Recreational vehicles are attracting more and more enthusiasts every year. The desire to travel without constraints, to be more independent, and to be able to wake up in a different place every day are just some of the reasons why people are turning to this form of itinerant travel. It’s undeniable that traveling by motorhome (or other RV) offers a certain degree of freedom. However, travelers should be aware that there are regulations governing both traffic and parking in motorhomes. That’s why it’s important to be aware of these rules, to avoid any surprises during your trip! You are planning to go on a motorhome trip in France ? Find out in this article everything you need to know about motorhome rules in France in 2023!
Reminder of motorhome driving and parking rules
Motorhome traffic
What license do I need to drive a motorhome?
You may think that you need a different license from your driver’s license to drive your motorhome, but no! If you’re planning to drive a motorhome weighing 3.5 tonnes or less in France, your driver’s license is accepted. Most recreational vehicles on the market (motorhomes, vans, converted vans, etc.) don’t exceed 3.5 tonnes. If, on the other hand, you plan to drive a vehicle exceeding this weight, you’ll need a C1 license.
Even if you don’t need a special license to drive a motorhome, be aware that you’ll need time to adapt to the vehicle’s size before setting off on your journey!
Is there a special Highway Code for motorhomes?
The Highway Code governing car traffic is the same for motorhomes! So speed limits are the same for everyone in France! On the other hand, motorhomes weighing over 3.5 tonnes have to comply with different speed regulations:
110 km/h on freeways
100 km/h on dual carriageways separated by a central reservation
80 km/h on other roads (national, departmental, etc.).
For motorhomes over 3.5 tons, city driving is also different. You’ll need to be alert to weight-related prohibitions or bypassing requirements. You also have to remember to keep a distance of 50 meters from the vehicle in front of you.
As a general rule, always respect local regulations, which may impose special restrictions on larger vehicles.
What are the motorway tolls that apply to motorhomes?
Motorway tolls are determined by the vehicle’s GVWR (light or heavy), its size (less than 2 or 3 meters high) and the number of axles (those with two rear axles are in the most expensive category). So pay close attention to the tariff category to which your motorhome belongs, to avoid being upgraded.
Motorhome parking
Motorhomes drivers have to obey to the General Code of Local Authorities and the Town Planning Code, just like cars owners.
So you’re perfectly entitled to park your motorhome in town when you are traveling in France. You can also park your motorhome on private land. However, if you’re not the owner of the plot, you’ll need the landowner’s agreement. You’ll only have the right to stay for a maximum of three months (consecutive or not).
Be careful, however, not to confuse parking with camping! While you have the right to park on the public highway, it’s forbidden to take your awning, outdoor furniture and wheel chocks outside. This would be considered camping, and you could be fined! To avoid any risk, head for service areas specially designed for motorhomes or campsites, using the CaraMaps app! You’ll find the best places to camp in complete peace of mind!
What are the motorhome rules in France in 2023?
The Crit’air sticker
What is the Crit’air sticker?
From January 1, 2023, vehicles with a CritAir 3 sticker (or higher) can no longer enter ZFE-m (Zone à faibles émissions mobilité) areas. There are currently 11 urban areas with ZFE-m zones: Aix-Marseille, Grenoble, Lyon, Montpellier, Nice, Paris, Reims, Rouen, Saint-Étienne, Strasbourg and Toulouse. By 2025, no fewer than 32 ZFE-m will have been introduced in towns and cities with more than 150,000 inhabitants.
The Crit’air sticker, or “air quality certificate”, is a number between 0 and 5 on a sticker, corresponding to the environmental class of your vehicle. There are 6 classes of certificate, depending on vehicle factors. These factors are : type of vehicle (car, two-wheeler, etc.), age of vehicle, engine (petrol, diesel, etc.). You can find the 6 categories established by the French Ministry of Ecological Transition and Territorial Cohesion on this official website.
Is the Crit’air sticker mandatory ?
The vignette is now compulsory if you want to drive in certain EPZs. The aim is to control traffic and reduce air pollution in these zones by excluding the most polluting vehicles.
However, some cities have agreed to allow motorhomes into their EPZs, such as Rouen Normandie and Montpellier Méditerrannée. The local authorities have declared that until June 30, 2024, motorhomes and caravans with VASP markings on their registration certificates will be allowed to circulate in their ZFE-m zones. Fingers crossed that other cities will be just as lenient with motorhomes and other recreational vehicles🤞
Be careful when buying your Crit’Air sticker! Don’t just rely on the registration date of your motorhome. Motorhome chassis and engines are delivered to the manufacturer before the cell is manufactured, i.e. before registration. Some motorhomes may therefore be built with a Euro standard after the deadline! We invite you to check your engine’s Euro rating on your vehicle registration document. You can order your Crit’Air sticker on the official website!
