Riding in Europe (well, France specifically)
Riding in Europe (well, France specifically)
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Discussion

WhisperingWasp

Original Poster:

1,780 posts

168 months

Wednesday 30th May 2018
quotequote all
Hi all.

Do you need a "green card" when riding on the continent for insurance purposes?

I know I don't in my car but am unsure if it is different for bikes? (Don't know why it would be)

Anyone got a definitive on this one?

Cheers.

PIGINAWIG

2,339 posts

196 months

Wednesday 30th May 2018
quotequote all
You’re supposed to have one of these https://www.certificat-air.gouv.fr/en/

I’m sure you need two breathalysers

Hi vis vest possibly

Never heard of a green card!

WhisperingWasp

Original Poster:

1,780 posts

168 months

Wednesday 30th May 2018
quotequote all
Ah yes I think that applies to certain cities in France.

The green card is something from "years ago" according to my car insurer but she wasn't sure about bikes specifically.

silverthorn2151

6,413 posts

210 months

Wednesday 30th May 2018
quotequote all
Speaking for cars, your insurance will typically cover you but it steps down to minimal 3rd party only cover. I always pay for full coverage and thats what used to be the green card. I presume it's the same for bikes.

The clean air certs are for certain cities and areas. Again, not sure if bikes need one but there is a thread under travel with a link to the French website in English. Easy to do and cheap at about €4.


WhisperingWasp

Original Poster:

1,780 posts

168 months

Wednesday 30th May 2018
quotequote all
Thanks. Specifically insurance element I am interested in.

Interesting what you say about third party only cover. Will look into this so I am clear on what I’ve got.

jock mcsporran

5,128 posts

304 months

Wednesday 30th May 2018
quotequote all
Only place I ever needed a Green Card was taking my bike into Belarus.

French want to see original V5 and insurance certificate. Should have a hi vis vest but never bothered with the other stuff.

The Dangerous Elk

4,642 posts

108 months

Wednesday 30th May 2018
quotequote all
Breathalysers now not required.

Birky_41

4,658 posts

215 months

Wednesday 30th May 2018
quotequote all
jock mcsporran said:
Only place I ever needed a Green Card was taking my bike into Belarus.

French want to see original V5 and insurance certificate. Should have a hi vis vest but never bothered with the other stuff.
Not a v5 photocopy?

jock mcsporran

5,128 posts

304 months

Wednesday 30th May 2018
quotequote all
Birky_41 said:
jock mcsporran said:
Only place I ever needed a Green Card was taking my bike into Belarus.

French want to see original V5 and insurance certificate. Should have a hi vis vest but never bothered with the other stuff.
Not a v5 photocopy?
I carried both and they wouldn't accept the photocopy. Probably depends on who stops you but I believe official guidance is to have the original.

willis1337

428 posts

197 months

Gavia

7,627 posts

122 months

Thursday 31st May 2018
quotequote all
Is it 1972 again?

Put simply your insurance certificate is all you need. You might want to check it offers Fully Comp cover, but it will definitely offer TP cover as this is all that’s required under the Green Card system.

https://www.mib.org.uk/making-a-claim/accidents-in...

The good news is that this is another of those bureaucratic rules that we can abolish in March next year and we’ll all now have to fill in forms again, instead of just having it on our insurance certificates.

WhisperingWasp

Original Poster:

1,780 posts

168 months

Thursday 31st May 2018
quotequote all
Paraphrasing but my insurance docs say “this insurance certificate also applies throughout EU countries... provides cover to at least minimum required level”.

First bit suggests to me what cover I have here I have there. Minimum level bit I suppose means if a country has tighter guidelines then our policies would scale up to that as such?!

Dog Star

17,643 posts

199 months

Thursday 31st May 2018
quotequote all
PIGINAWIG said:
You’re supposed to have one of these https://www.certificat-air.gouv.fr/en/

I’m sure you need two breathalysers

Hi vis vest possibly

Never heard of a green card!
You don't need any of the above, and never have (you'd only need the Crit Air scam sticker if you planned on riding in Paris, Grenoble or Lyon and personally I'd not bother).

The Dangerous Elk said:
Breathalysers now not required.
They never were.


Rushjob

2,317 posts

289 months

Thursday 31st May 2018
quotequote all
Dog Star said:
PIGINAWIG said:
You’re supposed to have one of these https://www.certificat-air.gouv.fr/en/

I’m sure you need two breathalysers

Hi vis vest possibly

Never heard of a green card!
You don't need any of the above, and never have (you'd only need the Crit Air scam sticker if you planned on riding in Paris, Grenoble or Lyon and personally I'd not bother).

The Dangerous Elk said:
Breathalysers now not required.
They never were.
Being pedantic, they were, since late 2011 and still are a legal requirement to be carried in or on a vehicle in France, HOWEVER, following the grace period to allow folks to get used to having them, the law enacting the penalty for failing to produce said item ( it was going to be €11! ) to the Police / Gendarmes when required was never enacted in 2012 so whilst you are required to have one, you can't be fined for not having one. How typically French!

black-k1

12,810 posts

260 months

Thursday 31st May 2018
quotequote all
Dog Star said:
The Dangerous Elk said:
Breathalysers now not required.
They never were.
They are required! It's just that there is no penalty for not carrying them!!!

Slushbox

1,484 posts

136 months

Thursday 31st May 2018
quotequote all
Lots of new speed limits and legislation for France.

See here: https://www.drive-france.com/faqs/motorcycling-fra...

CE certified gloves must be worn at all times when riding a moto. Helmet stickers, GB stickers...


black-k1

12,810 posts

260 months

Thursday 31st May 2018
quotequote all
Another thing worth carrying is a European Accident Statement. If you don't have an accident then it was only a couple of extra pages of A4. However, if you are involved in an accident you are required to complete one of these (well, two actually), passing a signed copy to the 3rd party and keeping a copy for yourself. This will then become the basis for the insurance discussion as to who is a fault.

After the "excitement" of a minor prang, it's all too easy to be handed a French document that the 3rd part has written all over and be asked to sign it. At least with a version in English to can clearly put your view of events.

Download a copy here: http://cartraveldocs.com/

black-k1

12,810 posts

260 months

Thursday 31st May 2018
quotequote all
Rushjob said:
Being pedantic, they were, since late 2011 and still are a legal requirement to be carried in or on a vehicle in France, HOWEVER, following the grace period to allow folks to get used to having them, the law enacting the penalty for failing to produce said item ( it was going to be €11! ) to the Police / Gendarmes when required was never enacted in 2012 so whilst you are required to have one, you can't be fined for not having one. How typically French!
If this was an old western gun fight shoot then you'd by having a whiskey in the bar with the local tart while I was dead in the street. You were definitely quicker on the draw!! biggrin