European Motor Insurance for UK Vehicles in France

If you are driving a UK registered car in France, your standard UK insurance probably will not give you the cover you would expect. Most UK policies include EU travel, which is usually Third Party which only gives you 90 days in Europe in any one year.

Stuart Collins & Co Limited has been arranging European motor insurance for over 35 years. France is one of the most common destinations we cover. Whether it is people driving down to a second home in the south, retirees who have moved over permanently, or anyone making regular trips across the Channel.

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 is not built for residents of another country, and driving on it after you have 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 are 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 do not 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?

Since 2021 A green Card is no longer legally required to drive a UK registered vehicle in France or the EU.

We include an annual Green Card with every policy as the authorities will sometimes request it. It is recognised proof that your vehicle meets the requirements. It is accepted across the countries we cover and it saves you carrying paperwork or explaining your policy at the roadside. It costs you nothing extra.

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 90 days in Europe in any one year. 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?
We arrange motor insurance for ex-pats living in France who keep a UK registered vehicle there. We offer a European policy which gives you unlimited use in Europe and back in the UK as a standard UK insurance is not designed for this.

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.

What documents do I legally need to carry whilst travelling in France?
You are legally required to carry a valid driving licence, vehicle registration documents (V5), proof of insurance and your passport.

Why use an FCA-regulated broker

Stuart Collins & Co Limited 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 are covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme and you have access to the Financial Ombudsman Service if a claim ever goes wrong. When you are insuring a car a long way from home, that backstop matters.

To get a quote for cover in France, use the European quote form on our website www.stuartcollins.com. We can usually turn quotes around quickly and we are happy to talk through which level of cover suits your needs.