Driving to France! N00b questions / advice.
Discussion
blueST said:
For the sake carrying two bits of paper it's not worth risking going without.
Agreed! I certainly wouldn't have deliberately gone without it. Was just surprised that as he already had me on the hook for speeding he didn't go for the double-whammy. Perhaps he was just keen to send me on my way so he didn't have to listen to me butchering his language...Puggit said:
As above, it is certainly a legal requirement to carry the docs. However, when making a 5min pootle to the boulangerie, will you always remember?
Yes as I carry my life in my gay French man bag at all times. But that's because I live here and know better not to forget them.magooagain said:
Yes as I carry my life in my gay French man bag at all times. But that's because I live here and know better not to forget them.
When we are out there, I occasionally jump into the car and nip to Bricolage or Leclerc with nothing but a few euro notes in my pocket. I'll probably think twice in the future, but what is likely to happen if I get stopped at one of those random check points with no docs of any form on me?You may be ok if you are in a Brit car etc.
But all my docs are French including my licence. So it normally about 90 euro fine for each doc I don't have.
I got let off last year for not having my car trailor log when towing my track car. Probably because I had every other document with me.
But all my docs are French including my licence. So it normally about 90 euro fine for each doc I don't have.
I got let off last year for not having my car trailor log when towing my track car. Probably because I had every other document with me.
Something I don't think has been mentioned so far - if you've got a sat-nav, disable any speed camera warnings. Supposedly (I've never had 100% clarity on this) le plod can confiscate any such device, which means that, if it's built-in, they can in theory confiscate the whole car!
Last year we never bothered with GB plates or headlamp deflectors (although we never drove at night) and nobody gave a toss. Might be different in the event of a bump (or bermp), when le plod might get over zealous.
Last year we never bothered with GB plates or headlamp deflectors (although we never drove at night) and nobody gave a toss. Might be different in the event of a bump (or bermp), when le plod might get over zealous.
+1 for the Sanef tag. Plenty of queues flew past at the tolls.
For those that have it, where do you have it mounted? We had a variable experience with half the tolls hesitant to register and lift the barrier. I have mine to the right of the rear view mirror... which makes no sense as Frenchies are LHD so I assume it should be on the right of the rear view mirror?
For those that have it, where do you have it mounted? We had a variable experience with half the tolls hesitant to register and lift the barrier. I have mine to the right of the rear view mirror... which makes no sense as Frenchies are LHD so I assume it should be on the right of the rear view mirror?
//j17 said:
rdjohn said:
Head light adjusters are NOT required. There are no products sold in France that convert LH beams to RH. They are just called "A nice little earner" for the AA / Halfords. The headlights must conform to EU requirements. That is what the single market is about.
Actually they ARE required because the UK negotiated a specific requirement in to the EU requirements for RHD dipped-beam headlights to have an asymetrical dipped beam, effectively not dipping the part of the beam that hits the kirb/road-side signs. Only we wanted this so it's only a requirement for a RHD lamps to comply with the EU standard. LHD headlights don't have this asymetrical dipped beam and so their's no need/requirement for LHD beam deflectors.That said I always plan to put them on in the Eurotunnel car park...and always forget.
Origin Unknown said:
+1 for the Sanef tag. Plenty of queues flew past at the tolls.
For those that have it, where do you have it mounted? We had a variable experience with half the tolls hesitant to register and lift the barrier. I have mine to the right of the rear view mirror... which makes no sense as Frenchies are LHD so I assume it should be on the right of the rear view mirror?
I've always had mine up behind the rear view mirror, but not always the same side. Has worked fine wherever. I don't think it is critical. Is it high up very close to the roof? If so maybe try moving it down an inch or so. If you have a solar reflective windscreen, they don't like those. Heated windscreens are fine.For those that have it, where do you have it mounted? We had a variable experience with half the tolls hesitant to register and lift the barrier. I have mine to the right of the rear view mirror... which makes no sense as Frenchies are LHD so I assume it should be on the right of the rear view mirror?
Halmyre said:
Something I don't think has been mentioned so far - if you've got a sat-nav, disable any speed camera warnings. Supposedly (I've never had 100% clarity on this) le plod can confiscate any such device, which means that, if it's built-in, they can in theory confiscate the whole car!
However you may, quite legitimately, have warnings of 'danger zones' which include where cameras are located.Watch for the speed cameras! They aren't bright yellow, easy to spot cameras, they are cheeky little grey ones and usually hidden behind something lol. I forgot to turn off my camera locater on the t
t nav last week and glad I did as I didn't clock the camera till the TN beeped at me.
Where I was staying I was chatting to a local builder about breathalysers etc and how it seemed to be on and off so quickly and how it wasnt really confirmed. He told me the fella who introduced the law had a brother in the breathalyser industry, they couldnt keep up with production and the law was dropped. His brother is now minted LOL. This could be 100% BS though
t nav last week and glad I did as I didn't clock the camera till the TN beeped at me.Where I was staying I was chatting to a local builder about breathalysers etc and how it seemed to be on and off so quickly and how it wasnt really confirmed. He told me the fella who introduced the law had a brother in the breathalyser industry, they couldnt keep up with production and the law was dropped. His brother is now minted LOL. This could be 100% BS though
blueST said:
Agree the cameras themselves can be hard to spot, but they very kindly put a warning sign on the approach in most if not all cases.
Indeed. Unlike the UK if you see a speed camera warning sign there will be a camera coming up. Often there is also a reminder speed limit sign.Some of the cameras don't have the 'highlight' paint/tape on them.
Bit late with this, I had an email out of the blue from some breakdown company, outlining what MUST be taken when driving in France.
among all the triangle, high viz jacket, breathalysers, etc., was SNOW CHAINS!
Promise me that if I drove to visit someone in Lens for a weekend in June, July, or August, I wouldn't get nicked for being sans snow chains!
Still, no doubt La République has it's share of picky keufs having a bad day.
among all the triangle, high viz jacket, breathalysers, etc., was SNOW CHAINS!
Promise me that if I drove to visit someone in Lens for a weekend in June, July, or August, I wouldn't get nicked for being sans snow chains!
Still, no doubt La République has it's share of picky keufs having a bad day.
You only need chains in those mountain areas where it's declared as mandatory during the winter months, usually Massive Centrale/Alps/Pyrenees. I live a couple of hours from the Massive Centrale and have full winter tyres (Pirelli) that go on in November and come off in March and never had any trouble.
I came through France from Italy last week and, having forgotten my breathalysers, tried to buy them at the first petrol station after the Mont Blanc tunnel. The garagiste said the law had changed again and that they were no longer required.
However, if advice elsewhere is that they are, they hardly take up much space. I think they come as standard in the AA Euro kit.
Les flics do get het up about spare bulbs, however, as I have discovered, although funnily enough don't seem to care whether they are compatible with the car in question
Another thing I have not seen mentioned is, IIRC, that you can get caught out if you require spectacles to drive. You are obliged in France to have a spare pair on you.
Peter
However, if advice elsewhere is that they are, they hardly take up much space. I think they come as standard in the AA Euro kit.
Les flics do get het up about spare bulbs, however, as I have discovered, although funnily enough don't seem to care whether they are compatible with the car in question
Another thing I have not seen mentioned is, IIRC, that you can get caught out if you require spectacles to drive. You are obliged in France to have a spare pair on you.
Peter
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