Find Scooter & Motorcycle Hire in France
Enter your city, island or destination below to search available scooters and motorcycles.
Enter your city, island or destination below to search available scooters and motorcycles.
Explore France on Two Wheels
From glamorous Mediterranean coastlines to historic cities and beautiful countryside, travelling by scooter or motorcycle gives you the freedom to discover France at your own pace.
Cruise the Côte d’Azur from Nice, exploring coastal roads and hillside villages, or ride from Cannes to discover beaches, harbours and the spectacular French Riviera.
Further north, Paris offers a completely different adventure, with famous boulevards and lively neighbourhood streets opening the door to exploring the French capital on two wheels.
Riviera Coast & Coastal Roads
Follow the Mediterranean coast through glamorous resorts, seaside towns and spectacular Riviera scenery.
Cities Made for Exploring
Discover lively neighbourhoods, famous boulevards and hidden corners beyond France’s best-known sights.
Countryside Beyond the City
Leave the busy streets behind for vineyards, hilltop villages and beautiful French countryside.
Explore France
Nice
Explore Nice and its famous seafront before riding towards hilltop villages and spectacular Riviera coastal roads.
Corsica
Ride winding mountain roads between rugged peaks, traditional villages and beautiful Mediterranean bays across Corsica.
Cannes
Escape Cannes and its glamorous waterfront for beaches, hilltop villages and the spectacular Esterel coast.
More places to ride in France
Considerations Before You Ride in France
The licence you need depends on the type and power of scooter or motorcycle you want to hire.
For a moped or scooter up to 50cc, France recognises the AM category and equivalent qualifying licences. For a motorcycle or scooter up to 125cc and 11kW, you should have the appropriate motorcycle entitlement, such as A1. More powerful motorcycles require the corresponding A2 or A motorcycle entitlement.
If you’re visiting from the UK, check the categories shown on your driving licence carefully. A UK A1 entitlement covers motorcycles up to 125cc and 11kW, while A2 and A cover progressively more powerful motorcycles. UK learner/CBT permissions should not be assumed to give you the same entitlement when riding abroad.
A valid UK photocard driving licence can be used in France without an International Driving Permit (IDP) for a normal visit. French government guidance also specifically exempts British licences from the translation/IDP requirement for short stays.
Rental companies can set additional conditions, including minimum ages, how long you must have held your licence and which licence categories they accept, so always check the requirements shown for your chosen scooter or motorcycle before booking.
Useful official information:
French Government – driving in France with a foreign licence
UK Government – motorcycle licence categories
UK Government – International Driving Permit guidance
Potentially, yes — but you must check the rental agreement before taking a hired scooter or motorcycle onto a ferry. Ferry operators serving Corsica accept motorcycles as accompanied vehicles, but permission to take a rental vehicle away from its agreed area of use is ultimately determined by the rental company’s terms. You should therefore obtain approval before booking a crossing.
For Corsica, motorcycles can be transported on ferries between mainland France and ports on the island. Ferry operator CORSICA linea confirms that motorcycles are carried in designated areas of the ship and secured for the crossing. Riders travel separately from their motorcycle once it has been parked, and the vehicle cannot normally be accessed during the voyage.
When booking your ferry, make sure you select the correct vehicle type and provide the requested details for the scooter or motorcycle. You should also allow additional time at the port for vehicle check-in and boarding procedures.
If you’re planning to hire on the French mainland specifically to explore Corsica, check before booking the rental that ferry travel and taking the vehicle to Corsica are permitted. If they aren’t, hiring another scooter or motorcycle after arriving on the island may be the simpler option.
Useful information:
CORSICA linea – travelling with a motorcycle to Corsica
CORSICA linea – vehicle and motorcycle boarding information
In France, both the rider and passenger must wear an approved motorcycle helmet and approved motorcycle gloves when travelling on a scooter or motorcycle. French road-safety authorities confirm that these requirements apply to users of powered two-wheelers.
You must also have access to a CE-approved high-visibility vest to wear if you have to make an emergency stop or break down.
A motorcycle jacket, trousers and protective boots are strongly recommended rather than generally required by law for ordinary riding. French road-safety guidance recommends long sleeves, trousers or a riding suit and boots or high-top shoes because of the additional protection they provide.
Rental scooters will commonly be offered with a helmet, but don’t assume that every item of legally required or recommended protective equipment is included in the hire price. Check the equipment supplied with your particular rental before booking, especially if you also need a passenger helmet and approved gloves.
Useful official information:
French Road Safety Observatory – rules for powered two-wheelers
French Government – motorcycle and moped safety equipment guidance
Yes. The minimum age will depend on the type of scooter or motorcycle and the rental company’s own conditions.
