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Cross-border route

Andorra France

Driving across the border
Yes — you can drive from Andorra into France: carry a certified IDP translation of your licence alongside the original so border officials and rental desks can read your credentials. France expects foreign drivers to hold an IDP, prepared in the 1949 Geneva and 1968 Vienna Convention format. Both countries drive on the right, so there is no change of driving side at the border. Plan your border crossing in advance and keep your passport, national licence and IDP together.

Last reviewed July 2026

Route at a glance
FromAndorra
ToFrance
IDP in FranceStrongly recommended
Accepted format1949 Geneva & 1968 Vienna
Driving sideright (no change)
Currency in FranceEUR
Emergency number112
Top speed limit130 km/h motorways (110 in rain)
Driving in France
AndorraFrance

Crossing the border

Andorra and France share a land border you can cross by car. Keep your passport, national driving licence and International Driving Permit together, and check opening hours and any toll or vignette requirements before you travel.

Driving rules in France

  • Drive on the right; overtake on the left.
  • Carry a reflective vest and warning triangle in the vehicle.
  • Priority to the right (priorité à droite) applies at unmarked junctions.
  • Strict 0.05% blood-alcohol limit (0.02% for new drivers).

What to see when you arrive in France

  • the Eiffel Tower in Paris
  • the Palace of Versailles
  • the French Riviera
  • Mont Saint-Michel
  • the châteaux of the Loire Valley

Once you're driving in France

Destination-specific detail sourced from national road authorities, motoring clubs and rental policies — the things that catch cross-border drivers out.

Driving on a foreign licence

Most foreign licences are valid for short visits and the duration of a tourist stay; a non-EU licence in Roman script can be used alongside the original physical licence. An International Driving Permit becomes mandatory if your licence is not in the Latin alphabet (Arabic, Cyrillic, Japanese, etc.) or has no photo.

Tolls & road charges

Most autoroutes are tolled (peage), paid at booths by cash, card or contactless, or via a Liber-T electronic tag; long-distance trips can run EUR 30-60+. Take a ticket on entry and pay by distance on exit; green-arrow lanes are for tag holders only.

Parking in the cities

Paid on-street parking (stationnement payant) is bought from horodateur meters or apps like PayByPhone/Flowbird, often EUR 2-6/hour in cities; many central spaces are resident-only (zone residentielle). Overstaying triggers a forfait post-stationnement fine and persistent offenders risk towing (mise en fourriere).

Fines & camera enforcement

On-the-spot fines are common for foreign drivers: speeding starts around EUR 68-135 (more for higher bands), handheld phone use EUR 135, no seatbelt EUR 135; police may demand immediate payment or a deposit. Radar/speed-camera fines are forwarded to the rental company, which passes them to you with an admin fee, and radar detectors are illegal.

If you have an accident

Call 112 (or 15 SAMU / 17 police); police attendance is required if anyone is injured. For damage-only crashes complete and both-sign the constat amiable (European Accident Statement), do not move vehicles if there are injuries, and send the form to the insurer/rental firm within 5 days.

Driving in the capital

Paris runs a permanent low-emission zone (ZFE) requiring a Crit'Air windscreen sticker; cars rated Crit'Air 4-5 are banned and driving without a valid sticker risks a EUR 68-135 fine. Order the sticker in advance at certificat-air.gouv.fr as postal delivery takes 1-2 weeks.

Sources: service-public.gouv.fr · france.fr · eta.co.uk · europa.eu

Common questions

01
Do I need an International Driving Permit to drive from Andorra to France?
Yes — France commonly asks foreign drivers to carry an IDP with their national licence. France recognises the 1949 Geneva and 1968 Vienna Convention format, which is the format your certified IDP translation is prepared in.
02
Does the driving side change between Andorra and France?
No. Both Andorra and France drive on the right.
03
What is the emergency number and speed limit in France?
In France, dial 112 for emergencies; 112 also works from most GSM phones. The maximum for cars on the fastest road class is 130 km/h motorways (110 in rain), but posted limits in towns and on secondary roads are lower and always take precedence.
04
How do tolls and road charges work in France?
Most autoroutes are tolled (peage), paid at booths by cash, card or contactless, or via a Liber-T electronic tag; long-distance trips can run EUR 30-60+. Take a ticket on entry and pay by distance on exit; green-arrow lanes are for tag holders only.
05
How quickly can I get an IDP for this trip?
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