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Is car camping legal in France?

There is no law in the vehicle code stating that sleeping in your car is forbidden. As long as you follow the generals rules for parking and where you can and cannot park, you can sleep in your car.



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Is wild camping allowed in France? No, wild camping, also known as boondocking, dry camping, or dispersed camping, is not officially allowed in France. In some regions, however, camping and bivouacking on roads, parking lots and private properties is permitted with the permission of the local authorities.

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There is no law in the vehicle code stating that sleeping in your car is forbidden. As long as you follow the generals rules for parking and where you can and cannot park, you can sleep in your car.

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Wild camping generally is not permitted in France, except when the landowner permits to do so. Pitching up in protected natural sites or near historic monuments is never allowed. Local authorities or other authorities in charge of these designated areas can establish specific rules regarding the area they govern.

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Overnight parking is not permitted anywhere in France, although it is OK to park in a rest area if you need a rest. Depending on the region you will visit, you will find private parkings that can be a good and safe alternative to park your car for a few hours or days.

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You can park anywhere as long as it's not forbidden. Car camping is allowed in most European countries, except Slovenia that fines heavily sleeping in the car outside of the designated (and very expensive) spots.

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Parking campers or motor-homes in Paris should be avoided, so as not to block traffic. Instead you should head for the designated parking spaces at camp sites. In Paris, it is prohibited to sleep in your vehicule.

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As long as you are a tourist and have a valid driver's license written in the Roman alphabet from your country, you don't need to carry an international driving permit to drive in France. The minimum age to drive in France is 18 years old.

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If you sleep on the streets, you are considered a SDF (Sans Domicile Fixe), a tramp. Legality depends on where you sleep, and in which city. For instance, sleeping in a car can be legal, except if you are located in a prohibited place where you could have a fine. Some cities have voted anti-SDF acts.

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Speed limits vary in France depending on the type of road and size of vehicle. As a general rule the drivers of courier vans under 3.5t are subject to limits of 50km/h in towns, 90km/h on open roads (80km/h in wet conditions), 110 km/h on dual carriageways (100km/h when wet) and 130km/h on motorways (110km/h when wet).

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