A total of 313 vehicles were set on fire, primarily by young people overnight around France, French police said on Monday, adding that 258 persons were arrested.
An additional 83 vehicles caught fire due to the spread of fires from other vehicles, police added.
There were no major clashes between police and young people from the impoverished areas, as occurred in 2005.
Police reported that truancy was starting at younger ages, specifying that an eight and 10-year-old were detained for setting trash containers alight in Strasbourg.
There was a strong police presence in Paris with 4500 officers on the streets as 400 000 revellers saw in the New Year.