French Regulations
Discussion
I suppose some newbie will still post this every year "just in case". Forget the written law and let us concentrate on what actually happens. I mean, it is still the law in England that you can be arrested unless you go to church every Sunday but I don't think it has happened for a year or so. Well, not to my knowledge anyway.
1. Breathalysers. Due to a nice backhander some years back a minister introduced this law, except that it was delayed because there was no stock (just like the high viz jackets) and then, when it was found out they were defective giving a different reading according to the ambient temperature, they were dropped. There are rumours they are going to bring it back, but for now forget them.
2. Spare bulbs. Since some cars take five hours to change one it is the law that you should carry them, but again it is practiced in the breach. See my closing comments.
3. Safety triangle. Yes, it is compulsory and two in Spain, and most people carry them for safety purposes.
4 .Light beam benders. Now can someone tell me how the hell to fit them if the headlamps have outside covers like my E-type? I have been driving all over Europe for 30 years and never carried them Modern xenon lights can be changed at the flick of a switch - or at least Mercedes can. Last year on Brittany ferries I counted about fifty cars on my deck and four had the black triangles.
5. Carry your V5 with you. I have known the BiB get antsy with copies, but again it is rare. Insurance too but a copy will do, but has anyone thought of the European accident form? Not that I have seen and it is very handy. Ask your insurers.
So, here in France your most likely scenario is to be caught for speeding, and that can be extremely expensive including the confiscation of your car (if V5 is in your name) and car sold for state funds. A Ferrari and a Porsche suffered this a few years back on the Cannonball Run. This DOES NOT apply to being flashed by fixed cameras since the UK have refused to accept cross-border sharing of details on the basis that the V5 is not proof of ownership. I helped someone a few years back who was doing 215 mph in a new Ferrari California. He was fined what was then the maximum of €1,500 and his car impounded. Six months later when it came to court he had the proof that the car was a company car, but the storage fees (and my costs as translator) were another blow to his ego and wallet. You might like to have a look at this:-
https://www.french-property.com/guides/france/driv...
Be aware that the speeding fines are the minimum and in addition high speeds can result in several years ban on driving in France. I have heard of people being turned back at Calais but I have no proof.
Last weekend was the bike GP, and nearly 1,500 fines were handed out for speeding 50 licences were withdrawn on the spot, 40 people were done for drink/drug offences and their licences withdrawn, and so on. So forget the silly profit-making ideas of Halfrauds/AA and concentrate on having a good time. I suffer quite often the roadside controls here, have all my paperwork, but never in 18 years of living at Le Mans have I been asked for the triangle, the bulbs, the breathalyser, or any other idiocy you can think of. End of rant.
1. Breathalysers. Due to a nice backhander some years back a minister introduced this law, except that it was delayed because there was no stock (just like the high viz jackets) and then, when it was found out they were defective giving a different reading according to the ambient temperature, they were dropped. There are rumours they are going to bring it back, but for now forget them.
2. Spare bulbs. Since some cars take five hours to change one it is the law that you should carry them, but again it is practiced in the breach. See my closing comments.
3. Safety triangle. Yes, it is compulsory and two in Spain, and most people carry them for safety purposes.
4 .Light beam benders. Now can someone tell me how the hell to fit them if the headlamps have outside covers like my E-type? I have been driving all over Europe for 30 years and never carried them Modern xenon lights can be changed at the flick of a switch - or at least Mercedes can. Last year on Brittany ferries I counted about fifty cars on my deck and four had the black triangles.
5. Carry your V5 with you. I have known the BiB get antsy with copies, but again it is rare. Insurance too but a copy will do, but has anyone thought of the European accident form? Not that I have seen and it is very handy. Ask your insurers.
So, here in France your most likely scenario is to be caught for speeding, and that can be extremely expensive including the confiscation of your car (if V5 is in your name) and car sold for state funds. A Ferrari and a Porsche suffered this a few years back on the Cannonball Run. This DOES NOT apply to being flashed by fixed cameras since the UK have refused to accept cross-border sharing of details on the basis that the V5 is not proof of ownership. I helped someone a few years back who was doing 215 mph in a new Ferrari California. He was fined what was then the maximum of €1,500 and his car impounded. Six months later when it came to court he had the proof that the car was a company car, but the storage fees (and my costs as translator) were another blow to his ego and wallet. You might like to have a look at this:-
https://www.french-property.com/guides/france/driv...
Be aware that the speeding fines are the minimum and in addition high speeds can result in several years ban on driving in France. I have heard of people being turned back at Calais but I have no proof.
Last weekend was the bike GP, and nearly 1,500 fines were handed out for speeding 50 licences were withdrawn on the spot, 40 people were done for drink/drug offences and their licences withdrawn, and so on. So forget the silly profit-making ideas of Halfrauds/AA and concentrate on having a good time. I suffer quite often the roadside controls here, have all my paperwork, but never in 18 years of living at Le Mans have I been asked for the triangle, the bulbs, the breathalyser, or any other idiocy you can think of. End of rant.
