European Motor Insurance for UK Vehicles in France

If you’re driving a UK-registered car in France, your standard UK insurance probably won’t give you the cover you’d expect. Most UK policies include the legal minimum for EU travel, which is usually third-party only and capped at a set number of days per trip. For a long stay, a place in France, or full-time living, that isn’t enough.

Stuart Collins has been arranging European motor insurance since 1969. France is one of the most common destinations we cover, whether it’s people driving down to a second home in the south, retirees who’ve moved over permanently, or anyone making regular trips across the Channel. A lot of mainstream insurers have quietly stepped back from offering proper European cover, so we can arrange the level you actually need rather than the bare minimum.

Who this is for

Two situations call for a dedicated French motor policy. The first is the regular visitor, someone with a holiday home or who spends long stretches in France and wants full cover instead of the minimum their UK insurer provides abroad. The second is the expat who has moved to France permanently but kept a UK-registered vehicle. Standard UK insurance isn’t built for residents of another country, and driving on it after you’ve moved can leave you uninsured without realising.

Driving in France: what to know

France drives on the right. Speed limits are 130 kph on motorways, 110 kph on dual carriageways, 80 kph on most main roads, and 50 kph in towns. In rain, the motorway limit drops to 110 kph, so watch for that. The drink-drive limit is lower than the UK at 0.5 grams per litre, and stricter again for drivers with less than three years’ experience.

You’re legally required to carry a warning triangle and a reflective jacket, and the jacket has to be kept inside the car within reach rather than in the boot. If your car is right-hand drive, you also need headlamp beam deflectors so your lights don’t dazzle oncoming traffic. Since 2021 you need a “UK” sticker on the back of the car unless your number plate already has the UK identifier on it.

One thing people get caught out by is the Crit’Air clean air sticker. Cities like Paris, Lyon, and Grenoble have low emission zones, and you need the right sticker displayed to drive in them. They’re cheap and you order them in advance from the official French government site. Worth sorting before you travel if your route goes near a major city.

Do you need a Green Card for France?

No. Since May 2022, UK drivers no longer need a Green Card to drive in France or any other EU country. Your insurance certificate is enough. If you’re driving on beyond France into a country that still requires one, we can issue a Green Card for you, but for France itself it isn’t needed.

Common questions

Can I drive my UK car in France on my normal insurance?
Your UK policy usually includes the legal minimum for EU travel, often third-party only and limited to a set number of days per trip. For longer stays or living in France, you need a dedicated European policy that gives you full cover.

Can I insure a UK car in France if I live there full-time?
Yes. We arrange motor insurance for UK nationals living in France who’ve kept a UK-registered vehicle. Standard UK insurance isn’t designed for residents of another country, so an expat policy is the right cover.

What do I legally need to carry when driving in France?
A warning triangle and a reflective jacket kept inside the car. Right-hand drive cars also need headlamp beam deflectors, and you need a UK sticker unless it’s already on your plate. Check whether your route needs a Crit’Air clean air sticker too.

Why use an FCA-regulated broker

Stuart Collins is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, firm reference number 1013445. That gives you protection most expats don’t get if they buy insurance through a local broker abroad. You’re covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme and you have access to the Financial Ombudsman Service if a claim ever goes wrong. When you’re insuring a car a long way from home, that backstop matters.

To get a quote for cover in France, use the quote form or call us on 01792 655562. We can usually turn quotes around quickly and we’re happy to talk through which level of cover fits your situation.