Requirements for driving in France?

[loslynch]

Just about to head to France with our Cali. What do I need to do to be compliant with driving the van in France? Thanks in advance.

 

[Wildcamper]

There is loads of stuff covering this on the AA, RAC and Caravan and Motorhome Club we'd sites. Plus a load more if you just Google your question, plus a load already on this forum and the T6 Forum. "Look as ye shall find"!

 

[loslynch]

Thanks - AA site is just what I need.

 

[subthree]

Drive 4 inches behind the person in front of you

 

[Calimili]

Drive 4 inches behind the person in front of you

Mobile on right hand texting, left hand holding cigarette out of the window. Sunglasses always, even at night.

 

[dspuk]

I’m off to France tomorrow, my list is:

CritAir Sticker - applied for last week, not arrived but have the printed version
UK Magnetic Sticker - Spare one in Cali in case stolen. Note, UK, not GB.
Driving licence, passport and vehicle reg docs - just in case
Overseas insurance verification and breakdown cover

You also need a warning triangle and gillet jaune, not for protesting, but for wearing.

Keep in mind no meat or dairy allowed in van, most other items fine. See “angry“ lorry driver throwing away meat in sandwiches pics in the Splun for detail.

 

[Velma's Dad]

You also need a warning triangle and gillet jaune, not for protesting, but for wearing.

Some say (including RAC) you must have one vest for every van occupant, although reportedly not backed up by French law. But anyway kept within reach (eg under front seat), not stashed in the back. The gendarmerie are hot on that sort of thing (well are said to be, I've never actually been stopped).

Spare bulb kit is reportedly also mandatory in France.

Headlamp beam adjusters (stick-on) mandatory unless you have LHD/RHD beam adjusters built in.

Gas masks, if planning to park up overnight in Aires. (Getting my coat).

 

[dspuk]

Some say (including RAC) you must have one vest for every van occupant, although reportedly not backed up by French law. But anyway kept within reach (eg under front seat), not stashed in the back. The gendarmerie are hot on that sort of thing (well are said to be, I've never actually been stopped).

Spare bulb kit is reportedly also mandatory in France.

Headlamp beam adjusters (stick-on) mandatory unless you have LHD/RHD beam adjusters built in.

Gas masks, if planning to park up overnight in Aires. (Getting my coat).

Checked the same before travelling. Only one vest needed. Bulbs are optional and not mandatory and thankfully no adjustors needed on a new Cali.

 

[rod_vw]

Watch the seed limits. Blanket limit on non-dual carriageway roads is either 80kph or 90kph depending on local authority. Between town/village signs {inside the tow/village) it's 50kph unless stated otherwise even if there are no actual limit signs.
Motorhoming France website says there are hundreds of unmarked camera vehicles in addition to fixed cameras although in the total of eight or so weeks we've been in France we've yet to spot one. The postman may say different after we get home!
A 30kph sign almost always heralds a steep sleeping policeman!

 

[andyinluton]

Checked the same before travelling. Only one vest needed. Bulbs are optional and not mandatory and thankfully no adjustors needed on a new Cali.

Whilst you only need to have one vest in the vehicle, a vest is needed for any occupant outside the car on the Motorway.

Bulbs not mandatory, but you can be fined if you have a blown bulb & don't have a spare.

No point not carrying them.

Also note, you are not allowed speed camera detectors or any device that gives the position of speed cameras.
Tom tom gets round this by advising where dangerous stretches of road are & unsurprisingly all the places they consider are dangerous have speed cameras.

 

[dspuk]

Whilst you only need to have one vest in the vehicle, a vest is needed for any occupant outside the car on the Motorway.

Bulbs not mandatory, but you can be fined if you have a blown bulb & don't have a spare.

No point not carrying them.

Also note, you are not allowed speed camera detectors or any device that gives the position of speed cameras.
Tom tom gets round this by advising where dangerous stretches of road are & unsurprisingly all the places they consider are dangerous have speed cameras.

Luckily just me travelling but noted on bulbs, good shout.

 

[Hawthorn37]

There was a recent thread on all of this..

