France campervan hire: quick facts
| Typical hire price | About €55 to €180 a night, €400 to €1,250 a week; highest in July and August |
|---|---|
| Best months | May, June and September; July and August are busiest and dearest |
| Drive on the | Right |
| Licence | A UK photocard licence covers vans up to 3,500 kg and needs no international driving permit in France |
| Tolls | Most autoroutes charge by distance; a motorhome under 3.5 t is normally class 2 |
| Low-emission zones | ZFE zones in some cities; a Crit'Air sticker is needed in them |
| Overnight rules | Aires and France Passion are the easy options; roadside parking and camping outside campsites can be banned locally |
Where you can stay overnight in France
You have three main choices, and most people mix them.
Campsites. France has campsites of every size, many with pitches for motorhomes, electric hook-up and showers. They suit longer stops, especially in July and August when popular coastal sites fill up. Our Europe guide has typical campsite and aire costs.
Aires de service and aires de camping-car. These are motorhome stopping places, usually run by the town or village. Most offer a parking space and a service point for fresh water and waste; many are close to the centre, so you can walk to a bakery and a cafe. Some are free and some charge, and the rules, such as a maximum stay, are posted at the entrance.
France Passion. This is a membership network of farms, vineyards and small producers that welcome self-contained motorhomes for a free overnight stop. The network has about 2,200 hosts in 91 départements, according to its own site and its 2026 guide, which runs from 1 March 2026 to 31 March 2027. Stays are limited to 24 hours, and there is no obligation to buy anything, though most visitors do. Vehicles must be self-contained, with their own water, toilet and waste. The network says people hiring a motorhome can join, but they must take out membership directly. Check with the owner that the van is fully self-contained before you rely on it.
Wild camping and parking rules in France
There is no single national right to camp anywhere. Under the Code de l'urbanisme, camping outside a campsite is banned in some places, such as the seashore and protected sites, and a mayor can ban it by order in other areas. Mayors can also restrict parking on public roads. A ban only counts if it is publicised, with a notice at the town hall and signs at the main entrances to the area.
In practice, many coastal towns, nature reserves and popular villages ban overnight motorhome parking, and you will see signs showing a motorhome with a red line through it. Where there is no sign, parking in an ordinary space is not the same as camping, but awnings, chairs and levelling ramps outside the van move you towards camping. When in doubt, use an aire or a France Passion host. The camping rules in the Code de l'urbanisme are published on Légifrance.
Driving a campervan in France
Crit'Air stickers and ZFE low-emission zones
Many French cities run a zone à faibles émissions (ZFE). In these, a windscreen sticker called Crit'Air shows your vehicle's emissions class, and the most polluting classes can be barred. The scheme covers road vehicles in general, campervans included, but you only need a sticker to drive in a ZFE or during pollution-related restrictions. In Greater Paris, for example, light vehicles with Crit'Air 3, 4 or 5 cannot drive in the zone on weekdays from 8am to 8pm. Driving in a ZFE without the right sticker is typically fined at €68 for a light vehicle.
The rules were in doubt in 2026. Parliament voted in April to remove the ZFE system, but on 21 May the Conseil constitutionnel struck that provision out because it did not belong in the law it was added to, so the zones remain in force for now. The ban lists differ by city and can change, so check the cities on your route.
The sticker is issued for the life of the vehicle. For a vehicle registered abroad it costs €5.11 including postage, takes around ten working days by post and is ordered online at certificat-air.gouv.fr. A van registered in France should already have one. Ask the owner when you book.
Motorway tolls (péages)
Most French autoroutes charge by distance. You take a ticket at the entrance and pay when you leave, by card at the barrier or with an electronic badge. Tolls depend on vehicle class: class 1 is for vehicles up to 2 m high and up to 3.5 t, and class 2 is for those between 2 m and 3 m high and up to 3.5 t. Most campervans and motorhomes fall in class 2, so budget for more than a car pays. Class 3 starts at 3 m and over 3.5 t, according to VINCI Autoroutes.
Some motorways, including the A13 and A14 between Paris and Normandy, have no barriers at all. You drive straight through and pay within 72 hours online, at a tobacconist or with a badge. Missing the deadline brings a €90 surcharge, reduced to €10 if paid within 15 days. Ask the owner whether the van has a toll badge, and keep your plate number to hand.
Speed limits, including over 3.5 t
For a car or a van up to 3.5 t, the dry-weather limits are 130 km/h on motorways, 110 km/h on dual carriageways, 80 km/h on ordinary two-way roads and 50 km/h in towns. In rain the motorway limit drops to 110 km/h and dual carriageways to 100 km/h. Most hire campervans stay under 3.5 t, so these are the figures that matter.
A motorhome over 3.5 t (up to 12 t) counts as a vehicle for carrying people and is limited to 110 km/h on motorways, 100 km/h on dual carriageways and 80 km/h on other roads, with 50 km/h in towns. If you drive a heavier motorhome, which usually needs a C1 entitlement on a UK licence, keep to those lower limits.
Equipment
French law requires a warning triangle and a high-visibility vest on board, kept within reach. Not showing them at a roadside check can bring a fine of up to €38. A breathalyser is no longer required. See also our guides on licences for campervans and driving a campervan for the first time.
Route ideas in France
- Provence and the Riviera, 7 to 10 days. Lavender villages, the Luberon, the Camargue and the coast from Marseille to Nice. Several coastal towns restrict overnight parking, so book campsites in July and August.
- Brittany and Normandy, 7 to 10 days. Cliffs, beaches and small ports, with plenty of aires in villages along the way.
- Loire and Dordogne, 7 to 10 days. Châteaux, river valleys and market towns, a good fit for France Passion farm and vineyard stops.
- Atlantic coast and Pyrenees, 10 to 14 days. Long beaches from Bordeaux south to Biarritz, then mountain roads. A natural link to Spain.
When to go and booking tips
May, June and September combine mild weather with lower prices. July and August are the most expensive and the busiest on the coast. Book early for school holidays, and check the vehicle height and length against your route before you reserve. Our guides to what a motorhome costs to hire and insurance for campervan hire cover the extras. Insurance and payment protection come with every booking through Outdoorsy, and 24/7 roadside assistance is optional.
Where to pick up a campervan in France
Vans are listed by private owners and local hire businesses across the country. Search by city or airport, for example Paris, Lyon, Nice, Marseille, Bordeaux or Toulouse, and see what is available for your dates. Check pick-up times and where you can drive the van with the owner.
France campervan hire FAQs
Do I need a Crit'Air sticker to hire a campervan in France?
Only if you enter a ZFE. A van registered in France may already carry one, so ask the owner before you book.
Is wild camping legal in France?
There is no national right. Camping outside a campsite can be banned in certain areas, and mayors can restrict parking, so look for local signs. Aires and France Passion are the reliable alternatives.
Can I use France Passion with a hired motorhome?
The network says yes, but you must join directly, and the van must be self-contained with its own water, toilet and waste.
What toll class is a campervan in France?
Most are class 2, which applies to vehicles 2 m to 3 m high and up to 3.5 t. Class 2 costs more than a car.
Do I need an international driving permit?
Not with a UK photocard licence. A paper licence needs one, according to GOV.UK.
Use the search box at the top of this page to see vans available in France for your dates. If you are heading on, see campervan hire in Spain.