Driving through France has always been a popular holiday choice. With convenient transportation, spacious roads, and breathtaking scenery along the way, it’s no wonder why. However, before embarking on a road trip, there are some things you should know.
Black Weekends
Like in other countries, French roads can get busy during certain times. These include school holidays, public holidays, and the uniquely French “faire le pont” (bridging the weekend with a short holiday). Especially in July and August, you might “luckily” find yourself stuck in traffic jams with other travelers.
To avoid traffic jams in advance, you can check the traffic prediction website (https://www.bison-fute.gouv.fr/) beforehand. This website publishes a calendar, and if it’s a busy congested day, it will use red and black labels to warn you.
Fuel Prices
Generally, gasoline prices at highway gas stations are the highest, so refueling in town will save you money. Recently, the French government launched a dynamic gas station map (https://www.prix-carburants.gouv.fr/), listing the current fuel prices at gas stations nationwide.
In addition, apps like Carbu.com, Essence&Co, and Fuel Flash can also provide relevant fuel price information. When you’re in town, you can compare fuel prices using the above methods. Or, when on a long road trip, plan your route by selecting cheaper gas stations.
Crit’Air
During your road trip, if you pass through a city, check if your car needs a Crit’Air sticker. If your vehicle meets European emission standards, you can obtain this sticker. Motorcycles, quadricycles, private cars, vans, trucks, long-haul coaches, and buses are all included.
Initially, some provinces in major cities would check if your car had a Crit’Air sticker, such as: Paris, Grenoble, Lille, Bordeaux, Rennes, Strasbourg, Toulouse, and Marseille all require a Crit’Air sticker. But now more and more towns also require these proofs. In some cities, vehicles with emission standards of levels 3, 4, and 5 are prohibited. To avoid such situations, you can order a Crit’Air sticker online in advance (https://www.certificat-air.gouv.fr/), with the sticker costing less than 5 euros.