Edited by lowdrag on Saturday 27th May 14:29
Not applicable in the whole to just France, but with regard to bulbs, I had the misfortune to have both my headlight bulbs fail within 2 minutes of each other and didn't have any spares in the car. Driving on sidelights and full beam when no other traffic about is not so much fun. Luckily we could at least change ours when we got to a place to buy them.
With regards to beam benders it would be better to call them beam blockers. If you don't have instructions for placing them on your car go and experiment with the beam pattern on a handy garage door. Last two times I went I intended to do some night driving and the kick up on my poverty pork required a little searching on the interwebs to find the pattern for the fancy stick on things the OPC want too much money for. Worked a treat, nice flat beam and no dazzle for les Froggies.
I once went over to le Continong for a weekend and didn't take my V5, had a little trouble at customs getting back into Blighty (city map for Amsterdam on back seat) but the insurance cert seemed to do the trick. Since then I've taken my V5, passport and paper driving licence, ins cert and a accident form with me on any significant trip, even in the UK. I'm one of those chaps who only have a paper licence so the passport is a handy photo ID if required in the UK.
I once went over to le Continong for a weekend and didn't take my V5, had a little trouble at customs getting back into Blighty (city map for Amsterdam on back seat) but the insurance cert seemed to do the trick. Since then I've taken my V5, passport and paper driving licence, ins cert and a accident form with me on any significant trip, even in the UK. I'm one of those chaps who only have a paper licence so the passport is a handy photo ID if required in the UK.
I've been driving to the continent since 1970, up to a dozen times some years though not so much recently. I've never been asked to show any car documents ever, not once. Several times I've completely forgotten to take car papers and as for masking headlamps, on cars on which it has been possible I've used black tape but nowadays the same set of masks has been in my door pocket, unused, for about a decade.
lowdrag said:
https://www.french-property.com/guides/france/driv...
Be aware that the speeding fines are the minimum and in addition high speeds can result in several years ban on driving in France. I have heard of people being turned back at Calais but I have no proof.
Looking at the link, it seems that if you are going to speed then best value is 49kph over..... Be aware that the speeding fines are the minimum and in addition high speeds can result in several years ban on driving in France. I have heard of people being turned back at Calais but I have no proof.
I forgot to say that when on UK plates I did a study on the speed at which the fixed cameras actually flash and found that there was a safety margin of about 5%, and I thought you might like to know that her indoors got done last week at 94kph in a 70kph limit. That is usually €90 and 2 points for three years. But, lucky girl, the retained speed was 89kph so withing the 20 kph band over the limit so just €45 and one point for six months. I don't think you need to worry if you set the cruise control at 90 mph because you are about 10 kph over the limit and the BiB are looking for bigger fish than that. Like in the UK, a degree of commonsense is practiced. But if on the D338 (old N138) beware when coming into towns since being evil-minded the BiB often set up radar traps just inside.
lowdrag said:
I suppose some newbie will still post this every year "just in case". Forget the written law and let us concentrate on what actually happens. I mean, it is still the law in England that you can be arrested unless you go to church every Sunday but I don't think it has happened for a year or so. Well, not to my knowledge anyway.
1. Breathalysers. Due to a nice backhander some years back a minister introduced this law, except that it was delayed because there was no stock (just like the high viz jackets) and then, when it was found out they were defective giving a different reading according to the ambient temperature, they were dropped. There are rumours they are going to bring it back, but for now forget them.
2. Spare bulbs. Since some cars take five hours to change one it is the law that you should carry them, but again it is practiced in the breach. See my closing comments.
3. Safety triangle. Yes, it is compulsory and two in Spain, and most people carry them for safety purposes.
4 .Light beam benders. Now can someone tell me how the hell to fit them if the headlamps have outside covers like my E-type? I have been driving all over Europe for 30 years and never carried them Modern xenon lights can be changed at the flick of a switch - or at least Mercedes can. Last year on Brittany ferries I counted about fifty cars on my deck and four had the black triangles.
5. Carry your V5 with you. I have known the BiB get antsy with copies, but again it is rare. Insurance too but a copy will do, but has anyone thought of the European accident form? Not that I have seen and it is very handy. Ask your insurers.
So, here in France your most likely scenario is to be caught for speeding, and that can be extremely expensive including the confiscation of your car (if V5 is in your name) and car sold for state funds. A Ferrari and a Porsche suffered this a few years back on the Cannonball Run. This DOES NOT apply to being flashed by fixed cameras since the UK have refused to accept cross-border sharing of details on the basis that the V5 is not proof of ownership. I helped someone a few years back who was doing 215 mph in a new Ferrari California. He was fined what was then the maximum of €1,500 and his car impounded. Six months later when it came to court he had the proof that the car was a company car, but the storage fees (and my costs as translator) were another blow to his ego and wallet. You might like to have a look at this:-
https://www.french-property.com/guides/france/driv...
