Penalties for traffic offences in Nice
In Nice, police officers have the right to charge traffic offenders a fine on the spot. Cars parked in violation of parking rules are towed away to a car pound at the owner’s expense.
Traffic offences and penalties
| Exceeding the speed limit outside the city by up to 20 km/h |
€68 or €45 if paid within 15 days |
| Exceeding the speed limit within the city by up to 50 km/h |
€135 or €90 if paid within 15 days |
| Exceeding the speed limit by over 50 km/h |
€1500 |
| Driving with faulty lights |
€68 |
| Changing the direction of movement without signal |
€35 |
| Driving along an emergency lane |
€35 |
| Crossing a solid line |
€135 |
| Overtaking violations |
€135 |
| Crossing a red traffic light |
€135 |
| Failure to maintain minimum distance to the vehicle in front |
€135 |
| Driving on the left lane if the right lane is free |
€135 |
| Driving on the oncoming lane |
€135 |
| No license plates or unreadable license plates |
€135 |
| Railroad crossing violations |
135 евро |
| Use of video display devices (except GPS) |
€1500 |
| Parking or stopping in conditions of poor visibility or at night without alarm signals |
€135 |
| Driving in conditions of poor visibility or at night without lights |
€135 |
| Violation of child restraint requirements |
€135 |
| Failure to fasten seatbelt (driver or passenger seat belt) |
€135 |
| Using a mobile phone without a headset while driving |
€135 |
| Parking violations |
€17 |
Speed limits
There are uniform standard speed limits for vehicles in France:
- 50 km/h in built-up areas;
- 90 km/h on country roads;
- 200 km/h (or 100 km/h with a trailer) on high-speed suburban highways;
- 130 km/h (or 100 km/h with a trailer) on expressways.
The minimum speed limit on expressways is 80 km/h. In wet weather, the speed limit is 80 km/h outside built-up areas and 110 km/h on highways and motorways. During poor visibility (below 50 m), the speed limit is 50 km/h for all types of road. Having rented a vehicle in Nice with studded tires, you need to stick to a speed limit of 90 km/h outside built-up areas.
There are many radars hidden along highways.
Parking
In Nice, it is prohibited to park on the same place for more than a day (unless it is a long-term parking). Parking machines (horodateurs) are prevalent. They accept special credit cards sold at Tabacs kiosks. As a rule, you can park a car free of charge on the streets of Nice from 7 pm to 9 am on weekdays, and on weekends and holidays. At paid parking lots, the tariffs are indicated on the machine.
Permissible blood alcohol levels
The maximum permissible level of alcohol in the blood is 0.5 ‰. When renting a car in Nice, you should always have with you a disposable breathalyser.
Penalties for drunk driving in Nice:
| Blood alcohol level from 0.5‰ to 0.8 ‰ |
€135 |
| Blood alcohol level from 0.8‰ and above |
€4,500 and a driving ban of up to two years |
| Refusal to take a blood or breath test for alcohol or drugs |
€4,500 and a driving ban of up to two years |
| Drunk-driving accident causing serious injuries |
€10,000 and imprisonment for up to 2 years |
Fuel cost
Unleaded gasoline (98 and 95) and diesel fuel (Gazole) are sold in Nice. Leaded fuel is not sold. It is allowed to carry gasoline on cans. There are also gas stations (LPG) in France.
Average fuel cost in Nice:
| Gasoline 95 |
€1.58 |
| Gasoline 98 |
€1.63 |
| Diesel fuel |
€1.38 |
Toll roads
When hiring a car in Nice, you will need to pay tolls to use certain highways, tunnels and bridges in France. The rates depend on the type of vehicle and the distance travelled. The road toll is displayed on a notice board at the entrance to the toll road. You can pay by cash, credit card or through remote payment systems. There is an A8 motorway passing through Nice with a length of 270 km; the toll is €26.20.
Citroen C1
Peugeot 206
Citroen Berlingo
Skoda Octavia
