence Suspension
Using a mobile phone while driving a motor vehicle	€135 (1)	3	-
Driving without respecting driving licence requirements and restrictions	€135 (1)	3	3 years
Driving an agricultural vehicle or machine under age	€135 (1)	-	-
Drink Driving: from 0.25 mg/l to 0.4 mg/l in breath sample, or from 0.5 g/l to 0.8 g/l in blood sample	€135 (1)	6	3 years
Failing to give way	€135 (1)	4	3 years
Not stopping before a red light or a stop sign	€135 (1)	4	3 years
Driving in a no through road	€135 (1)	4	3 years
Making U-turn/Reversing on a motorway	€135 (1)	4	3 years
Driving at night/In dark surroundings with lights off	€135 (1)	4	3 years
Not respecting safety distances	€135 (1)	3	3 years
Dangerous overtaking	€135 (1)	3	3 years
Driving on the left when not on a dual carriageway	€135 (1)	3	3 years
Crossing a white line	€135 (1)	3	3 years
Driving on a white line	€135 (1)	1	3 years
Accelerating while being overtaken	€135 (1)	2	3 years
Failing to get in right-hand lane while being overtaken	€135 (1)	-	-
Driving outside the carriageway or in a reserved lane	€135 (1)	-	-
Not wearing an helmet on two wheeler	€135 (1)	3	-
Not using seat belt	€135 (1)	3	-
Neither safety jacket nor safety triangle on board	€135 (1)	-	-
Using a vehicle with damaged tyre(s)	€135 (1)	-	-
Using a vehicle with no plates or unreadable plates	€135 (1)	-	-
Driving without the vehicle registration document	€135 (1)	-	-
Using a vehicle without MOT	€135 (1)	-	-
Failing to give way when entering a highway	€135 (2)	4	3 years
Speeding Offences
Breaking speed Limit by between 40 and 50 kph	€135 (1)	4	3 years
Breaking speed Limit by between 30 and 40 kph	€135 (1)	3	3 years
Breaking speed limits by between 20 and 30 kph	€135 (1)	2	-
Breaking speed limit by under 20 kph when the speed limit is ≤ 50kph	€135 (1)	1	-
Parking Offences
Dangerous or inconsiderate stopping/parking	€135 (2)	3	3 years
Stopping/parking at night or in dark surroundings without lighting	€135 (2)	3	3 years
Inconsiderate stopping or parking	€135 (2)	-	-

Minor Offences - 3rd Class

Driving Offence	Fine	Penalty Points	Licence Suspension
Breaking speed limits by under 20 kph when driving over 50kph	€68 (3)	1	-
Using a vehicle with no prescribed braking system	€68 (3)	-	-

Minor Offences - 2nd Class

Driving Offence	Fine	Penalty Points	Licence Suspension
Turning suddenly without prior warning	€35 (4)	3	3 years
Driving on hard shoulder	€35 (4)	3	3 years
Failing to pay a toll fee	€35 (4)	-	-
Cyclist with no safety jacket (when riding out of town)	€35 (4)	-	-
Inadequate stopping or parking	€35 (5)	-	-

Minor Offences - 1st Class

Driving Offence	Fine	Penalty Points	Licence Suspension
Illegal parking	€17 (6)	-	-
No alcohol breath test kit in vehicle	€17 (6)	-	-

(1) (€90 if paying within 3 or 15 days, depending on offence, or €375 if paying after more than 45 days)
(2) (€375 if paying after more than 45 days)
(3) (€45 if paying within 3 or 15 days, depending on offence)
(4) (€22 if paying within 3 or 15 days, depending on offence, or €75 if paying after more than 45 days)
(5) (€75 if paying after more than 45 days)
(6) (€33 if paying after more than 45 days)
(7) (€7 if paying after more than 45 days)