Driving in France Without a License

Let’s say you are driving on a French country road and find yourself stuck behind a slow driver. A very slow driver. “Can’t this guy go any faster?” you wonder. And the answer might be…no!

A Pot of Yogurt

France is full of microcars, called voiturettes or pots de yaourt (pots of yogurt), that are specially designed to go slowly. You can drive one without a license, as long as you are at least 14 years old.

You won’t find them on major roads, because they are too small and slow: to qualify as a microcar, the vehicle must weigh a maximum of 200kg (440 pounds) and have a top speed of 45 kilometers per hour (28 miles per hour). But that makes them economical—some models cost well under €10,000.

Voiturettes have long been popular in the French countryside, especially among older drivers whose eyesight isn’t what used to be. And they are the only choice for someone whose license has been suspended because of repeated offenses, or because of a drunk driving conviction (hence the nickname voiture des alcolos—alcoholic’s car.)

Paris Here We Come!

Recently, manufacturers have introduced electric versions of these little cars that have become popular among young urban dwellers—Citroën calls theirs an “urban mobility object.” A microcar’s speed limit isn’t a problem in gridlocked city traffic, and its tiny footprint makes parking a breeze. Some models have removable batteries that can be carried indoors to charge.

The voiturettes aren’t known for their sleek styling—not that you would expect that from a so-called pot de yaourt. Many have a definite Toytown aesthetic and look like little cubes as they putter down the street. But they are inexpensive and practical, and for someone who’s had a bit too much vin ordinaire, the only way to go.

Keith Van Sickle splits his time between Provence and California. He is the author of An Insider’s Guide to Provence, One Sip at a Time, and Are We French Yet? Read more at Life in Provence