Travelling to France This Summer

Im getting conflicting advice for my family travelling to france this summer in our ocean and wondered if anyone would point me in the direction of what exact documents do i need to take with me travelling on the tunnel and all of us have had 3 vaccines , any help would be gratefully received...

vwcaliforniaclub.com

Our checklist was …
- UK sticker
- Emovis / Liber-t toll tag (not a requirement, but if you’re going solo, it is kind of)
- Crit’ Air vignette sticker (if through a restricted traffic zone, eg Rouen, Paris)
- EU breakdown cover (checked via VW but still opted for Green Flag also)
- Insurance certificate for vehicle.
- V5c original
- Driving licence(s)
- Hi viz vests (one per passenger - law says one for driver)
- Breakdown warning triangle
- Medical kit - not a legal requirement, but handy anyway
- Check if headlights need correction stickers etc (if it’s a 6.1 with LED type - totally flat beams, so no correction)
- Passports
- NHS Covid Pass certificates for travel (still needed in August 22, not sure now)
- Medical cards EHIC / UHIC
- Euro adaptor for electric hook up
- Spare key
- Chilled water in fridge for the journey and beer in fridge for use on arrival !!
- Travel insurance - all travelling
- Cash in Euros for at least one tank of fuel (just in case problem with card)

 

[westfalia]

Did anyone mention that you have to drive on the left.

 

[Hawthorn37]

Whilst you only need to have one vest in the vehicle, a vest is needed for any occupant outside the car on the Motorway.

Bulbs not mandatory, but you can be fined if you have a blown bulb & don't have a spare.

No point not carrying them.

Also note, you are not allowed speed camera detectors or any device that gives the position of speed cameras.
Tom tom gets round this by advising where dangerous stretches of road are & unsurprisingly all the places they consider are dangerous have speed cameras.

We’ve run Waze with no issues. Speed cameras are recorded as Police patrols by locals.

 

[Calimili]

Did anyone mention that you have to drive on the left.

no, you have to drive on the right, Geisterfahrer!

 

[Geoff York]

Just about to head to France with our Cali. What do I need to do to be compliant with driving the van in France? Thanks in advance.

Better idea….. go to Germany,
Better camping,much better food and cheaper plus nicer people
Cannot understand why British insist on going lemming like to france.
French doing Uk no favours at all eg. Won’t even stop rubber boat crossings
3500 illegals now being accommodated in hotels…. They could have stayed in france legally

 

[The Tall Luthier]

Better idea….. go to Germany,
Better camping,much better food and cheaper plus nicer people
Cannot understand why British insist on going lemming like to france.
French doing Uk no favours at all eg. Won’t even stop rubber boat crossings
3500 illegals now being accommodated in hotels…. They could have stayed in france legally

People can be bigoted, excitable, astonishing or even Indefatigable , they can’t be illegal.

And France is bloomin excellent, sand dunes, forests, mountains, rivers and their campsites are usually excellent.

A bit pricey though, that I will agree.

 

[Ozzy Pete]

Even with the prices hikes in the UK the prices in the supermarkets at home are cheaper than in France and Spain. Last time we came before coved the prices were a good bit cheaper than at home, definitely not any longer. Only things cheaper are the campsites (with ACSI) and although you need to do a search the diesel but even then it can be over €2. But if you look around in France can be had for €1.60 and Spain for €1.70.

 

[itsSteve]

Better idea….. go to Germany,
Better camping,much better food and cheaper plus nicer people
Cannot understand why British insist on going lemming like to france.
French doing Uk no favours at all eg. Won’t even stop rubber boat crossings
3500 illegals now being accommodated in hotels…. They could have stayed in France legally

Aside from the slightly offensive tone you have chosen to adopt ("lemming like" isn't a friendly term is it) I wonder why you blame the French for "the illegals" (another unfriendly term) crossings. It can be no easier stopping a boat leaving than it is to stop it ariving, can it? And us Brits aren't particularly good at that, are we? And what is the motivation for the French to assist us? It's not as though we're in some sort of European club together, is it? Btw, I agree Germany is an enjoyable country to motorhome in, but I haven't found the campsites any better than the ones I use in France, I have found friendly and unfriendly people in every country I have ever visited, and the weather is reliably warmer, and for longer, in southern France than anywhere in Germany

 

[DavidofHook]

Watch the seed limits. Blanket limit on non-dual carriageway roads is either 80kph or 90kph depending on local authority. Between town/village signs {inside the tow/village) it's 50kph unless stated otherwise even if there are no actual limit signs.
Motorhoming France website says there are hundreds of unmarked camera vehicles in addition to fixed cameras although in the total of eight or so weeks we've been in France we've yet to spot one. The postman may say different after we get home!
A 30kph sign almost always heralds a steep sleeping policeman!

Yep watch the speed I am lucky enough never to have had a speeding ticket, except in France, got done for doing 83 in an 80 km zone. €40 when I got home
I understand that you have to take a breathalyser kit it but this is only advisory. We take one but apparently there is no strict requirement to do so
Re food we have been over twice this year and no one has asked to look in our fridge!

 

[Californiatour]

Did anyone mention that you have to drive on the left.

Lol