How much trouble can you get into driving in Europe?

[Order66]

Trabi601 said:

And as I said - I would't want to risk being pulled by boarder guards for unpaid fines.

They aren't giving your passport details out, so can't be linked. In any case you're not going to get stopped at any border for a speeding ticket - there is no legislation (EU or otherwise) which would give border guards that power.

[anonymous-user]

Funny, I recently got back from my first 'proper' euro-trip.

France-Monaco-Italy-Switzerland

I had no idea about the vignette thing in Switzerland, I got lucky by the sounds of it! Although we were in and out within a day, just lunch at lake Geneva on the way to Dijon from Milan.

No trouble from any police but those french take tailgating to another level! ( not at me on everyone)

I loved it, makes UK seemed so busy and cramped.

[Vaud]

I haven't read the whole thread.

Don't speed in Switzerland. At all.

If you must, then pick a valley with a dead end. Do a sighting run, then have some fun, but alsoo don't be surprised if the locals call the police.

[Trabi601]

Order66 said:

They aren't giving your passport details out, so can't be linked. In any case you're not going to get stopped at any border for a speeding ticket - there is no legislation (EU or otherwise) which would give border guards that power.

There are enough interlinked details for border police to put a flag against your name.

If you're going into a Shengen country overland you'll get away with it unless pulled by plod - but if you're entering the Shengen zone via a country where you've incurred a fine, you can be pulled and made to pay.

[Order66]

Trabi601 said:

There are enough interlinked details for border police to put a flag against your name.

If you're going into a Shengen country overland you'll get away with it unless pulled by plod - but if you're entering the Shengen zone via a country where you've incurred a fine, you can be pulled and made to pay.

Your evidence for this is?

[Trabi601]

Order66 said:

Your evidence for this is?

It's early days yet for the EU system, but I know someone who was questioned by US immigration over an unpaid motoring fine.

Do you want to take the chance is the question? - I certainly wouldn't want to be pulled at immigration over a minor fine.

[a]

Geekman said:

I have British reg'd cars in France and a lot of this simply isn't true.

Where abouts?

I spent a few months in and around Lille and the behaviour towards my car was shocking. Exactly as described above. I've only been stopped by police 4 times in my life and 3 of them were in France at "random" check points (fourth was in Germany but I deserved that one). I also had my car vandalised and broken in to. And random parking tickets as mentioned. There was a marked improvement when I put a big "Ecosse" sticker on my boot, so read into that what you will...

I also spent a few months in the South near Antibes and it was FAR better. I don't think anyone really cared my car was British, maybe because there were so many others around.

[Order66]

Trabi601 said:

It's early days yet for the EU system, but I know someone who was questioned by US immigration over an unpaid motoring fine.

This is just incorrect. Immigration (CBP) is a federal issue in the US, speeding fines are local city/county and/or state issues. Unless this somehow elevated from a misdermeanor to a felony that somehow cross state lines it wouldn't go near federal law enforcement. To be stopped at immigration there would need to be a federal warrant issued against a passport. Federal warrants don't get issued for speeding tickets.

There is no legal framework for this in the EU and absolutely no evidence that an unpaid fine could in any way cause an immigration issue.

[cmaguire]

a said:

Where abouts?

I spent a few months in and around Lille and the behaviour towards my car was shocking. Exactly as described above. I've only been stopped by police 4 times in my life and 3 of them were in France at "random" check points (fourth was in Germany but I deserved that one). I also had my car vandalised and broken in to. And random parking tickets as mentioned. There was a marked improvement when I put a big "Ecosse" sticker on my boot, so read into that what you will...

I also spent a few months in the South near Antibes and it was FAR better. I don't think anyone really cared my car was British, maybe because there were so many others around.

I have had a house in France for more than 12 years and so far have always driven my UK plated vehicle over. Apart from the habit some of them have as regards drifting slightly between lanes on the Autoroutes, driving over there is a relief after the irritation of driving here. Then again, bar places like Holland and Switzerland, driving in most places in Europe that aren't here is a relief.
Not having cameras constantly spying on you or having to think about penalty points is almost invigorating.