Be aware that the speeding fines are the minimum and in addition high speeds can result in several years ban on driving in France. I have heard of people being turned back at Calais but I have no proof.
Last weekend was the bike GP, and nearly 1,500 fines were handed out for speeding 50 licences were withdrawn on the spot, 40 people were done for drink/drug offences and their licences withdrawn, and so on. So forget the silly profit-making ideas of Halfrauds/AA and concentrate on having a good time. I suffer quite often the roadside controls here, have all my paperwork, but never in 18 years of living at Le Mans have I been asked for the triangle, the bulbs, the breathalyser, or any other idiocy you can think of. End of rant.
Useful info thanks. Just to be clear:1. Breathalysers. Due to a nice backhander some years back a minister introduced this law, except that it was delayed because there was no stock (just like the high viz jackets) and then, when it was found out they were defective giving a different reading according to the ambient temperature, they were dropped. There are rumours they are going to bring it back, but for now forget them.
2. Spare bulbs. Since some cars take five hours to change one it is the law that you should carry them, but again it is practiced in the breach. See my closing comments.
3. Safety triangle. Yes, it is compulsory and two in Spain, and most people carry them for safety purposes.
4 .Light beam benders. Now can someone tell me how the hell to fit them if the headlamps have outside covers like my E-type? I have been driving all over Europe for 30 years and never carried them Modern xenon lights can be changed at the flick of a switch - or at least Mercedes can. Last year on Brittany ferries I counted about fifty cars on my deck and four had the black triangles.
5. Carry your V5 with you. I have known the BiB get antsy with copies, but again it is rare. Insurance too but a copy will do, but has anyone thought of the European accident form? Not that I have seen and it is very handy. Ask your insurers.
So, here in France your most likely scenario is to be caught for speeding, and that can be extremely expensive including the confiscation of your car (if V5 is in your name) and car sold for state funds. A Ferrari and a Porsche suffered this a few years back on the Cannonball Run. This DOES NOT apply to being flashed by fixed cameras since the UK have refused to accept cross-border sharing of details on the basis that the V5 is not proof of ownership. I helped someone a few years back who was doing 215 mph in a new Ferrari California. He was fined what was then the maximum of €1,500 and his car impounded. Six months later when it came to court he had the proof that the car was a company car, but the storage fees (and my costs as translator) were another blow to his ego and wallet. You might like to have a look at this:-
https://www.french-property.com/guides/france/driv...
Be aware that the speeding fines are the minimum and in addition high speeds can result in several years ban on driving in France. I have heard of people being turned back at Calais but I have no proof.
Last weekend was the bike GP, and nearly 1,500 fines were handed out for speeding 50 licences were withdrawn on the spot, 40 people were done for drink/drug offences and their licences withdrawn, and so on. So forget the silly profit-making ideas of Halfrauds/AA and concentrate on having a good time. I suffer quite often the roadside controls here, have all my paperwork, but never in 18 years of living at Le Mans have I been asked for the triangle, the bulbs, the breathalyser, or any other idiocy you can think of. End of rant.
Edited by lowdrag on Saturday 27th May 14:29
a) I'm not "some newbie", I first went to Le Mans in 2008, however, I've never been "legal", I think many people aren't, hence this subject is worth covering.
b) There appears to be nothing 100% conclusive on what to bring, so its useful to ask the question to get feedback / find out what is and isn't required - that is what forums are for isn't it? If it isn't the mods need to post up rules telling new people not to ask questions
Edited by wsn03 on Tuesday 30th May 10:38
Edited by wsn03 on Tuesday 30th May 10:40
OvalOwl said:
With regards to beam benders it would be better to call them beam blockers. If you don't have instructions for placing them on your car go and experiment with the beam pattern on a handy garage door. Last two times I went I intended to do some night driving and the kick up on my poverty pork required a little searching on the interwebs to find the pattern for the fancy stick on things the OPC want too much money for. Worked a treat, nice flat beam and no dazzle for les Froggies.
I once went over to le Continong for a weekend and didn't take my V5, had a little trouble at customs getting back into Blighty (city map for Amsterdam on back seat) but the insurance cert seemed to do the trick. Since then I've taken my V5, passport and paper driving licence, ins cert and a accident form with me on any significant trip, even in the UK. I'm one of those chaps who only have a paper licence so the passport is a handy photo ID if required in the UK.
