https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from France in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed French drivers don't exactly have the best reputation, but that doesn't mean that there are no rules in place on the roads in France. Here's a guide to driving offences and how many points they will cost you if you have a French licence. https://www.thelocal.fr/20200204/driving-in-france-what-are-the-offences-that-could-lose-you-your-licence Tue, 04 Feb 2020 11:38:49 +0100 driving-in-france-what-are-the-offences-that-could-lose-you-your-licence Local authorities in certain parts south-west France have joined a scheme to suspend the licences of anyone caught using a phone while driving - even if they have an otherwise clean licence. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260427/south-west-france-to-begin-suspending-licences-of-drivers-caught-on-phone Mon, 27 Apr 2026 11:12:05 +0200 south-west-france-to-begin-suspending-licences-of-drivers-caught-on-phone It's been an on-again, off-again plan, but from May 2026 a fee will be applied to anyone who needs to swap their foreign driving licence for a French one. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260423/france-to-impose-fees-for-driving-licence-exchange Thu, 23 Apr 2026 11:36:52 +0200 france-to-impose-fees-for-driving-licence-exchange A marathon, parks, footpaths and cycle lanes - Paris’s famously traffic-snarled périphérique could look very different in the future if the new mayor has his way. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260422/is-the-paris-mayor-really-going-to-turn-the-ring-road-into-a-park Wed, 22 Apr 2026 13:26:00 +0200 is-the-paris-mayor-really-going-to-turn-the-ring-road-into-a-park If you are considering renting a car in France, there are plenty of alternative options outside of the main car rental companies. Often, they are more convenient and more affordable. Here are a few to consider. https://www.thelocal.fr/20250925/explained-the-alternative-ways-to-rent-a-car-in-france Thu, 25 Sep 2025 14:52:26 +0200 explained-the-alternative-ways-to-rent-a-car-in-france French lawmakers have voted to scrap the low-emission zones that are in place for motorists in 25 towns and cities across France. But what happens next? https://www.thelocal.fr/20260416/french-parliament-votes-to-scrap-low-emission-zones-but-is-this-the-end Thu, 16 Apr 2026 09:37:46 +0200 french-parliament-votes-to-scrap-low-emission-zones-but-is-this-the-end It’s the 49th Schneider Electric Marathon de Paris this Sunday, when some 60,000 runners will turn a large area of the city into a car-free zone. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260410/where-the-streets-will-have-no-cars-for-the-weekends-paris-marathon Fri, 10 Apr 2026 14:49:27 +0200 where-the-streets-will-have-no-cars-for-the-weekends-paris-marathon The ongoing blockade of the Hormuz Strait has not only sent the price of petrol/gasoline and diesel soaring, there are also growing reports of shortages at filling stations in France. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260331/map-fuel-shortages-reported-at-filling-stations-around-france Tue, 31 Mar 2026 11:26:35 +0200 map-fuel-shortages-reported-at-filling-stations-around-france If you're driving on French motorways you will be expected to pay a toll charge - unless you're in Brittany. Here's why: https://www.thelocal.fr/20260402/why-is-brittany-the-only-place-in-france-that-doesnt-have-motorway-tolls Thu, 02 Apr 2026 16:18:05 +0200 why-is-brittany-the-only-place-in-france-that-doesnt-have-motorway-tolls A total of 16 percent of France's filling stations - representing 1,600 outlets - were out of at least one type of fuel on Thursday morning, according to the latest calculations. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260402/across-france-16-percent-of-filling-stations-have-run-out-of-petrol-or-diesel Thu, 02 Apr 2026 15:44:33 +0200 across-france-16-percent-of-filling-stations-have-run-out-of-petrol-or-diesel The French hauliers association has announced the suspension of its campaign of roadblocks after what it described as 'progress' in talks with the government. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260402/french-truckers-suspend-blockades-over-progress-in-talks-on-fuel-prices Thu, 02 Apr 2026 10:25:10 +0200 french-truckers-suspend-blockades-over-progress-in-talks-on-fuel-prices A French law firm is set to launch a class-action lawsuit against the country’s motorway operators, over what it claims is the 'potential illegality' of tolls at motorway péages. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260401/french-class-action-lawsuit-over-motorway-peage-charges Wed, 01 Apr 2026 17:31:25 +0200 french-class-action-lawsuit-over-motorway-peage-charges Foreigners living in France will, sooner or later, have to swap their driving licence for a French one - here's how to do that, how to use the website and who is eligible. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260401/step-by-step-how-to-swap-your-driving-licence-for-a-french-one Wed, 01 Apr 2026 12:23:01 +0200 step-by-step-how-to-swap-your-driving-licence-for-a-french-one Truckers gathered early on Tuesday morning on the outskirts of Nantes in western France, the latest in a series of blockades to demand more government aid with fuel prices on the rise. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260330/truckers-blockade-paris-more-protests-planned-across-france Mon, 30 Mar 2026 09:30:16 +0200 truckers-blockade-paris-more-protests-planned-across-france War in the Middle East has caused energy market volatility around the globe, forcing governments in Europe to intervene and keep fuel costs down for consumers. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260328/what-are-european-countries-doing-to-keep-fuel-costs-down Sat, 28 Mar 2026 14:13:15 +0100 what-are-european-countries-doing-to-keep-fuel-costs-down Motorists everywhere are struggling in the face of spiking prices at the pumps because of the war in the Middle East — but how much should you expect to pay in France? https://www.thelocal.fr/20260327/how-expensive-is-petrol-in-france-right-now Fri, 27 Mar 2026 16:27:46 +0100 how-expensive-is-petrol-in-france-right-now Faced with fears of a diesel shortage, the French government has temporarily authorised the sale of fuel that does not meet usual standards. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260326/france-loosens-diesel-standards-amid-rising-fuel-prices Thu, 26 Mar 2026 11:03:19 +0100 france-loosens-diesel-standards-amid-rising-fuel-prices Following a meeting with the government, France's biggest oil company has announced a new price cap at fuel pumps through to the end of March. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260313/french-oil-giant-caps-petrol-prices-at-e1-99-until-the-end-of-march Fri, 13 Mar 2026 09:32:37 +0100 french-oil-giant-caps-petrol-prices-at-e1-99-until-the-end-of-march The boss of one of France's largest supermarket chains has announced that the price of fuel at his filling stations will fall by 30 cents in the next few days, after he "succeeded in putting pressure" on the oil refineries. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260311/french-supermarket-boss-announces-30-cent-drop-in-price-of-fuel Wed, 11 Mar 2026 11:11:03 +0100 french-supermarket-boss-announces-30-cent-drop-in-price-of-fuel Whether you’re coming to France as a tourist or plan to stay for the longer term, will you be able to drive on your US licence? https://www.thelocal.fr/20260306/how-long-can-you-drive-on-a-us-licence-in-france Fri, 06 Mar 2026 16:23:55 +0100 how-long-can-you-drive-on-a-us-licence-in-france