How much trouble can you get into driving in Europe?
Discussion
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 live in Nice, but I've driven and spent time in most major cities including Lille and never had any problems.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.
lucido grigio said:
The Euro isn't used in Switzerland btw but it is accepted I believe.
Indeed it is. I once approached the border and completely forgot about the vignette but the border bods look out for those without one and pull you over to one side. Coughed up my €35, got my sticker and was sent on my merry way without any fuss. Tried it on in Slovenia once and got spanked for €150. Not a happy boy, tried to bluff it out but it wasn't going to happen. Expensive 'mistake'!Atomic12C said:
lucido grigio said:
The "green zone" or Umwelt sticker mentioned above ,is it strictly applied ?
I have driven through a few Umwelt zones, Essen and Stuttgart and never had a problem.
From my experience and from what I hear, its a bit hit and miss.I have driven through a few Umwelt zones, Essen and Stuttgart and never had a problem.
Some say that if you get two strikes or more then a fine is on its way. I think they are regionally policed rather than a national computer database, but I could be wrong about that!
Beknown said:
If I rememeber correctly its a long drawn out process to get a green sticker for a UK registered car, in the end I fabricated one up myself..looked convincing at a cursory glance and would satisfy all but the most eagle eyed.
It's a complete doddle. Complete form, attach scans of V5, pay money, job done. I got mine in about 7 days.French motorways.
Bliss
Straight
Flat
Quick
Our motorways
Built on a bend
Concrete or bumpy
Congested
Camera filled.
I find if you keep it below a ton, le plod are easy to deal with.
Just keep a wad full of euros on you.
And be massively polite.
Learn a bit of French, especially how to say sorry.
Don't cane it toward le tunnel sous la manche
They sit about 100km from there, on motorbikes.
Bliss
Straight
Flat
Quick
Our motorways
Built on a bend
Concrete or bumpy
Congested
Camera filled.
I find if you keep it below a ton, le plod are easy to deal with.
Just keep a wad full of euros on you.
And be massively polite.
Learn a bit of French, especially how to say sorry.
Don't cane it toward le tunnel sous la manche
They sit about 100km from there, on motorbikes.
Beknown said:
Osinjak said:
It's a complete doddle. Complete form, attach scans of V5, pay money, job done. I got mine in about 7 days.
I'm pretty sure they would not accept scans of my V5, but this was 6 years ago.http://www.tuev-sued.de/car_vehicles/services/emis...
Yes, buying an Umweltplakette on line is dead easy and pretty quick. Just after I'd bought mine, I suffered a cracked windscreen which had to be replaced and it wasn't possible to remove the Umweltplakette. So I e-mailed the issuing authority and explained; they kindly sent a replacement at no cost.
With increasing levels of traffic on Autobahns and the amount of roadworks, sustained high speed driving is becoming increasingly difficult. Also many Autobahns are still only dual carriageways; many German drivers are losing the habit of checking for high speed traffic coming up behind them when they pull out to overtake yet another €urotrucker - so you really need your wits about you if doing more than about 150 kph (where allowed). I managed 220 kph for a short while, but it was far from relaxing due to inconsiderate overtakers etc. Another hazard is Dutch motorhomes festooned with bicycles - by the time they reach half way across Germany on their way to Austria, they have become tired and are quite likely to pull out without looking.
The utter insanity of Belgian driver has to be experienced to be believed - they take tail gating to a level not even seen in the South of France. If you are in the outside lane trying to overtake but being held up by slower traffic ahead, a Belgian is quite likely to sit on your tail indicating and flashing even though there's obviously no hope of him getting past the slowcoach ahead either...
Avoid French motorway service areas close to the Channel - a variety of scams can be tried by minor criminals on unsuspecting visitors. In German service areas you will need some small change to access the loos, which goes towards their upkeep which is why they're usually spotless.
Asking what you can get away with in Europe and not risk a fine is an utterly puerile question. Do the crime and you should expect to pay the fine - and serves you b£oody right!
Perhaps €urocops will now be on the look out for a fat Brit in a DB9 paying no attention to the local traffic laws?
With increasing levels of traffic on Autobahns and the amount of roadworks, sustained high speed driving is becoming increasingly difficult. Also many Autobahns are still only dual carriageways; many German drivers are losing the habit of checking for high speed traffic coming up behind them when they pull out to overtake yet another €urotrucker - so you really need your wits about you if doing more than about 150 kph (where allowed). I managed 220 kph for a short while, but it was far from relaxing due to inconsiderate overtakers etc. Another hazard is Dutch motorhomes festooned with bicycles - by the time they reach half way across Germany on their way to Austria, they have become tired and are quite likely to pull out without looking.
