Driving in France on a UK licence, and getting around Paris without a car

Whether you need a French licence depends mostly on one date printed on your UK one, and in Paris you may find you hardly need the car at all.

The short version

• Visiting? A UK photocard licence is fine for driving in France. Paper licence holders may need an International Driving Permit, and hire firms set their own rules [3].
• Living here with a licence issued before 1 January 2021? You can keep using it until it expires; exchange it when it expires or within 12 months of expiry [1][2].
• Licence issued from 1 January 2021? You must exchange it for a French one, within a year of becoming resident [1][2].
• Exchanges are done online through ANTS (France Titres) and cost EUR 40 (about £33) [2]. Once you live in France you can't renew your UK licence [1].
• In Paris, a monthly Navigo pass costs EUR 90.80 (about £76) in 2026 for all zones, and covers the whole region [4].

Pound conversions use the Bank of England spot rate of 5 November 2026 (£1 = EUR 1.20).

Which rules apply to you?

The FCDO says you cannot replace or renew a UK, Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey or Isle of Man licence once you live in France [1]. So if your photocard runs out while you're living in Paris, the DVLA can't help; you'll be swapping to a French licence.

You'll also have to exchange early, whatever its date, if you lose your licence or have it stolen, need a new category, or commit an offence in France that costs points or leads to a suspension [2].

When does the year start?

For a licence that must be exchanged, the clock runs from when you became normally resident in France: the date your first residence permit was issued, or the date your long-stay visa was validated [2]. Renewing your card doesn't restart it. Don't leave it until month eleven; the FCDO warns that processing can take time [1].

Exchanging your UK licence: step by step

1. Get your UK driving record evidence. The French authorities want an attestation des droits à conduire from the UK, less than six months old [2]. For a licence from England, Scotland or Wales, the FCDO says you'll need a DVLA check code; for Northern Ireland, a DVA check code [1]. Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey and Isle of Man licences need a letter from the licensing authority there [1].
2. Gather your documents [2]: - a colour scan of both sides of your licence - ID and proof of address less than six months old - proof of legal residence (residence permit or the OFII sticker in your passport) - a digital photo and signature code from an approved photo booth or photographer - translations where a document isn't in French
3. Apply online through ANTS (France Titres) using the "échanger un permis étranger" procedure, and pay the EUR 40 electronic tax stamp (timbre fiscal) [2].
4. Post your original UK licence by registered post when asked. You'll then be able to download an attestation de dépôt sécurisée from your ANTS account, which lets you keep driving in France for four months while you wait [1][2].
5. Your French licence arrives by tracked post about 15 days after the application is approved, and is valid for 15 years [2].

If something goes wrong, France Titres can be reached on 34 00, Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm [2]. Our guide to driving abroad on a UK licence covers the DVLA side.

Driving in Paris

Honestly, most Parisians with a car use it to leave Paris, not to get around it. If you do drive in the city:

• You need an air pollution sticker. The FCDO says one is required to drive in central Paris from 8am to 8pm on weekdays, and some older vehicles can't be driven there at all in those hours. Stickers come from the official certificat-air.gouv.fr site [3]. The rules have changed several times, so check before you drive in.
• Speed limits are low. Paris is largely a 30 km/h (about 19 mph) city, with 50 km/h on some main roads, and the boulevard périphérique ring road dropped to 50 km/h (31 mph) in October 2024 [5].
• Priorité à droite still applies at many junctions: traffic from the right has priority unless signs say otherwise. At the Arc de Triomphe, traffic joining the roundabout has priority over traffic already on it [5].
• Drink-driving limits are stricter. The FCDO notes the French limit is a third lower than in England and Wales, and police run regular roadside checks [3].
• Kit: carry a hi-vis vest and warning triangle, your licence, insurance and registration documents, and a UK sticker if driving a UK car [3][5].
• Parking on the street is paid and expensive in central Paris, with much higher rates for heavy cars such as big SUVs [5]. Residents can get a cheaper residential parking rate from the city.

If you're bringing a UK-registered car to live here, it will need French registration in time. Many Brits in Paris decide it isn't worth it and sell up before they move.

Getting around by metro, RER, bus and tram

Paris public transport is run under Île-de-France Mobilités, with the RATP running the metro, most buses and part of the RER, and SNCF running the rest of the RER and suburban trains. It's cheaper than London's and covers the whole region on one pass.

2026 fares (from 1 January 2026) [4]:

A few things worth knowing:

• The monthly or annual Navigo is the one to get if you commute. It covers every zone, so trips to Versailles and Disneyland Paris are included, and the monthly pass also covers the airports by RER and metro, which the Navigo Day doesn't [4].
• Your employer pays half. By law, employers in France reimburse 50% of your public transport pass for getting to work, so a Navigo Month costs you about EUR 45.40 (about £38).
• Navigo Liberté+ suits occasional users: you tap in and get billed afterwards, at a lower price than single tickets [4].
• Reduced fares of 50% and 75% are available on the Navigo Month and Week for people on some benefits and low incomes [4].

Bikes, taxis and walking

Paris has invested heavily in cycle lanes, and the city's bike-share, Vélib', is a handy way to cover short hops. Taxis and ride-hailing apps work as they do in London. And central Paris is compact: the walk from the Louvre to the Eiffel Tower is about 3 km (2 miles), which is quicker than the metro once you count the changes.

Our community group for Brits in France is a good place to ask how long the ANTS exchange is taking right now.

Sources

1. GOV.UK (FCDO): Living in France – driving (last updated 2 October 2026)
2. Service-Public.fr: Échanger un permis de conduire étranger (checked 1 June 2026)
3. GOV.UK (FCDO): France travel advice – safety and security (updated 30 October 2026, when we checked on 7 November 2026)
4. Île-de-France Mobilités: 2026 fares
5. LeShuttle: A guide to driving in Paris

Keep reading

• Moving to Paris as a Brit: visa and residence routes
• Cost of living in Paris vs London and the UK average
• Driving abroad on a UK licence
• Moving abroad checklist for Brits