No. plates in France

[Cooky]

Can anyone please advise if GB plates are manditory for France, or will my current ENG plates be ok?

also is a front plate compulsory? if so can you use the smaller motorcycle type on French Roads.
I ask as i am concerned about airflow when crusing at high speed for long distances.

Many thanks,
Cooky

[flinny]

Took the S to Le mans last year with EUR sticker on rear plate only. ENG is fine and not required on front plate. You will need light deflectors though if driving at night. Shouldn't bother with the Hells frauds stuff; just some black electricians tape/ slighty opake(??) tape would do the job.

[targarama]

I've never put GB plates on my cars and we've done plenty of trips to Europe. Never adjusted the headlamps/stuck thingys over them either - not easy on something like a T350. Never had an ounce of trouble.

I'm sure you're supposed to put a GB sticker on.

BTW - People with GB badges on their front numberplates. What's that all about?

[Dave 500]

Hi there,

I ran the cannonball last summer I took off the front number plate on the track day which was day 2 out of 5 and never put it back on untill we were going back on the ferry. Must have been stopped about 5 times but the front plate was never a problem. You can use UK plates but you should have a GB sticker...

[Guillotine]

if you have EUR or GB plates you won't need a GB sticker. so long as they can identify your country of origin.

never had probs with small front plate, run one ALL the time has no country ident! UK and Europe.

also took plate off for Italy as it was 'KIN 'OT, put it back on the ferry!

if you do fit a GB sticker, clean area with pledge or similar and it'll peel off no probs...also works for sticker No. plates

andy

[spivvy]

get a set of GB Number plate stickers
at halfords

i think they cost me £1.99

peel them off when you finish

[Cooky]

Thanks Guys,
so the concensious is...loose the front plate, and cover the ENG flag on the Plate with a Union Jack and a GB Sticker.

Many Thanks
Cooky

[Corin Denton]

I normally find that irrationally high speeds and crates of Stella normally lets people know I'm British.

[k77-widow maker]

Corin Denton said:

I normally find that irrationally high speeds and crates of Stella normally lets people know I'm British.

lol, not sure about the Stella, but St Malo to La Rochelle in 3 hours (inc 2 fuel stops) would indicate that i'm from sunny Hants, nee Cambs. it's the only place to do 140 mph + and get away with it...so long as you are lucky, and like coffee when filling up with fuel.

[speedsix20]

Be careful when travelling in France guys.

Hundreds of Gatso type radars have been installed all around the French road network during the last 2 years and zero tolerance seems to be the norm these days.

Anything above 170kph on the autoroute and your licence will be at risk.

[Cooky]

Licence at risk ?

How can a speeding offence in France occur points or a ban in the UK. I was not aware that the Uk driving licence was subject to international points or any associated ban offence.

please provide any more info on this

cheers

[Alster]

catso said:

Following on from a few 'Speeding in Europe' threads, the following info was in MCN (Motor Cycle News), I thought it might be of interest; ................. FRANCE Do more than 50km/h over the limit and the cops can give you an on-the-spot fine of 3800 euros (£2600) and confiscate your bike for ever. A lesser offence can earn you a fine of between 90 and 760 euros (£60-£530). Mobile speed traps are common and radar detectors are illegal - you have been warned!

flemke said:

In France more than one gendarme has told me that they might confiscate a car (I presume that a bike would be treated the same) if its speed had been something like 40 over the limit.The confiscation, they said, is not intended to be permanent. Rather, for such an "excessive" speed the gendarme is not entrusted to assess the suitable penalty; this must be done by a magistrate. Your meeting with the mag. will be scheduled for a future date. Your car may be impounded in order to ensure that you will show up for your appointment with the mag. After you have done so you'll get your car back.

[julianc]

As I understand it, the 'ENG' or St George's cross do not constitute a legal marking in France, irrespective of whether the sign also has the 'star circle'. To remain legal in France you need either a large 'GB' sticker or a rear number plate with 'GB' and the EU 'star circle'.

I refuse to put any sort of sticker on the bodywork, but in Halfords last year I bought a small sticker with the 'GB' and the 'star circle' that I fit on the very left hand edge of my rear numberplate - there was just enough room to do this without obscuring the first letter. Return to the UK, just peel off the sticker and Bob's your proverbial.

Julian

[speedsix20]

I assume French police forces are allowed to confiscate a foreign licence since they are entitled to confiscate a foreign car but that remains an assumption.

I wouldn't get too paranoid when traveling through France but would still keep it reasonable speedwise especially when driving in a convoy of flashy & noisy sportscars. They are not exactly pollitically correct for the gendarmes and represent a popular target since the Interior Minister launched an anti-speed crusade about two years ago. You just have to check the average speed and general behaviour on the French autoroutes these days. It is amazingly disciplined.