Le Mans Travel Kit

[Big Ry]

Hi All,

I'm heading to Le Mans for the first time this year, and have no idea what the "legal" requirements are for stuff I need to take when driving in France.

I'm assuming I just need:

GB sticker of some description
Triangle
Hi Vis
First Aid Kit
Breathalyser
Spare Bulbs (any idea what exactly that consists of for a V12S) ?

Am I missing anything ?

I don't have space to take stuff I don't need (Roadster), so I'm only asking about what I need to have in case the rozzers pull me.

[krisdelta]

https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/travel/country/france/

Worth a look at the above, key items are:

Reflective jackets (one for each occupant, these must be kept inside the vehicle within easy reach)
Warning triangle (compulsory in every vehicle with 4 wheels or more)
Headlamp beam deflectors (depending on your car, you will either need deflector stickers or have to adjust the beam manually) - setting for this in the Vantage I think.
A GB sticker (or ‘euro’ registration plates featuring the GB initials)
Spare bulbs - just any random "spare" kit will do it
V5C
MOT
Insurance Certificate
Driving licence
Crit Air Sticker (if going into one of the covered cities - no need to worry if going down and back)

Enjoy!

[AMVSVNick]

Big Ry said:

In case the rozzers pull me.

Waze on your phone as it's widely used over LM weekend.

[steveway]

and then enjoy, took my son down last year in the V12V, great fun but pretty tiring. Camped with 1st Ticket, just about fitted it all in

[IanV12VSRs]

Just a couple of things from me.

Your hi-viz jacket needs to be kept inside the car as it should be put on before you get out.

As for the bulb kit - I just car a spare bulb kit from Halfords which has no relation to my car at all, but it is a bulb kit.

[anonymous-user]

AMVSVNick said:

Big Ry said:

In case the rozzers pull me.

Waze on your phone as it's widely used over LM weekend.

A group of 4 of us have just been through France and back last week. On the way south we attracted the attention of several members of the gendarmerie at a services when we stopped for coffees. They were very interested in the cars and advised us not to exceed 160kph and we would not have any trouble. 3 of the 4 cars had no GB sticker, nobody asked to see our 'kit' of travel essentials. No trouble whatsoever.

On the way back, after some 'spirited' driving by all of us, we arrived at the final tolls before the chunnel on the A26. One of us got pulled on the exit. He was offered a 750 euro fine and 6 month ban from driving in France. He paid (in cash, obviously as it was Friday afternoon and the plod need some beer money). He wasn't allowed to drive his car again, so we did a bit of a double back to get him and his car. I noticed in the police control room when we were waiting to be 'freed' that they are using remote gantry cameras now to monitor traffic and must have already clocked his speed (177kph) many miles prior to the toll. Waze would have made no difference (I was using it). Again, no checks of the travel essentials.

[David514]

Why was he not allowed to drive his car? What was he meant to do?

[AMVSVNick]

David514 said:

Why was he not allowed to drive his car? What was he meant to do?

Because he was banned.

This happened to 3 in a large gang that went to the JLC factory many years ago from PH.

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Some of us with passengers had to double back to collect the cars and the now banned drivers.

In a nutshell do not speed on French motorways, especially if it is raining.

Finally, you are in an Aston, why use the motorway at all, there are some awesome French roads that will get you to LM avoiding motorways.

Oh and Waze is still a very useful App.

Edited by AMVSVNick on Tuesday 21st May 14:40

Edited by AMVSVNick on Tuesday 21st May 14:46

[anonymous-user]

David514 said:

Why was he not allowed to drive his car? What was he meant to do?

That was my response when he called me!

He was immediately banned from driving in France and had his licence taken. If no one else could drive the car for him it would have to be recovered on a flat bed back to blighty. Thankfully we were 20 miles from the tunnel so I left my car at the terminal and went back as a passenger in another car to drive his car back to the terminal.

[bogie]

Always drive with a passenger who is insured to drive your car when you go to LeMans

We used to go regularly, and often as part of a club or group, we all had spare drivers. On the way back on a couple of occasions we have offered assistance to stranded supercar owners who had been instantly banned for speeding. Our spare drivers got to drive home a Lambo and Ferrari once some insurance was arranged

[bananarob]

Big Ry said:

Hi All,

I'm heading to Le Mans for the first time this year, and have no idea what the "legal" requirements are for stuff I need to take when driving in France.

