Driving in France as a Greek

Roundabouts work the same way as at home. Some older roundabouts have no give-way signs or markings at the entries. There, drivers on the roundabout must slow down and let entering traffic in.

Most Paris streets are 30 km/h and the boulevard périphérique is 50 km/h. At weekday peak times its left lane is reserved for vehicles carrying at least two people when a white diamond is lit. Through traffic is banned in the 1st to 4th arrondissements.

Phone and GPS apps may warn of danger zones, but not of exact camera positions. Radar detectors are illegal, with a fine of up to €1,500, and the device is seized.

Towns are 50 km/h here, faster than the 30 km/h at home. Country roads are 80 km/h here, slower than the 90 km/h at home. The sign with the town's name on it sets the town limit by itself, usually with no speed sign. Limits drop when it rains.

On motorways, overtaking on the right is banned. Keep to the right-hand lane unless you're overtaking. Overtake on the left.

A Crit'Air sticker is compulsory to drive in a ZFE-m, and each zone bans older vehicles by sticker class on its own timetable. In Greater Paris, cars without a sticker or with Crit'Air 5, 4 or 3 cannot drive from Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm, except on public holidays. Parliament voted to abolish the zones, but the Constitutional Council struck that out on 21 May 2026, so they remain in force. Where: 25 urban areas, including Greater Paris, Lyon, Grenoble, Strasbourg, Lille, Montpellier, Toulouse, Aix-Marseille, Nice, Rouen and Bordeaux. Entry is marked by a zone sign (B56). Fine: €68 fixed fine, up to €450. Check that the hire car shows a Crit'Air sticker on the windscreen. For a foreign-registered car, order the sticker only from certificat-air.gouv.fr, the one official site.

From 1 November to 31 March, cars must have four winter tyres with the alpine symbol, or carry snow chains or snow socks for at least two driving wheels. Where: Designated communes in the Alps, Corsica, the Massif Central, the Jura, the Pyrenees and the Vosges, marked by entry and exit signs (B58 and B59). Ask the hire company for winter tyres or chains if you will drive into the mountains in winter.

Many autoroutes charge a toll. Most are paid at toll plazas, but the A79 and the Paris to Normandy A13 and A14 use free-flow tolling with no barriers. On free-flow sections, cameras and sensors record your plate when you enter and leave. Signs warn you about 2.5 km before the entrance. Without a toll tag, pay within 3 days of the trip on the operator's website (Aliae for the A79, Sanef for the A13 and A14) or by card or cash at a shop in the Nirio network. If you don't, fines of €90 and then €375 follow.

With a Greek licence, your own licence is enough. You don't need an International Driving Permit. Licences from EU and EEA countries are recognised for as long as they are valid. The holder must be at least 18 and must respect any medical conditions on the licence.

At a junction with no signs, lights or markings, traffic coming from your right goes first, even from a small side street. A red-bordered triangle with a black X warns of such a junction. On roads with yellow diamond signs you have priority until a diamond crossed by a black bar. At a junction with no signs, signals or road markings, give way to traffic coming from your right, even from a small side street. It's the same rule as at home.

A red light means stop, whichever way you are turning. You may only pass a red light when a flashing amber arrow beside it points the way you are going. Running a red light costs €135, and red light cameras are never signposted.

Every car must carry a hi-vis vest and a warning triangle. Wear the vest when you get out after a breakdown, and place the triangle at least 30 metres behind the car.