Driving to France! N00b questions / advice.
Discussion
I think they are coloured yellow & black at the Auchan stations I used before, and Diesel is called Gazole... Essence is petrol. I was scratching my head the first time I pulled up to the pumps!
At the hypermarket stations the pumps are split into card & cash payments, at cash you fill up first then pay a person sitting in a little hut on your way out.
At the hypermarket stations the pumps are split into card & cash payments, at cash you fill up first then pay a person sitting in a little hut on your way out.
Edited by chazola on Friday 8th July 10:56
Don't worry about buying a toll card thing. Just stick your credit card in and away you go. You don't even need your pin number so anyone in the passenger seat can do it. If you get the ferry to Caen or St Malo, there probably won't be any toll roads to go on anyway! GB sticker can go on the left of your rear window rather than your paintwork. Most fuel pumps will now take UK credit cards and will often come up in English. Get something like a Halifax Clarity card so it's commission free.
RicksAlfas said:
Don't worry about buying a toll card thing. Just stick your credit card in and away you go. You don't even need your pin number so anyone in the passenger seat can do it. If you get the ferry to Caen or St Malo, there probably won't be any toll roads to go on anyway! GB sticker can go on the left of your rear window rather than your paintwork. Most fuel pumps will now take UK credit cards and will often come up in English. Get something like a Halifax Clarity card so it's commission free.
I actually found the Sanef toll tag really good last year - drove past quite a few long queues.But I agree, for a one off I wouldn't bother.
TTommy said:
Thanks again! Are the pumps the same colors as here in the UK e.g. Black for Diesel & Green for petrol? Haha.
Diesel's usually black, yellow or orange and marked either "Gazole" or sometimes "Diesel"/"Diesel Plus".Unleaded's almost always green and will usually have the grade displayed ("SP95", "SP95 E10", "95-85", "99-88", etc). You might find the odd pump with "Sans Plomb" but as you don't get "Plumb" (leaded) any more most of those have gone.
A couple of small points.
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.
Similarly, there is no such thing as French Diesel, or British for that matter. All refined fuels are manufactured to identical EU standards, to ensure that there are no engine issues as people move arround Europe.
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.
Similarly, there is no such thing as French Diesel, or British for that matter. All refined fuels are manufactured to identical EU standards, to ensure that there are no engine issues as people move arround Europe.
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.
rdjohn said:
Similarly, there is no such thing as French Diesel, or British for that matter. All refined fuels are manufactured to identical EU standards, to ensure that there are no engine issues as people move arround Europe.
The critical thing here is the last "s" in the word "standards". There are many different diesel standards depending on the mix of fossil vs. bio diesel and also the different additives in the mix. In fact the diesel standard you get out of the pump at your local Tesco on 1st August won't be the same as the one you get out the same pump on 1st February. The former will be one of the summer blends, the latter one of the winter ones.Cheers again.
I was reading the AA touring tips which is the only reason I asked. It says 'B8 biodiesel - you might come across this 8% biodiesel fuel and it may not be suitable for your vehicle..' Just wanted to be sure. Sweet!
Spoke to my insurance (Admiral) and I'm covered for free up to 30 days abroad.
Tunnel more expensive than I had thought at £190. However can use my clubcard points meaning I'm only paying £76! Winner
I was reading the AA touring tips which is the only reason I asked. It says 'B8 biodiesel - you might come across this 8% biodiesel fuel and it may not be suitable for your vehicle..' Just wanted to be sure. Sweet!
Spoke to my insurance (Admiral) and I'm covered for free up to 30 days abroad.
Tunnel more expensive than I had thought at £190. However can use my clubcard points meaning I'm only paying £76! Winner
Neilsfirst said:
blueST said:
One thing worth reading is the rules on Priorite a Droite (Give way to the right). It basically means you should give way to traffic entering a road from the right unless you see the diamond sign, which then gives you have right of way.
This explains it better than I can http://www.vendee-guide.co.uk/priority-a-droite.ht...
Maybe someone who lives out there can comment, but to my tourist's eyes it seemed like priorite a droite pretty much vanished and diamond signs were everywhere, meaning you could drive much as you would in the UK. But, making people give way to the right seems to be making bit of comeback as a traffic calming measure in some towns.
Priorite a Droite (Give way to the right)is generally sign posted in towns but out in the sticks not so much. If you see signs for crossroads and it us in the shape of an x you do not have priority to roads on the right. If it is in the shape of a crucifix you do have priority. This explains it better than I can http://www.vendee-guide.co.uk/priority-a-droite.ht...
Maybe someone who lives out there can comment, but to my tourist's eyes it seemed like priorite a droite pretty much vanished and diamond signs were everywhere, meaning you could drive much as you would in the UK. But, making people give way to the right seems to be making bit of comeback as a traffic calming measure in some towns.
Trucks and buses are legally bound to go all the way around the outside of roundabouts. Ridiculous rule but they are French!
Enjoy the country and as a holiday I would avoid the tolls and take your time.
In the old days (80s when I lived in France) PaD even occurred on roundabouts (yep, traffic on the roundabout had to give way to traffic entering.) Fortunately common sense is now in charge.