I'm assuming I just need:

GB sticker of some description
Triangle
Hi Vis
First Aid Kit
Breathalyser
Spare Bulbs (any idea what exactly that consists of for a V12S) ?

Am I missing anything ?

I don't have space to take stuff I don't need (Roadster), so I'm only asking about what I need to have in case the rozzers pull me.

I’ve given up carrying most of this stuff now, having driven and ridden in France, it’s never been asked for and I have been stopped but never fined (just politely warned).

Are you using Aston hospitality?

[David514]

soofsayer said:

That was my response when he called me!

He was immediately banned from driving in France and had his licence taken. If no one else could drive the car for him it would have to be recovered on a flat bed back to blighty. Thankfully we were 20 miles from the tunnel so I left my car at the terminal and went back as a passenger in another car to drive his car back to the terminal.

They take his UK license? Does the ban carry on back in the UK, or just France?

[Big Ry]

bananarob said:

Are you using Aston hospitality?

Alas no, i'm going with a some Porsche mates so we're generic camping (they've been going for years). We're staying at the Thomas Cook Sport Village, although I'll be at the Great British Welcome on Friday, where I assume some of you lot will be ?

Anyone else staying at the TCSV ?

Thanks all for the info on kit I need (or don't as it seems)

[anonymous-user]

David514 said:

They take his UK license? Does the ban carry on back in the UK, or just France?

Just France.

[johnnyBv8]

I was wondering the same for an upcoming Europe trip (also Roadster). My plans were:

GB sticker of some description - buy and keep in glovebox
Triangle - already in car as standard
Hi Vis - needed...stuff under seats!
First Aid Kit - not sure
Breathalyser...cheap and compact, no harm to have.
Spare Bulbs (any idea what exactly that consists of for a V12S) - I need to check but arent there a couple of random bulbs in the kit behind the passenger seat that might tick the box?

So the only one I wasnt sure about was 1st aid kit. For the headlights, it sounds like a bit of a faff adjusting them, so I was planning to leave it - ony an issue if driving at night.

I'll have European breakdown but wondered if I should take any tools for minor issues. Perhaps even the real basics plus a couple of hockey pucks incase someone needs to jack it up?

Do you have to take V5 and insurance docs, in addition to green card?

[clarkei]

Spare key............my son went to the car to retrieve a jumper. Did what most small children do laid the keys in the boot took his jumper and st the tailgate. Luckily we had a spare key. Let a friend keep it or someone in another car.

[LordBretSinclair]

Not a legal requirement but if you're going to Le Mans you need to get it stickered up

[jonby]

johnnyBv8 said:

I was wondering the same for an upcoming Europe trip (also Roadster). My plans were:

GB sticker of some description - buy and keep in glovebox
Triangle - already in car as standard
Hi Vis - needed...stuff under seats!
First Aid Kit - not sure
Breathalyser...cheap and compact, no harm to have.
Spare Bulbs (any idea what exactly that consists of for a V12S) - I need to check but arent there a couple of random bulbs in the kit behind the passenger seat that might tick the box?

So the only one I wasnt sure about was 1st aid kit. For the headlights, it sounds like a bit of a faff adjusting them, so I was planning to leave it - ony an issue if driving at night.

I'll have European breakdown but wondered if I should take any tools for minor issues. Perhaps even the real basics plus a couple of hockey pucks incase someone needs to jack it up?

Do you have to take V5 and insurance docs, in addition to green card?

GB sticker - nobody cares, but technically you should. I have GB on my numberplate to avoid the need

triangle - is compulsory, but unless you have the need to use one, won't be an issue - they never ask to check

hi vis - UK drivers/cars don't need one per passenger, they just need one, which must be inside the car. However if anyone gets out of the car on the motorway, they need to wear a hi vis

first aid is I'm fairly sure, good advice rather than a legal requirement

breathalyser is no longer fineable - no need - rules have changed

bulbs - as others have said, you need one but any old kit will do

headlamp converter - I've never bothered, but yes that is the law

For documentation, all you get asked for when stopped by gendarmes is driving licence, insurance and logbook. For insurance, a green card on it's own is fine as right now is your regular document i.e. you only need one or the other. If we leave the EU, green card will become the only acceptable one

Likewise, international driving licence may become necessary if we leave the eu

you technically must have breakdown cover in europe, but you don't get asked to prove you have it if stopped for speeding

most important thing it cash (euros) - if a foreigner cant pay an on the spot fine there and then, you are either frogmarched to a cash machine or you can't drive

[geresey]

Take some gaffer tape. There's always something you need it for....