The key thing I've learned is paperwork, hi viz, triangle and some sort of attempt to divert light. I will be driving at night so better put the blockers on.I once went over to le Continong for a weekend and didn't take my V5, had a little trouble at customs getting back into Blighty (city map for Amsterdam on back seat) but the insurance cert seemed to do the trick. Since then I've taken my V5, passport and paper driving licence, ins cert and a accident form with me on any significant trip, even in the UK. I'm one of those chaps who only have a paper licence so the passport is a handy photo ID if required in the UK.
As an expat I've been driving UK reg cars all over Europe for 15 years and never been asked for any of that stuff. Never bothered adjusting head lights either. I do however always carry ORIGINALS of insurance, V5 and driving licence (photo card only). Been stopped many times (occasionally fined for speeding) and never been asked for anything else.
In Barcelona a scooter drove into my rear door. No injuries but the police attended. I was on lunch break and my V5 and licence were in my briefcase back in the office. So the car was towed on a flatbed and I was taken to the police station to be finger printed and checked as they couldn't photo ID me. Once my prints showed up clear I was let out of the station in the middle of nowhere and left to get public transport to the office to get V5 and licence then public transport back to car pound where I had to wait for police to attend to check V5 and licence before pound would release car. I had to pay 140 EUR tow fee and 2 x 40 EUR fine for not having V5 and licence on me (one fine per missing doc). I got back to my hotel about midnight, 10 hours after the incident.
In Sicily I was refused boarding on a ferry to Malta by Carabineri because I didn’t have my V5. I had to leave my Porsche (with keys) with a complete stranger, who said he owned a parking garage, on the strength of his business card. Went to Malta as a foot passenger, got a mate to go round my flat back home, dig out my V5 and express DHL it to me. Then go back to Sicily with V5 as a foot passenger 3 days later and hope Porsche was still there. Fortunately it was.
Another year on the same ferry to Malta, but on the arrival side this time, I ended up having a 30 minute argument/discussion with a police officer who was going to refuse me entry because I only had a fax of my insurance certificate. It was a new car and the original was still in the post. Fortunately his colleague found something more interesting in the back of a van and called him over to help and I was waived through.
Suffice to say I carry ORIGINALS of everything with me all the time now.
In Barcelona a scooter drove into my rear door. No injuries but the police attended. I was on lunch break and my V5 and licence were in my briefcase back in the office. So the car was towed on a flatbed and I was taken to the police station to be finger printed and checked as they couldn't photo ID me. Once my prints showed up clear I was let out of the station in the middle of nowhere and left to get public transport to the office to get V5 and licence then public transport back to car pound where I had to wait for police to attend to check V5 and licence before pound would release car. I had to pay 140 EUR tow fee and 2 x 40 EUR fine for not having V5 and licence on me (one fine per missing doc). I got back to my hotel about midnight, 10 hours after the incident.
In Sicily I was refused boarding on a ferry to Malta by Carabineri because I didn’t have my V5. I had to leave my Porsche (with keys) with a complete stranger, who said he owned a parking garage, on the strength of his business card. Went to Malta as a foot passenger, got a mate to go round my flat back home, dig out my V5 and express DHL it to me. Then go back to Sicily with V5 as a foot passenger 3 days later and hope Porsche was still there. Fortunately it was.
Another year on the same ferry to Malta, but on the arrival side this time, I ended up having a 30 minute argument/discussion with a police officer who was going to refuse me entry because I only had a fax of my insurance certificate. It was a new car and the original was still in the post. Fortunately his colleague found something more interesting in the back of a van and called him over to help and I was waived through.
Suffice to say I carry ORIGINALS of everything with me all the time now.
lowdrag said:
So, here in France your most likely scenario is to be caught for speeding...This DOES NOT apply to being flashed by fixed cameras since the UK have refused to accept cross-border sharing of details on the basis that the V5 is not proof of ownership
That's not true. From May this year there's a new one-way bilateral agreement where the DVLA now have to provide details to EU forces: -http://www.itv.com/news/2017-01-26/uk-drivers-who-...
https://www.theaa.com/european-breakdown-cover/dri...
Although, it does say that in France it's the "owner" not the "driver" who's liable, so rent something shiny and you should be fine
gingerprince said:
lowdrag said:
So, here in France your most likely scenario is to be caught for speeding...This DOES NOT apply to being flashed by fixed cameras since the UK have refused to accept cross-border sharing of details on the basis that the V5 is not proof of ownership
That's not true. From May this year there's a new one-way bilateral agreement where the DVLA now have to provide details to EU forces: -http://www.itv.com/news/2017-01-26/uk-drivers-who-...
https://www.theaa.com/european-breakdown-cover/dri...
Although, it does say that in France it's the "owner" not the "driver" who's liable, so rent something shiny and you should be fine
Apologies for my error. I assume that on my French plates it will apply in the UK too? I have had great fun crossing and recrossing the Thames without paying, ignoring average speed zones, and setting off radars in the UK. Been doing it for years, but all good things come to an end I suppose.
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