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LIVING IN FRANCE

Property, food labels and French fashion secrets: 6 essential articles for life in France

To rent or to buy in France - we answer the eternal question in our weekly round-up of must-reads from The Local. Plus, French second-hand news, the difference between AOC food and AOP food, how to complain like a native, the best walking and cycling routes the country has to offer, and the real secrets of French style.

Published: 22 January 2023 09:06 CET
Property, food labels and French fashion secrets: 6 essential articles for life in France
A woman checks an estate agent's window in Paris. (Photo by MIGUEL MEDINA / AFP)

We begin with the eternal property question. After two years of steadily rising prices across France, the property market is starting to change. Some experts predict falls of up to 10 percent in some regions in 2023, though new-build prices continue to rise. So, we ask…

Is it better to buy or rent in France right now?

It’s good for the wallet and good for the planet. Second-hand products are cheaper than new, and – in extending the lifespan of a product – you’re helping the planet, too, by cutting down the number of products being thrown away.

In these economically and environmentally-straitened times, buying second-hand is well and truly in fashion in France. Here are some tips on where to look for a bargain.

Where are the best places for buying second-hand in France?

If you’re shopping in France it’s highly likely that you will see food and drinks that proudly declare their AOP or AOC status – but are these products actually better than the ones without a label? We have the lowdown.

What does the AOP/AOC label on French food and wine mean – and are these products better?

French people are often stereotyped as grumpy, and it does appear there is a national quirk that makes them fond of a good old moan. Former president François Hollande even went on TV to implore the French to complain less.

But, we say, embrace the stereotype – here are 12 phrases you need to know to mither like a French person…

12 phrases that will let you complain like the French

You may be planning your holiday – and France is a country that’s got you covered for outdoor activities, from Grand Randonees, to local walks and vélo routes – it’s full of them.

We’ve selected 13 walks and cycle routes, one from each region, ranging from the gentle and easy to the incredibly difficult. There’s even a donkey in one of them…

13 of France’s best hiking and cycling routes

The internet is teeming with hundreds of articles with tips for women on how to dress à la française. Not all of the advice out there is reliable – so, we asked a few in-the-actual-know people in the rarefied world of haute couture to separate the French fashion facts from the many, many fictions. 

How to dress like a French woman: Five tips to remember (and five to forget)

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LIVING IN FRANCE

Why washing your car in France can lead to a €450 fine

France has strict regulations about washing your car, and failure to abide by these can lead to hefty fines.

Published: 31 May 2024 14:59 CEST
Why washing your car in France can lead to a €450 fine

For many car owners, warm weather means time to finally give the vehicle a good wash.

But motorists in France should know that washing your car, motorcycle or other vehicle at home can actually be against the law in France – with some regulation even covering activities in your own driveway or garden.

Failing to respect the rules can lead to hefty fines. 

What does the law say?

There are two levels of regulation that affect car-washing – the Environmental Code and local regulations, but both of them are concerned about the same thing; the environmental impact of the runoff from your car washing.

During summer you also need to check if there are any drought restrictions in place, as some of these also ban any type of car-washing. 

In 1979, Paris became one of the first cities in France to pass legislation restricting where you can wash your car. The original Paris law states “Car washing is prohibited on the public highway, riverbanks, harbours and quays, as well as in public parks and gardens”. 

READ MORE: ‘Drive like a woman’: France targets male drivers in new road safety campaign

Since then, most départements across France have adopted similar decrees, which cover car-washing on public land – roads, pavements, parks or similar.

In order to find the rules in your area, contact your local préfecture (or ask the mayor), but most areas now have a ban on car-washing on the public highway, with a penalty of a third-class fine of €450. 

However there is also the Environmental Code, which operates on a national level, and that can cover even your own private property such as a driveway, garage or garden.

The Code states that “direct or indirect discharge of harmful substances into surface or groundwater is prohibited”.

This can affect wastewater from washing a vehicle as certain chemicals in car wash detergents, as well as any runoff motor oil, can have negative effects on local flora and fauna. Runoff can happen from both public and private land, which is why the Environmental Code has a wider scope.

Violating the rules on discharging harmful substances into water carries a maximum penalty of a two-year prison sentence or a fine of €75,000. Judges can also order defendants to carry out restoration of the environment that they contaminated.

The penalties are even harsher if you live in a coastal area where the runoff would go directly into the sea or ocean, or if you live next to a conservation zone. In this case, fines can go up to €100,000.

We should point out that these maximum penalties are more likely to be applied to companies which have been found to be polluting the local watercourse, rather than motorists washing their car, but the fines do have a large range.

So where can I wash my car?

First, you can go to a car wash (une station de lavage). Not only do car wash stations use less water than you would washing the vehicle at home (50 to 60 litres per vehicle instead of 200-300 litres at home), they also treat the wastewater. 

As a result, car washes do not risk polluting the waterways.

They are very common in France and include automatic car-washes, staffed car-washes where someone else does the hard work or the more common self-service type (usually coin operated) where you wash the car yourself use their pressure hoses and soap. These are often found in supermarket car-parks or at out-of-town shopping centre car parks.

Second, you can look for a designated car washing area. These would allow you to wash your own vehicle manually. They have special steps in place to treat the runoff water in compliance with environmental regulations. You can ask your mairie where these are located.

And finally, an alternative is to clean your car without using any water at all. To do this, you can purchase special wipes. There are also special dry-cleaning options, including sprays that you put onto your car, leave for a few seconds so that the dirt is absorbed, and then wipe off using a microfibre cloth.

Drought

During periods of drought, local authorities have the power to restrict non-essential water usage, including things like watering your garden or filling your swimming pool.

These regulations apply to any type of car-washing – on public or private space, or at a car-wash – and take precedence over any other local rules. 

You can check to see if your area is under water restrictions by going to the French government website vigieau.gouv.fr and typing in your home or rental address. The website will inform you of what (if any) restrictions are in place, the penalties of failing to respect them, as well as offering government advice for how to decrease your water usage.

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