Licences and documents
US drivers — your state licence is valid for tourist stays up to 90 days. An International Driving Permit is not strictly required but some rental companies ask for one. AAA issues them for ~$20 in 10 minutes; get one before you fly.
UK drivers — your photocard licence is fully valid. No IDP required.
Canadian drivers — provincial licences are accepted. An IDP from CAA (~CAD$25) is recommended.
Australian drivers — your state licence is accepted for short stays. IDP recommended.
Always bring: your driving licence, your passport, your rental contract, and the rental car's registration document (in the glove box). A police stop wants to see all four.
Renting a car
Where to pick up: Paris CDG (huge selection, all major brands), Paris city (mixed reviews, be careful with parking after pick-up), Caen train station (convenient if you take the train from Paris), Bayeux station (small selection, book ahead), Cherbourg port (for Portsmouth ferry arrivals).
Manual vs automatic: France defaults to manual (stick shift). Automatic cars are available but cost 20-40 % more and must be booked 2-3 weeks in advance in summer. If you have not driven manual in years, pay the automatic premium — French roundabouts and hills are no place to relearn.
Size: a compact (Renault Clio, Peugeot 208 class) is usually sufficient for 2 adults + luggage. For 4 adults + luggage, book a wagon or small SUV. Villa Bellevue's parking accommodates 2-3 cars.
Insurance: your US credit card's rental car coverage often works in France, but check with the card issuer before you leave. UK visitors: check your existing car insurance for a European extension. Bring proof of coverage in writing.
The drive from Paris to the D-Day beaches
The classic route: Paris → A13 motorway west → Caen → Bayeux → Arromanches. About 2h45 from central Paris, 3h from CDG airport for 280 km. Tolls ~€7 one-way (free-flow).
Exit the A13 at either Caen (junction 33) if going straight to Bayeux via the N13, or at exit 34 Douvres-la-Délivrande for the coastal approach. Both work.
From CDG: follow signs to A1 south → A86 (Paris ring road) → A13 west. Give yourself 30 min to clear the Paris ring road, especially during rush hour.
Road rules that trip up English-speaking drivers
Right-hand priority (priorité à droite)
Historic rule: at an unsigned intersection, the car coming from your right has priority. Rare on major roads (which are usually signed with STOP or yield), but in villages you may encounter a small side street entering a main street with no marking — the car emerging has priority. If in doubt, slow down and yield.
Roundabouts
Traffic already in the roundabout has priority. Enter with your left blinker (indicating you are turning left within the roundabout), signal right when you approach your exit. If in doubt, take an extra loop — everyone does.
Speed limits
- Motorway: 130 km/h (110 in rain)
- Dual carriageway: 110 km/h
- Country road: 80 km/h
- Villages: 50 km/h (30 in centres, marked)
Speed cameras are common — fixed and mobile. Fines start at €135 and go up steeply. Do not assume the 5-10 km/h buffer American drivers use at home; French cameras trigger at 3-5 km/h over.
Alcohol
Legal limit is 0.5 g/L (roughly one large glass of wine for a 70 kg adult). Zero tolerance for new drivers (0.2 g/L). Random breath tests are common on Saturday nights. Do not drive after wine at dinner if you are unsure.
Mobile phones
Completely banned while driving — hands-free devices included in the "avoid" category by recent case law. Use of a phone while stopped in traffic is also fined. Pull over completely.
Fuel
Gasoline is essence sans plomb — pumps labelled "SP95" or "E10" (green handles). Diesel is gazole (yellow handle). Check your rental car's fuel type on the key ring or fuel cap — putting the wrong fuel is a common expensive mistake.
Motorway stations: convenient but 15-20 % more expensive. Supermarket stations (Leclerc, Carrefour, Intermarché) are 15-20 % cheaper. Fill up at a supermarket before you drive out of Paris. Around the D-Day beaches, Leclerc Bayeux and Leclerc Douvres are the local go-tos.
All stations accept credit cards, contactless included. Some unmanned pumps at night ask for a PIN — this is where a Visa/Mastercard with PIN works; some US cards without PIN can fail (test in daylight first).
Parking
In Arromanches: the seafront car park is paid in high season (April-October, ~€2/hour or ~€8/day) and free off-season. The village-centre car park (Parking du 6-juin-1944) is mostly free. In July-August and around June 6, arrive before 10 am for a spot. Some vacation rentals — including Villa Bellevue — have private parking on-site.
In Bayeux: Place Charles de Gaulle (free, 3 min walk from cathedral), Saint-Patrice (2 hours free), Battle of Normandy Museum car park (free). Historic centre is pedestrianised.
Normandy American Cemetery: large free car park at the visitor centre.
Pointe du Hoc: free car park at the entrance.
Utah Beach and Sainte-Mère-Église: free parking at the museums.
Emergencies
Emergency numbers: 112 (EU-wide), 15 (medical SAMU), 17 (police), 18 (fire). Operators speak English at 112. Rental cars come with an assistance number on the key ring; call it for breakdowns and mechanical issues.
The car-free alternative
If you decide not to drive: train Paris → Bayeux (~2h15 direct), then guided minibus tours from Bayeux to the beaches. The NoMad Car regional bus line 121 connects Bayeux to Arromanches and Courseulles year-round. See our Plan Your D-Day Trip hub for full car-free logistics.
Quick Q&A — driving in Normandy
Can I drive with a US licence?
Yes for tourist stays up to 90 days. IDP recommended (AAA, ~$20).
UK licence?
Yes, photocard licence fully valid. No IDP required.
Drive on the right?
Yes — like the US and Canada. UK/Irish/Australian drivers adjust from left-hand-drive habits.
A13 tolls Paris to Caen?
~€25 one-way, €50 round-trip. Contactless card accepted.
Fuel price 2026?
Gasoline SP95: ~€2.00/L. Diesel: ~€2.17/L. Cheaper at supermarket stations than on the motorway.
Speed limits?
Motorway 130, dual carriageway 110, country 80, village 50. Cameras trigger at 3-5 km/h over.
Parking Arromanches?
Seafront paid in season, village centre mostly free. Arrive before 10 am in July-August. Villa Bellevue has private parking.
Stay at Villa Bellevue — private parking, walking distance to everything
10 guests, sea view, on-site parking. Once you arrive, you can leave the car for two days without missing anything.
Check availability →Prefer a private guided tour?
Our local partner Mathilde Legoupil — bilingual licensed tour guide (Immersive Normandy Tours) — runs private half-day and full-day tours of the D-Day beaches, Bayeux, the Longues-sur-Mer battery, Mont-Saint-Michel and Giverny. Ideal for American, British, Canadian and Australian visitors who want context and depth without driving themselves. See her profile on our partners page.