The utter insanity of Belgian driver has to be experienced to be believed - they take tail gating to a level not even seen in the South of France. If you are in the outside lane trying to overtake but being held up by slower traffic ahead, a Belgian is quite likely to sit on your tail indicating and flashing even though there's obviously no hope of him getting past the slowcoach ahead either...
Avoid French motorway service areas close to the Channel - a variety of scams can be tried by minor criminals on unsuspecting visitors. In German service areas you will need some small change to access the loos, which goes towards their upkeep which is why they're usually spotless.
Asking what you can get away with in Europe and not risk a fine is an utterly puerile question. Do the crime and you should expect to pay the fine - and serves you b£oody right!
Perhaps €urocops will now be on the look out for a fat Brit in a DB9 paying no attention to the local traffic laws?
Edited by nickwilcock on Thursday 25th May 07:02
Osinjak said:
Beknown said:
If I rememeber correctly its a long drawn out process to get a green sticker for a UK registered car, in the end I fabricated one up myself..looked convincing at a cursory glance and would satisfy all but the most eagle eyed.
It's a complete doddle. Complete form, attach scans of V5, pay money, job done. I got mine in about 7 days.Umwelt sticker is easy to order online.
http://www.tuev-sued.de/auto_fahrzeuge/feinstaub-p...
One week turnaround. In fact they were very good when my windscreen had to be replaced, and TUV sent me a replacement.
You can buy the Vignette on the way into Switzerland at the border control, I believe it lets you drive on the Motorways. As others have said - do not speed in Switzerland - I asked a Swiss colleague why he had a fast car - he said "Germany...."
Paris now has an air quality sticker as well recently introduced (about £3.70 i think)
https://www.certificat-air.gouv.fr/en/
This takes about a week to arrive as well.
At some point, we're not going to be able to see out the windscreeen with all these stickers!
If you're driving through France, you can save a load of time if you purchase a Sanef tolling tag:
https://www.saneftolling.co.uk/subscription
On the toll roads, these let you skip past the sometimes very long queues of cars waiting to pay cash/card - some let you drive through at 30km/h.
Eurotunnel have an offer if you use them to get the Sanef tag cheaper.
https://www.saneftolling.co.uk/Eurotunnel-Le-Shutt...
Good luck and enjoy the experience!
http://www.tuev-sued.de/auto_fahrzeuge/feinstaub-p...
One week turnaround. In fact they were very good when my windscreen had to be replaced, and TUV sent me a replacement.
You can buy the Vignette on the way into Switzerland at the border control, I believe it lets you drive on the Motorways. As others have said - do not speed in Switzerland - I asked a Swiss colleague why he had a fast car - he said "Germany...."
Paris now has an air quality sticker as well recently introduced (about £3.70 i think)
https://www.certificat-air.gouv.fr/en/
This takes about a week to arrive as well.
At some point, we're not going to be able to see out the windscreeen with all these stickers!
If you're driving through France, you can save a load of time if you purchase a Sanef tolling tag:
https://www.saneftolling.co.uk/subscription
On the toll roads, these let you skip past the sometimes very long queues of cars waiting to pay cash/card - some let you drive through at 30km/h.
Eurotunnel have an offer if you use them to get the Sanef tag cheaper.
https://www.saneftolling.co.uk/Eurotunnel-Le-Shutt...
Good luck and enjoy the experience!
nickwilcock said:
Asking what you can get away with in Europe and not risk a fine is an utterly puerile question. Do the crime and you should expect to pay the fine - and serves you b£oody right!
Perhaps €urocops will now be on the look out for a fat Brit in a DB9 paying no attention to the local traffic laws?
For the avoidance of doubt, I didn't buy an Aston to drive slowly, it's true, but actually I don't drive with disregard for the law, which is why my licence has always been spotless. (I sold my Porsche because it was only ever fun if you drove like a pillock, and I don't like to.) However there are quirks of foreign roads which a first-time traveller needs to know about, and I don't want to spoil my honeymoon by having my car impounded or receiving massive roadside fines. I'm looking to stay out of trouble while still being able to enjoy my car and the trip.Perhaps €urocops will now be on the look out for a fat Brit in a DB9 paying no attention to the local traffic laws?
Things like vignettes and umwelts are invaluable tips I would have had no idea about, for example. As is your advice about Belgians. I was considering going through Belgium and Luxembourg, but maybe I'll stick to France until Strasbourg!
Biggest thing to look out for in Italy is residents zones. These have cameras and also Police park up and stop anyone without a residents permit. These are all over the country in big towns and cities.
Usually a red circle with a picture of a town or something inside.
Go through one of these and get stopped.... €100
Usually a red circle with a picture of a town or something inside.