[Joe5y]

a said:

French drivers are aggressive pains in the ass with the driving standards of a hamster and permanent red mist - they will aim for you... That's when you're in a French car. With British plates... Good luck.
However, as much as they will hate you, they hate the police more. When they flash you, it usually means there are cops around the corner so beware.
If you have British plates the cops will stop you at their "random" stops, every single time. They will not speak English with you and if your French grammar is anything less than perfect prepare for a very long spell in high security prison. Make sure you have all your paperwork, high-vis jacket, spare bulbs, etc.
Also if you park a British car in a city centre, even if you follow all the rules and pay & display, you will get ticketed every day. 10 years ago the correct course of action was to deposit the ticket in a bin. I'm not sure if this still applies today or if they have any way to track you down.
Also - roundabouts have no rules. Don't treat them like you do in the UK or you'll crash. Embrace the madness - any lane can go to any exit and you can use any lane to do as many loops of the roundabout as you wish. You must check over your shoulder before exiting and be prepared for a car to be there 50% of the time.
.

Complete and utter bullshizzle!

[Vaud]

Joe5y said:

a said:

French drivers are aggressive pains in the ass with the driving standards of a hamster and permanent red mist - they will aim for you... That's when you're in a French car. With British plates... Good luck.

However, as much as they will hate you, they hate the police more. When they flash you, it usually means there are cops around the corner so beware.

If you have British plates the cops will stop you at their "random" stops, every single time. They will not speak English with you and if your French grammar is anything less than perfect prepare for a very long spell in high security prison. Make sure you have all your paperwork, high-vis jacket, spare bulbs, etc.
Also if you park a British car in a city centre, even if you follow all the rules and pay & display, you will get ticketed every day. 10 years ago the correct course of action was to deposit the ticket in a bin. I'm not sure if this still applies today or if they have any way to track you down.

Also - roundabouts have no rules. Don't treat them like you do in the UK or you'll crash. Embrace the madness - any lane can go to any exit and you can use any lane to do as many loops of the roundabout as you wish. You must check over your shoulder before exiting and be prepared for a car to be there 50% of the time.
.

Complete and utter bullshizzle!

Quite. I've had no major issues in driving thousands of miles in France.

The last bit is true in Paris though. Especially around the Arc de Triomphe.
In rural France you may find locals still thinking "Priorité a droite" is a thing, but that's arrogance/drunkenness regardless of your car's plate.

[indigostr]

londonbabe said:

Oh, and I didn't know about the Austria Vignette, so that's a useful tip, thanks!

The vignette can be bought in Germany along most autoroutes leading to Austria or very latest at the border crossing. Slovenia also needs one.

When there was still border control we had our passports taken off us in Austria and told where the nearest cashpoint was to withdraw the 400 euro fine for no vignette. I called the friends we were staying with and was told to wait where we were and not get the cash as the guard had refused my visa and mastercard saying visa electron only for payment. After an hour my friend turned up with an electron card. The guard was unimpressed and the payment was taken...150 euros! The vignette was about 14 at the time from memory.

Just make sure on unrestricted autobahn that you are up to speed before venturing into the outside lane as even 120/130mph will not cut it. Keep an eye ahead on overhead gantries for when to brake back to 130kmh.

French and Spanish roads and motorways are empty compared to UK, most locals stick to the limit on the motorways.Spanish seem to speed in France and Germans/Russians in Spain. The GB badge does seem to act as a magnet to a few dheads.

Spanish are probably worse drivers than the French , phone use is unbelievable! it easily outdoes the amount I see using in UK on daily basis. Roundabouts are something else, they can exit from any lane without indication so keep your eyes open,look at the driver not the car, inside lane has priority over outside so they'll cut you up. Pedestrian crossing are priority to pedestrians and they often step out without looking. The zebra crossings are not always well marked and can be on a corner,roundabout or any other unexpected place.

