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The Car Car Parts
In General
| While U.S. drivers will likely insist that knowing about car parts and maintenance has nothing to do with the ability to drive, these sorts of questions could come up on the test. Thus, the topic will be covered here, even if only for the French vocabulary. |
| See the Hints section for driving test hints related to car parts. |
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At least two high beam headlights ("feux de route" or "phares"), either white or yellow. They illuminate at least 100 m in front of the car. |
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Two low beam headlights ("feux de croisement" or "codes"), either white or yellow. They illuminate at least 30 m in front of the car without blinding oncoming traffic. It is illegal to equip a car with more than two lowbeam headlights. |
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Two parking lights ("feux de position"), either on the side or the front of the car, always orange. They are visible to at least 150 m. |
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Two turn signals ("clignotants", which literally translates to "blinking"), always orange. They blink one at a time for turn signals or together for hazards. The front and rear blinkers illuminate at the same time. |
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License plate ("plaque d'immatriculation"), always reflective white. |
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(OPTIONAL) Two front fog lights ("feux de brouillard avant"), either white or yellow. They illuminate a very wide range, unlike headlights. They must be placed at least 25 cm above the ground. When the front fog lights are on, the parking lights must also be on. |
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Two tail lights ("feux rouges"), non blinding and always red. Must be visible to 150 m. |
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Two brake lights ("feux 'stop'"), always red. They go on when the brake pedal is pushed. |
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Two turn signals ("clignotants", which literally translates to "blinking"), always orange. They blink one at a time for turn signals or together for hazards. The front and rear blinkers illuminate at the same time. |
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Two reflectors ("dispositifs réfléchissants" or "cataphotes"), always red. Must be visible to 100 m when illuminated by the headlights of a car behind you. |
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One or two rear fog lights ("feux de brouillard arrière"), always red. These are more powerful than the front fog lights (which is why you are not allowed to turn them on during rain because they can blind the drivers behind you). If there is only one light, it is not clear where it should be mounted. One official book says left side only and the other official book says on the left or in the center. Hopefully we won't need this info for the test. |
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License plate ("plaque d'immatriculation"), always reflective yellow. |
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One license plate light. The plate must be readable to at least 20 m. |
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(OPTIONAL) One or two reverse lights ("feux de recul"), always white. Comes on only when the car is put into reverse. |
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(OPTIONAL) A third brake light ("troisieme feux 'stop'"), always red and always mounted in the center of the car. Comes on when the brake lights do, to separate braking from tail lights or rear fog lights. |
Hazard Lights
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You must use your hazard lights to warn other drivers when:
- When you have to slow suddenly
- When you're the last in a line of stopped or slowed traffic
- When your vehicle is disabled on the road where it poses a danger (on a curve, intersection, underground passage, etc.)
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Warning Triangle
| A reflective red triangle that sits on the road can warn other drivers as well. It's called a "triangle de presignalization" in French. It can be used to replace or (better yet) in addition to hazard lights on the car. You place the triangle at least 30 m from the car such that it's visible to other drivers in the same lane for 100 m. On the autoroute, you must always use an 'early warning' device like the triangle, even when you're in the breakdown lane. |
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