Go through one of these and get stopped.... €100
been caught by a speed camera entering a town in Italy in a hire car.
the hire car company passed my details to the Italian police, who then 1 year later sent me the fine paperwork to complete online.
Fine was about £100 for 10mph over the limit, so not good.
no points, just payment.
In france, I've averaged somewhat higher than the limits on motorways, on entering the toll stations I was warned I would be fined, based on entry and exit times - no such issue.
Both these were from a few years back - the french one may have changed.
the hire car company passed my details to the Italian police, who then 1 year later sent me the fine paperwork to complete online.
Fine was about £100 for 10mph over the limit, so not good.
no points, just payment.
In france, I've averaged somewhat higher than the limits on motorways, on entering the toll stations I was warned I would be fined, based on entry and exit times - no such issue.
Both these were from a few years back - the french one may have changed.
Davo456gt said:
In france, I've averaged somewhat higher than the limits on motorways, on entering the toll stations I was warned I would be fined, based on entry and exit times - no such issue.
That is a myth. Though the police often set up about a mile before the toll station, catching people before they slow down for the toll.Vaud said:
Davo456gt said:
In france, I've averaged somewhat higher than the limits on motorways, on entering the toll stations I was warned I would be fined, based on entry and exit times - no such issue.
That is a myth. Though the police often set up about a mile before the toll station, catching people before they slow down for the toll.I doubt the person (or machine) taking your cash would have the necessary Police authority to do anything and blocking a busy toll booth queue whilst waiting for Police support would cause a riot, especially the first week in August when the queues are already huge.
The only way I can see it working would be against French Nationals with a telepeage setup that could be traced...
Geekman 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.
I have British reg'd cars in France and a lot of this simply isn't true.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.
My only encounter with French Police in that time was very pleasant, although they relieved me of EUR70.
catso said:
I would agree, apart form anything else how could they possibly enforce it?
I doubt the person (or machine) taking your cash would have the necessary Police authority to do anything and blocking a busy toll booth queue whilst waiting for Police support would cause a riot, especially the first week in August when the queues are already huge.
The only way I can see it working would be against French Nationals with a telepeage setup that could be traced...
The French don't like that level of "privacy invasion".I doubt the person (or machine) taking your cash would have the necessary Police authority to do anything and blocking a busy toll booth queue whilst waiting for Police support would cause a riot, especially the first week in August when the queues are already huge.
The only way I can see it working would be against French Nationals with a telepeage setup that could be traced...
The police are predictable and lazy in France, they park in the same places. In rural areas it's even easier as there is likely to be only one policeman on duty (esp in the evening) and only on call, not patrolling.
If you know the places they loiter that's fine, but if you don't, it's a risk.
The article posted previously on Driving.co.uk seems pretty accurate - the gendarmes don't have ANY tolerance above the speed limit, so France is not a place to play anymore - not in the North, certainly.
Belgium is getting as bad (and that's before the roadworks and the traffic) - they employ the same sort of laser-traps followed-up by bike-cops as France, and as in France their word is the law and you don't get shown any evidence.
Germany seem to have got very good at disguising new static speed cameras too.
In short, if you're planning on speeding at all in Europe I'd invest in an up-to-date GPS camera database and obey it to the letter, AND probably a mobile app like Waze where people update on the location of mobile traps...
The article posted previously on Driving.co.uk seems pretty accurate - the gendarmes don't have ANY tolerance above the speed limit, so France is not a place to play anymore - not in the North, certainly.
Belgium is getting as bad (and that's before the roadworks and the traffic) - they employ the same sort of laser-traps followed-up by bike-cops as France, and as in France their word is the law and you don't get shown any evidence.
Germany seem to have got very good at disguising new static speed cameras too.
In short, if you're planning on speeding at all in Europe I'd invest in an up-to-date GPS camera database and obey it to the letter, AND probably a mobile app like Waze where people update on the location of mobile traps...
havoc said:
If you know the places they loiter that's fine, but if you don't, it's a risk.
The article posted previously on Driving.co.uk seems pretty accurate - the gendarmes don't have ANY tolerance above the speed limit, so France is not a place to play anymore - not in the North, certainly.
Oh, I agree. It is much different these days.The article posted previously on Driving.co.uk seems pretty accurate - the gendarmes don't have ANY tolerance above the speed limit, so France is not a place to play anymore - not in the North, certainly.
londonbabe said:
I'll stick to France until Strasbourg!
The Sanef tag is definitely worth getting - you can then drive straight through.As has probably been pointed out previously, the French have had a major sense of humour failure with speeding - so you need to be careful. I try and keep vaguely to speed limits, but sometimes with a 2 mile visibility on a clear peage, it's tempting to give it the beans. Don't. They can confiscate the car.
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