BEWARE when entering towns - when you see the town's name in a red border - that's a 50kmph limit, even if it doesn't say so. The police tend to wait not much further in and urban temporary speed traps are far more common than in the UK. If you can't pay the fine, your keys will be taken and you'll be taken to a cash point. More serious offences will see you lose your right to drive in France (which can be a major issue if no one else can!).
Radar/laser detectors are a complete no-no. GPS systems which warn of an exact position of a camera are also a no-no. They can warn of a 'danger area' though - an extended piece of road where a camera will sit within.
PAD is the bane of my driving life here. Yes there are signs, but there is no logic to it and some roundabouts still seem to have inverse priority. If on the Paris Peripherique, joining cars have priority because of PAD. I always look for a stop/give way sign on any side road I approach. Also, there is a habit of occasionally making a main road give way to a side road, so that nice straight road that you're on may have a give way or stop across it to let what appears to be a side road have priority.
Bring a Satnav, it avoids a lot of matrimonial arguments
as occasionally signage can be confusing. Otherwise, the roads are a joy and each time I go back to the UK I wonder why the roads are so crowded.
Bring a Satnav, it avoids a lot of matrimonial arguments
as occasionally signage can be confusing. Otherwise, the roads are a joy and each time I go back to the UK I wonder why the roads are so crowded. 
For my first driving trip abroad over twenty years ago, I did exactly what you are doing now.
Twenty plus years later, two weeks ago, me and my Wife jumped into my TVR and headed for Portugal.
high-vis jacket and warning triangle, spare headlamp set, a few tools, (1/4 drive socket set and multi tool) first aid kit.
actually. two sets of headlight adjusters that I've been meaning to throw away for quite a few years now.
Nothing like jacks or anything. Someone else can do that when I call them.
Actually had to change a headlight lamp this year for the first time EVER. Got my hands dirty
Anyway, the reason for my post.
IMPORTANT:-
When overtaking with your right hand drive car, you will requir some feedback from the passenger on the left side of the car.
Prior to travel, decide on a sensible and clear communication as to whether it is safe to make the overtake maneuver.
For example
GO for OVERTAKE
and
NO for NOT TO OVERTAKE
IS ABSOLUTELY NO GOOD WHATSOEVER.
Twenty plus years later, two weeks ago, me and my Wife jumped into my TVR and headed for Portugal.
high-vis jacket and warning triangle, spare headlamp set, a few tools, (1/4 drive socket set and multi tool) first aid kit.
actually. two sets of headlight adjusters that I've been meaning to throw away for quite a few years now.
Nothing like jacks or anything. Someone else can do that when I call them.
Actually had to change a headlight lamp this year for the first time EVER. Got my hands dirty
Anyway, the reason for my post.
IMPORTANT:-
When overtaking with your right hand drive car, you will requir some feedback from the passenger on the left side of the car.
Prior to travel, decide on a sensible and clear communication as to whether it is safe to make the overtake maneuver.
For example
GO for OVERTAKE
and
NO for NOT TO OVERTAKE
IS ABSOLUTELY NO GOOD WHATSOEVER.
Couple of tips for driving on the wrong side of the road:
When you get off the ferry you'll be thinking about it, it's when you pull out of the hotel the next morning that you're more likely to get the wrong side of the road.
Keep thinking about it when you get home, you'll have got used to driving on the right but you'll think you're fine when you get back home...until you get to the first roundabout when you'll have a moment of trying to work out which way to go
When you get off the ferry you'll be thinking about it, it's when you pull out of the hotel the next morning that you're more likely to get the wrong side of the road.
Keep thinking about it when you get home, you'll have got used to driving on the right but you'll think you're fine when you get back home...until you get to the first roundabout when you'll have a moment of trying to work out which way to go
so called said:
When overtaking with your right hand drive car, you will requir some feedback from the passenger on the left side of the car.
Prior to travel, decide on a sensible and clear communication as to whether it is safe to make the overtake maneuver.
What I've found works best, having been both driver and shotgun rider in France are to give/get 3 options:Prior to travel, decide on a sensible and clear communication as to whether it is safe to make the overtake maneuver.
1. A very clear "No." if it's clearly not on.
2. A "Yes" if it clearly is on.
3. Or an "OK to look" when you can see there's time and space for the driver to pull on to the 'wrong side' of the road and make a judgement for themselves.
blueST said:
V5 and insurance docs, absolutely must take.
Agreed.Except....I forgot to take mine when I went to Le Mans last month. And for the first time ever, I got stopped for speeding (79km/h in a temporary 50km/h area with no signs from the direction I approached).
Monsieur Gendarme asked for my documents. In my best French, I explained that I'd forgotten to bring them. Not even a raised eyebrow.
You may not always get lucky, but I was surprised how un-fussed he was by it.
Output Flange said:
blueST said:
V5 and insurance docs, absolutely must take.
Agreed.Except....I forgot to take mine when I went to Le Mans last month. And for the first time ever, I got stopped for speeding (79km/h in a temporary 50km/h area with no signs from the direction I approached).
Monsieur Gendarme asked for my documents. In my best French, I explained that I'd forgotten to bring them. Not even a raised eyebrow.
You may not always get lucky, but I was surprised how un-fussed he was by it.
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