False UK plates in France / Europe

[Four Litre]

This is all in theory so nobody shoot the messenger!

Having a drunken conversation at the weekend about our old 'spirited' road trips to France, before the time information was shared by the DVLA and how now you would certainly have to be more aware of your speed etc in that all speed cameras can still get you just like the UK.

We thought what would happen if you put on a false UK plate before heading to Europe, I argued that surely you would be untraceable as they would only know your false plate from a camera and if stopped by the friendly gendarmine they would issued the cash fine against your plate, so just cough up and on your way as per how it used to be. I understand they don't have live data like our UK police.

Just to reiterate THIS IS NOT HAPPENING and in no way do I condone this behaviour, before anyone goes off on one!

[Jordie Barretts sock]

You are untraceable anyway since Brexit. There is no cross border sharing of information.

Don't know why you'd think there was.

[sunbeam alpine]

If you only got flashed by cameras you'd probably get away with it.

If you get stopped by the police, the first thing they do is ask for your car papers - certainly registration and proof of insurance. I've never had them ask for MOT.

I would imagine that the fact that the number plates didn't match the paperwork would leave you in a world of pain.

[Jordie Barretts sock]

Good point.

If you get a camera flash, you are never going to hear any more.

It is true they always ask for insurance and the V5 if you're pulled over.

[nickfrog]

sunbeam alpine said:

I would imagine that the fact that the number plates didn't match the paperwork would leave you in a world of pain.

Highly likely a custodial sentence although you could be extradited I suppose, which probably wouldnt be the end of one's troubles.

[Caddyshack]

Jordie Barretts sock said:

You are untraceable anyway since Brexit. There is no cross border sharing of information.

Don't know why you'd think there was.

If that is true (and I have no reason to no believe it) then it has been kept pretty quiet. There we’re a lot of posts when people were getting tickets sent to the U.K…maybe this is why the police in France now pull U.K. drivers more often for speeding.


We kept a lot of traditions since leaving - I just assumed that a camera flash would still levy a ticket in the U.K. - it wouldn’t take a huge agreement for both countries to share the revenue.

[21st Century Man]

On the numerous occasions I've been pulled for speeding in France they've always wanted to see my driving licence, my registration documents and my insurance documents, which I have produced, and then I've paid my going quickly tax and gone on my way. No problems. How is being found to be wearing false plates going to do anything other than turn a simple cash transaction into a whole heap of trouble?

90 Euro's and no points? Yes fking please! I'll take that!

[Jordie Barretts sock]

Caddyshack said:

Jordie Barretts sock said:

You are untraceable anyway since Brexit. There is no cross border sharing of information.

Don't know why you'd think there was.

If that is true (and I have no reason to no believe it) then it has been kept pretty quiet. There we’re a lot of posts when people were getting tickets sent to the U.K…maybe this is why the police in France now pull U.K. drivers more often for speeding.


We kept a lot of traditions since leaving - I just assumed that a camera flash would still levy a ticket in the U.K. - it wouldn’t take a huge agreement for both countries to share the revenue.

It's all to do with the EU and GDPR I understand. It would mean that the whole of the EU membership would have to have a reciprocal agreement, not just Les Flics. I was told this by a French resident. I was also told by a UK trafpol they have no means to check any foreign plates. It used to be (he said) that they couldn't check NI plates when the DVLA was in Coleraine NI. Since bringing the whole of the UK to Swansea, they now have UK wide ANPR.

Amazing to think what they can't (couldn't) actually do, but never let on!

[car user]

Jordie Barretts sock said:

Good point.

If you get a camera flash, you are never going to hear any more.

It is true they always ask for insurance and the V5 if you're pulled over.

Do people keep their V5s in the car? I thought it was best to keep it safe at home.

Also not carried insurance info in the car since they started sending them out as a PDF.

[Jordie Barretts sock]

Always have when travelling to Europe. Think it's a legal requirement? Certainly a whole lot less grief if stopped or heaven forbid, an accident.

[zbc]

car user said:

Do people keep their V5s in the car? I thought it was best to keep it safe at home.

Also not carried insurance info in the car since they started sending them out as a PDF.

French drivers are certainly required to carry their carte grise with them, which I think is roughly equivalent to the V5. Insurance is covered by a little green sticker in the window but I guess most people have the papers with them for that too.

[M11rph]

Jordie Barretts sock said:

You are untraceable anyway since Brexit. There is no cross border sharing of information.

Don't know why you'd think there was.

Spain & The UK signed an Agreement on 15th March (2023). With certain caveats, data will indeed be shared across borders.

The system, by my rudimentary arithmetic, has a maximum annual capacity of 260,000 requests.

Here's the relevant link to the Agreement, it's not a particularly long read.

Exchange of information on traffic offences
Sections 13-17
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/governmen...

[hopeydaze]

Turning this round, it means that foreign registered cars can drive at any speed they want in the UK, because it is very unlikely they will be stopped as there are so few Police on patrol.

[theboss]

My brother borrowed my car in 2019 and I received a stack of fines in the post from Germany/Austria which he paid.

I drove in 12 euro countries last year and set off cameras everywhere, didn’t hear a thing.

[davek_964]

zbc said:

car user said:

Do people keep their V5s in the car? I thought it was best to keep it safe at home.

Also not carried insurance info in the car since they started sending them out as a PDF.

French drivers are certainly required to carry their carte grise with them, which I think is roughly equivalent to the V5. Insurance is covered by a little green sticker in the window but I guess most people have the papers with them for that too.

When I was driving through Switzerland a few years ago, there were roadside police pulling people over. They wanted to see my V5.

[sunbeam alpine]

car user said:

Do people keep their V5s in the car? I thought it was best to keep it safe at home.

Also not carried insurance info in the car since they started sending them out as a PDF.

You need to have the original V5 and insurance certificate with you. A photocopy used to be acceptable (and you'd have to have a bit of a bd or fail the attitude test to fine you for this)

If it's a lease/company car you used to have to ask for a letter authorising you to take the car out of the UK, but I don't know whether this is still a requirement as I haven't lived in the UK for a few years now.

[nickfrog]

sunbeam alpine said:

If it's a lease/company car you used to have to ask for a letter authorising you to take the car out of the UK, but I don't know whether this is still a requirement as I haven't lived in the UK for a few years now.

You still do, the document is called VE103 issued yearly by the lease company.

[car user]

sunbeam alpine said:

You need to have the original V5 and insurance certificate with you. A photocopy used to be acceptable (and you'd have to have a bit of a bd or fail the attitude test to fine you for this)

If it's a lease/company car you used to have to ask for a letter authorising you to take the car out of the UK, but I don't know whether this is still a requirement as I haven't lived in the UK for a few years now.

I had no idea. I know about the hi-vis and spare bulbs in France but the V5 would have caught me out.

[QBee]

I am constantly being told "Google it, Grandad" by my grandchildren, so much so that when I need to know something that's the first thing that comes to mind.
So should anyone taking a car abroad these days. Ditto any trailer, track car, motorhome or caravan

And if you plan on moving permanently abroad you will be overloading Google for a good few months, there is so much to organise and comply with.

[WyrleyD]

car user said:

Jordie Barretts sock said:

Good point.

If you get a camera flash, you are never going to hear any more.

It is true they always ask for insurance and the V5 if you're pulled over.

Do people keep their V5s in the car? I thought it was best to keep it safe at home.

Also not carried insurance info in the car since they started sending them out as a PDF.

I'm in France at the moment and have my V5 and I printed out my insurance docs. Have been pulled over a few times for document checks in the past and have always been asked for both.