Under French law, a 50cc moped or scooter can be ridden from age 14, provided the rider holds the required AM/BSR entitlement where applicable. Larger scooters and motorcycles require the appropriate licence category and therefore have higher minimum legal ages.
However, being legally old enough to ride a scooter doesn’t necessarily mean you will be able to hire one. Rental companies can impose stricter conditions, including a higher minimum age and a requirement to have held your licence for a specified period. UK government travel advice specifically warns that vehicle hire companies in France may apply higher minimum ages and minimum driving-experience requirements.
For this reason, younger riders should check the conditions for the specific scooter or motorcycle they intend to hire before booking. The minimum age can vary according to the vehicle’s engine size and the rental provider’s insurance requirements.
Useful official information:
French Government – requirements for riding a 50cc scooter
UK Government – driving and vehicle hire in France
If you’re visiting France with a valid UK photocard driving licence, you do not normally need an International Driving Permit (IDP). UK government guidance specifically confirms that an IDP is not required for France.
You should carry your physical UK driving licence with you when riding. If you still hold an old-style paper driving licence, different requirements can apply and you may need to update it to a photocard licence or obtain the appropriate IDP.
Individual rental companies can impose requirements that go beyond the legal minimum, including asking for an IDP, so it’s worth checking the conditions for your particular scooter or motorcycle before booking.
If your licence was issued outside the UK, the requirements can differ depending on the issuing country, so check the French rules that apply to your licence before travelling.
Useful official information:
UK Government – check whether you need an International Driving Permit
UK Government – France travel advice and driving requirements
Yes. France has several rules that scooter and motorcycle riders should be aware of. Ride on the right-hand side of the road, and pay close attention to posted speed limits. As a general guide, limits are 50 km/h in built-up areas, 80 km/h on many single-carriageway roads, 110 km/h on divided roads and 130 km/h on motorways, although local limits can be lower and limits are reduced in some poor-weather conditions.
France has strict rules on mobile phones and headphones. You must not ride while holding a phone, and headphones or earpieces that emit sound are prohibited while riding. The general legal blood-alcohol limit is 0.5 g/L, reduced to 0.2 g/L for probationary/new drivers.
If you’re riding a scooter or motorcycle, both rider and passenger must wear an approved helmet and approved gloves. Smaller scooters also have restrictions: a moped of less than 50cc is limited to 45 km/h, so it won’t be suitable for every type of road.
France also operates low-emission zones (ZFE) in a number of urban areas. The Crit’Air emissions system applies to motorcycles and scooters as well as cars, and restrictions vary by location. With a rental scooter, check that the vehicle meets any requirements for the areas you intend to visit.
Finally, don’t assume that filtering between traffic is permitted in every situation. France has specific rules governing when and how powered two-wheelers may travel between lanes, so follow local signs and regulations rather than treating unrestricted lane-splitting as acceptable.
Useful official information:
French Road Safety – essential rules for driving in France
French Road Safety Observatory – Highway Code guidance
Official Crit’Air website
Yes. In France, motorised vehicles, including scooters and motorcycles, must have at least third-party liability insurance, and French government guidance states that this compulsory liability cover is included in the rental price. It covers injury or damage you cause to other people, their vehicles or property.
However, this basic insurance does not necessarily cover damage to the rental scooter, theft, or injuries you suffer as the rider. Rental companies may offer additional cover for these risks, sometimes with an excess or deductible that you remain responsible for.
Before booking, check exactly what insurance is included, the amount of any excess, and whether there are exclusions for theft, accidental damage or particular types of use. The level of additional protection can vary considerably between rental agreements.
Useful official information:
French Government – insurance when hiring a vehicle
French Ministry of Economy – vehicle rental and insurance rules
There can be. The amount you pay for scooter or motorcycle hire in France will depend on the rental agreement and any optional extras you choose. French consumer authorities require rental companies to provide clear information about the total price, additional services and any extra charges that may apply.
Possible additional costs can include extra insurance, additional equipment, additional drivers, excess mileage, fuel charges, late-return fees and surcharges at locations such as airports or railway stations. You may also be asked for a security deposit or card pre-authorisation when collecting the vehicle. A security deposit is not normally an extra rental charge and should be released or returned subject to the conditions of the rental agreement.
Check the fuel policy carefully too. If the scooter is supposed to be returned with the same amount of fuel and isn’t, the rental company may charge for the missing fuel and potentially an additional refuelling service fee.
Before confirming your booking, check exactly what is included in the quoted price, the deposit required, the insurance excess and the charges that could apply when the scooter is returned.
Useful official information:
French Ministry of Economy – vehicle rental rules and charges
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