Practical

How can I get French plates for a UK caravan without a certificate of conformity?

Not all such vehicles sold in the UK were built to EU type-approval standards, even before Brexit

Passengers board an EasyJet plane by mobile stairs on a sunny airport tarmac in Nantes.

France flight updates you may have missed for summer 2026

EU backs stronger air rights as Nice-NY flights expand

Teenage female driver holding a smartphone in the driver's seat of a car.

French driving updates: recalls, radar cars and mobile use

Driving changes and safety updates for summer 2026

practical

Do ‘cremation only’ options exist for funerals in France

Funeral costs can vary significantly from one part of the country to another

Cleaner of French home says I should have paid into a pension for her: is she right?

At home help should be declared through the Cesu system

Veterinarian in blue scrubs gently examining a worried-looking dog in a clinic

Can I bring a dog adopted in France to the UK?

Pets being brought from France to Great Britain must fulfil a number of requirements

French driving licence document beside a car key on a table.

Can I switch from pink paper driving licence to French plastic one?

All licences must be converted to modern format by 2033

A view of an electric Fiat 500 being charged

France unveils aid for second-hand electric car purchases and leasing

Some workers can benefit from up to €2,360 in aid

A graphic of someone calculating savings and interest

Can I reinvest lump sum to avoid French tax?

A reader worries about falling into the higher banding

French inheritance tax and paperwork for heirs living overseas

French tax authorities will need to know about your worldwide assets for inheritance tax purposes

New map shows most of France at risk from clay soil cracking

Map is official tool for insurance and property sales

Arranging car insurance as an American in France: everything you need to know

The process may take extra time and documents

Man arranges bottled water at a distribution point in Montsalvy during France’s 2022 drought.

40,000 people in France see water cut off: what to do if it happens to you

Plus, worst-hit areas and authorities step up enforcement as water shortages increase

Middle-aged man holding a mobile looking stressed with hand over his head

New cold-calling laws in France: what if I have a foreign number?

Scam calls can dodge laws

Can I reuse shower or washing-up water in my French garden during drought?

Recent rule changes look to improve water recycling but systems face strict rules

Best places to stop to break up a road trip through France

Not-to-be-missed sightseeing, overnight stays, tourist attractions and picnic stops a short drive from the autoroute

Yellow La Poste mailbox on a Paris pavement next to a stone wall.

How will proposed changes to La Poste affect people in France?

Slower letters, fewer postboxes are included under suggested reforms

Two movers in uniform carry a grey sofa in a bright room.

Can we donate furniture to French charity shop before move?

Websites help residents find local collection services

Can I travel between France and UK with national ID card and not French passport?

EU and UK both have electronic border systems in place

Roadside radar speed camera warning sign against trees and blue sky.

What happens if a speed camera flashes two cars at once in France?

Some modern speed cameras have lane-distinguishing technology

What happens if I fail to renew my carte de séjour?

Why keeping your residency card valid matters if you are a foreigner in France

Solar panels mounted on a terracotta-tiled roof with trees in the background.

Do solar panel electricity sellers in France need to sign up for electronic billing?

Changes to system applies to sales subject to VAT

Notaire data on how the French coastal property market is faring

Fluctuation in housing prices come as flats see more steady change

What is the best way to find weather alerts in my department in France?

State forecaster issues official alerts for many weather disturbances

Does free legal help exist in France?

Some insurance policies include coverage of legal fees

What changes in France this August for your budget?

Energy bills change for millions, savings accounts see new interest rates, and back-to-school grant paid out

Red fuel nozzle inserted into a blue car at a petrol station.

When will fuel prices in France drop after oil price fall?

Both petrol and diesel costs increased across July as tensions flared in the Middle East

Is it really worth leaving the motorway in France to save on buying fuel?

Research shows this can depend on fuel type

Five questions for the new French civic knowledge test: Republic, politics and your rights

Thousands of foreign residents in France must pass before obtaining longer-term residency cards

How to restore a staircase in a French farmhouse - one step at a time

It is better to save an existing staircase than to make a new one

Building a house in France: where to save money and where to spend

Expert tips on planning, budgets and getting it right first time

How to use acrylic sheeting for window repairs in France

Transparent acrylic sheeting has advantages over glass for some applications

Collage showing office documents, call centre staff, a gas stove being adjusted and a car refuelling at a Beyour petrol station.

What changes for residents in France in August 2026

Bills will change for millions of households, fuel scheme extends, and savings accounts see new rates

Cars lined up in heavy traffic on a highway under a cloudy sky.

Key practical and cultural dates for your diary in France for August 2026

Early August sees severe congestion on French roads

France’s 2026 property tax bills: when they will arrive and what to expect

Taxe foncière is levied on all properties regardless of use with only a few exceptions

French government website helps check and manage risks where you live

Géorisques highlights how to stay safe from risks and dangers near you

Charred residential buildings stand amid scorched ground after a wildfire in Lege, France.

Why does French natural disaster insurance not cover wildfires?

Since most wildfires are caused by human activity, this affects insurance claims

France’s property market is stabilising (and why this is not a bad thing)

Five key points from the most recent French notaire data

Blue van driving on a rural road beside fields, with a warning sign and French road sign.