Registration fees
Each year, the regions decide on the price of the vehicle registration document, including motorhomes. In 2023, the Pays de la Loire, Nouvelle Aquitaine and Hauts-de-France regions have increased their rates by 6.20%, 4.80% and 4.50% respectively. As a result, the price per fiscal horse is now €51 for Pays de la Loire, €43 for Nouvelle -Aquitaine and €34.50 for Hauts-de-France.
Pricing of service areas in 2023
With the current economic crisis in France, service area rates have also risen slightly. This increase is likely to become even more pronounced as the summer vacations approach. According to figures released by the Guide National des Aires de Services, the number of totally free service areas went from 1195 in 2022 to 1143 in 2023. While the number of service areas has fallen, their prices have risen slightly since the start of 2023. For example, the service + parking package is currently €10.83, €1 more than in 2022, and the average parking charge is €8.64, €1.16 more than in 2021.
Despite this upward trend, there are still a large number of free parking areas in France, and indeed all over Europe! Looking for a free service area? Don’t hesitate to activate the “Service area” filter when you search for a location on our map!
Motorhome parking bans in cities
Discovering motorhome travel means feeling freer, getting back to the basics of life and being able to explore places that are not necessarily familiar to everyone. However, the practice of travelling by camper van is far from universally accepted, and is even causing tensions in certain communes that are increasingly popular with tourists. Local authorities are no longer hesitating to create exceptions to national regulations and tighten parking rules for motorhomes.
It’s the case in Stella-Plage, in the town of Cucq (62), where the mayor has decided to ban motorhome parking on the seafront parking lot (normally provided for this purpose), in response to the anger of some local residents who found the seafront “denatured” by so many motorhomes. Regulations for this zone have been in force since March 1, 2023, so please be vigilant! Other tourist areas are likely to suffer the same fate, in order to limit tensions with local residents. We therefore advise you to find out about the areas and parking lots where you plan to stop over before setting off on your trip!
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Also check out our other blog posts on the same subject, such as “Motorhome trip in France 🚐🇫🇷”, “Best motorhome service areas in Europe” and many more!
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Does anyone know how a motorhome’s mass can be changed in France (downwards). OurUK built motorhome was rated at 3850 kg max, taking it above the 3500 kg limit. This was done as a matter of convenience by a previous owner. But, when we use it the mass is always less than 3500 kg and we are keen to reduce it. Easy in the U.K. but how in France ? I think DREAL is involved, but so far, have got nowhere.
Anyone got any thoughts or knowledge ?
Hello and thank you for your interest in CaraMaps. First of all, from an administrative point of view, it’s much easier to switch from a light vehicle to a heavy goods vehicle than the other way round. We therefore advise you to go directly to a motorhome concession, who will be able to tell you whether or not this is possible in your case. Then, if your request is approved, the change in your vehicle’s GVW will entail a change to your vehicle registration document, so you’ll need to go to the prefecture.
See you on the roads with CaraMaps! 🚐
Can you please tell me if being a UK citizen but living in France we are able to drive a British Registered Motorhome here ?? There seems to be so much information which varies and is confusing. Thank you.
Hello Wendy and thank you for your interest in CaraMaps ! If you are currently living in France, you can legally drive your motorhome on your foreign license for up to 12 months. After these 12 months, you will have to apply for a French driving license. However, some people from non European Union countries noticed that their application for French driving license was rejected when their driving license had not less than 6 months before expiry. Dont’t hesitate to go on the Service Public website for further information!
Also, if you imported your motorhome from the UK in France and you plan to use it for more than 1 month (since UK is not in European Union anymore), know that you need to register the vehicle in France!
Enjoy your travel with CaraMaps! 🚐
Sorry Maud but that is incorrect information, If you passed your UK test before 2021 then you keep your UK licence until it expires which could be in some cases until you become 70 years old. Mine for example because it’s the photo type is valid in France for 9 years, If you passed your UK test after 2021 then you have 12 months to change it.
Good morning John,
Thank you for this information, which I’ll make a note of. It’s sometimes difficult to find one’s way around, as the legislation concerning motorhomes is sometimes confusing. It’s always good to get advice from experienced travelers!
See you soon on the roads,
Maud