Once you get your head around the above you'll really like the freedom we don't get in the UK with our clogged up roads.
Also mpg certainly improves on my euro trips.
I have toll tags for France and Spain which can help in the summer or solo rhd traveller. Tag not essential in Spain but I use it mainly to avoid the A7 at peak times.

[lucido grigio]

Comment above about improved MPG is so true.

In 2015 I managed over 400 miles on a tank of fuel ,whilst driving back from Sweden ,couldn't quite believe it ,seeing as I wasn't

hanging about.

Cant get anywhere near that at home, it's just too congested.

[Trabi601]

Not sure where people are driving - but I encountered plenty of roadworks and congestion on my recent trip (Hoek van Holland - Berlin - Jena - Sankt Goar - Hammer - Hoek van Holland). This is on a mixture of Autobahn and A/B road equivalents.

[YankeePorker]

I understand that you just want to "make good progress" so are not planning on really silly speeding. Worth noting that in France really serious speeding is treated as dangerous driving (or racing if in company) and your car can be seized and sold at auction. That makes for a really extreme speeding fine.......

https://www.driving.co.uk/news/british-holidaymake...

[chopper602]

I have Umwelt tags for all of our cars, even if they haven't been to Germany. They only cost a couple of quid and they don't expire.
Breathalysers are not enforceable in France, so take a couple if you're worried about late night drinks, otherwise don't bother.

[a]

Trabi601 said:

Not sure where people are driving - but I encountered plenty of roadworks and congestion on my recent trip (Hoek van Holland - Berlin - Jena - Sankt Goar - Hammer - Hoek van Holland). This is on a mixture of Autobahn and A/B road equivalents.

Yep... Either "grass is greener" effect, or they avoid driving at busy periods in big cities when on holiday.
I've been in plenty of standstill traffic in every country mentioned by the OP. Obviously where toll roads are available you encounter less traffic, but it gets costly.

[Amateurish]

Vaud said:

Joe5y said:

a said:

French drivers are aggressive pains in the ass with the driving standards of a hamster and permanent red mist - they will aim for you... That's when you're in a French car. With British plates... Good luck.

However, as much as they will hate you, they hate the police more. When they flash you, it usually means there are cops around the corner so beware.

If you have British plates the cops will stop you at their "random" stops, every single time. They will not speak English with you and if your French grammar is anything less than perfect prepare for a very long spell in high security prison. Make sure you have all your paperwork, high-vis jacket, spare bulbs, etc.
Also if you park a British car in a city centre, even if you follow all the rules and pay & display, you will get ticketed every day. 10 years ago the correct course of action was to deposit the ticket in a bin. I'm not sure if this still applies today or if they have any way to track you down.

Also - roundabouts have no rules. Don't treat them like you do in the UK or you'll crash. Embrace the madness - any lane can go to any exit and you can use any lane to do as many loops of the roundabout as you wish. You must check over your shoulder before exiting and be prepared for a car to be there 50% of the time.
.

Complete and utter bullshizzle!

Quite. I've had no major issues in driving thousands of miles in France.

The last bit is true in Paris though. Especially around the Arc de Triomphe.
In rural France you may find locals still thinking "Priorité a droite" is a thing, but that's arrogance/drunkenness regardless of your car's plate.

"a" has posted complete rubbish. I've driven for many years in France in both UK and French reg cars, and had no difference in how police or other road users approach me.

BTW - priorite a droite is still a "thing" and it applies by default to all junctions in France unless otherwise indicated.

[lucido grigio]

I haven't spent a huge amount of time on French minor roads but how common is the sign....?
Vous n'avez pas la priorité.

[Vaud]

Amateurish said:

BTW - priorite a droite is still a "thing" and it applies by default to all junctions in France unless otherwise indicated.

Handy guide:

http://www.vendee-guide.co.uk/priority-a-droite.ht...