Explained: Driving on France's busy summer roads

Take note of the rules of the road as holiday traffic brings congestion and increased police checks

Tax declaration form, calculator and euro banknotes on a desk.

Americans in France: the investment traps that could cost you

Investing in France is possible, but can leave you out of pocket if done wrong

Up 17.3%, down 6.7%: how flat prices are changing across France

Largest cities saw little change but other areas vary considerably in fortunes

How are house prices changing in your area of France?

Notaire data shows strong growth in north but big cities such as Paris and Bordeaux see prices drop

More areas of France face highest level of tap water restrictions

44 departments now have at least one commune at ‘crisis’ level

How Americans can access France's healthcare system – and why it takes patience

Admin, long waiting times and uneven access to English-speaking doctors need to be factored in

What are criteria to apply for France's electric car leasing scheme?

Third year of popular programme sees 50,000 contracts available

Repairing cracked walls in our French home: what help is available?

Millions of homes at risk with early prevention and corrections now encouraged

Why does it take so long to get air conditioning approved for a flat in France?

Unit installation requires wider approval from co-owners

18 recent and upcoming changes in France in July 2026

Includes electricity bills, taxes, and an end to cold calls

Close-up of water dripping from a metal tap against a blurred background.

French drought update: 40 departments on highest level of tap water restrictions

All but 13 departments have at least some restrictions in place

Americans in France: how to vote in US midterm elections

French mail polices reported to be causing some complications

French wildfires: how are people told to evacuate? We do not have a French phone for texts

More than 200,000 residents and tourists have been evacuated in recent days following as blazes have spread

Mother and daughter loading a suitcase into the back of a silver car outside a house.

Free French police checks for your home and vulnerable relatives when absent

How to sign up for the Opération Tranquillité Vacances service and special wellbeing check

Historic house seen across a green lawn with yellow flowers and large trees in the foreground.

Can we claim ‘public land’ our home was built on in France?

‘Public domain’ land is treated in different ways

Fuel prices in France: outlook 'extremely uncertain'

Government remains unsure over future prices, while TotalEnergies relaunches price cap

Visa,Application,Form,And,Flag,Of,France

What are ‘local requirements’ for spouse of EU citizen to stay in France

Free five-year residency cards are available

Doctor taking a patient’s blood pressure with a digital monitor in a clinic.

Will GHIC cover Britons for 12-month French visa?

Health card provides ‘medically necessary’ healthcare at same rate as for citizens

Elderly person driving an electric mobility scooter beside a roadside verge.

Do mobility scooters in France need insurance?

Some home policies automatically cover such vehicles

What happens to the family home in France when your spouse dies?

The survivor enjoys strong protections over the family home – even if the children want to sell

Converted French barn with tiled roof, shutters and grassy garden under leafy trees.

Can we save tax by stopping renting out French gîtes before selling property?

Reader has been advised that they could have to pay additional amounts on parts of the property available to holidaymakers

How can I prevent mosquitoes in my garden and home?

Tiger mosquitoes transmit several tropical diseases and are now present across all French regions

Which areas of France are most prone to tornadoes?

Official observatory tracks violent storms

Close-up views of water pouring from taps and a hose into a pool.

France water restrictions: Five questions answered

We review rules for rainwater, wells, filling swimming pools, and penalties for infractions

Rate of inflation in France falls, remaining below EU average

Previous easing of Middle East tensions saw inflation fall in many countries last month

A tied stack of US $100 bills resting on euro banknotes.

Can you really afford France? Here's how major US states compare

Your home state can tell you a lot about how easy the transition to French living will be

TotalEnergies electric charging station with several charging points at a roadside site in Trementines, France.

Electric vehicle charging assistants deployed at busy French motorway service stations

Bornistes help drivers use busy charging hubs and resolve technical problems during the peak getaway period

Divorce dissected: custody, finances, common mistakes for residents of France

Lawyer Floriane Laruelle, a senior associate at Dawson Cornwell who specialises in international children’s law, highlights common issues for bi-national couples

Water restrictions in France: how to check rules in your area

Measures can affect everything from watering gardens and filling swimming pools to washing vehicles and irrigating crops

Online simulator for French pension now works smoothly

Technical problems hit the launch of the system

Blueprint,,Design,And,Hands,Of,Architects,Planning,Construction,,Strategy

What to do if your French property has a hidden defect

Hidden problems are called vices cachés and covered by Article 1641 of the French Civil Code

Electricity bills: French government announces 2.5% rise for regulated bills

Over 19 million households impacted, with the average bill rising €26 per year

New interest rates for millions of French savings accounts

Livret A interest rates rise but low-income equivalent remains frozen

Person wearing blue surgical gloves about to open a septic tank cover

Warning over impact of sewerage systems on property prices in France

Properties with sub-standard sewerage systems can be sold with an official certificate of non-conformity

A view of letters with the Assurance maladie and carte Vitale logos on the header

How do I obtain a social security number in France and what is it needed for?

Getting one allows for reimbursement of healthcare costs

Horse grazing in a grassy fenced pasture with trees behind.

Is it complicated in France to rent one of my fields to neighbours for their horses?

Rural land contracts provide tenants with many rights

Can you manage your spouse’s finances in France if they lose mental capacity?

The practical and legal difficulties can sometimes come as an unpleasant surprise to foreign residents