Car insurance is a legal requirement in France;not having insurance is punishable by six months in prison. Trust us this is no the ideal way to spend your holiday in France. If you are a short term visitor only, then you may find that a simple car hire agreement is the most straightforward solution for you. Rental companies may offer special deals, and rates are usually competitive and reasonable. The advantage of doing this is that the car is easily available from your point of arrival in France.