France, 3.5 tonne and C1E licence category

[Spindlefish]

Hi everyone, complete beginner here. From the UK, based in France and just sorting out my French licence. I'd like some advice about whether to stay below the 3.5 tonne weight or go through the medical process to keep my C1E class for heavier vehicles. I've researched left and right and am now having kittens about just how much you can put in a 3.5 tonne motorhome before you 'go over' the allowed weight. So, for two people, travelling around in France, does anyone have any advice? What about toll charges? Ease of moving around with a 'lighter' home? Is a bigger motorhome a plus or minus? Can anyone advise about what actually happens in the medical you have to take in France?! Really appreciate any help.

 

[Lenny HB]

Only really practical to run vans under 7m at 3500kg even then they are loads that don't have enough payload to run legally.
Best thing we ever did was to buy a 4500kg van with 1350kg of payload.

Quoted payloads often aren't what they say, there is a 5% tolerance on weight most are towards the top limit so that can lose you 150kg of payload, options, dealer & user fitted extras can lose another couple of hundred kilos so it's easy to end up overloaded.

Can't help with a French licence but there are quite a few Funsters that live in France.

 

[BreweryDave]

Again, can’t help with France, but check what you can drive up to on a car licence in France as the categories may be different. For example, here in Portugal, on exchange you lose your C1 and any other categories you haven’t passed a test for ( grandfather rights not accepted) BUT on a car licence you can drive a ‘leisure’ vehicle up to 4250kg

 

[Lenny HB]

BUT on a car licence you can drive a ‘leisure’ vehicle up to 4250kg

I thought that only applied if you passed your test ages ago, like the 70's.

 

[BreweryDave]

I thought that only applied if you passed your test ages ago, like the 70's.

Nope ! It’s an ‘exception’ on the Cat B category to include larger MH’s on the car only licence, but only Portugal as far as I know.

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[Lenny HB]

Nope ! It’s an ‘exception’ on the Cat B category to include larger MH’s on the car only licence, but only Portugal as far as I know.

JJ got done for not having a C1.

 

[mitzimad]

so much for a harmonised europe

 

[BreweryDave]

JJ got done for not having a C1.

Maybe he was over 4250, or didn’t have a Pt licence, I don’t know!

 

[Old Gibber]

Only really practical to run vans under 7m at 3500kg even then they are loads that don't have enough payload to run legally.

We had a 7m well equipped motorhome, and managed to always load up for a 6 week trip abroad and stay under the 3.5 tonne limit, even with 2 electric bikes in the garage. Neither axle was overloaded.

Certainly in the UK you are also allowed a certain leeway in the measuring of that weight. 5% which is equivalent to 175kg. Don't know about France but I suspect it will be similar as they have to allow for some errors in the weighbridges.

 

[Lenny HB]

We had a 7m well equipped motorhome, and managed to always load up for a 6 week trip abroad and stay under the 3.5 tonne limit, even with 2 electric bikes in the garage. Neither axle was overloaded.

Not many vans that size with at least a 700kg payload which I consider the minimum for two people, you can get away with less on Brit built vans as they throw in loads of stuff as standard.

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[robnchris]

Just take the medical it's a breeze, the main object being the eye test.

 

[eurajohn]

OK from France, on the licence part can only advise on over 70 years of age and original licence from UK with C1, French licence transferred all entitlements (transferred 6 years ago) the medical can only be carried out from a prescribed list of doctors, the actual examination will vary from doctor to doctor and will depend on existing conditions but will cover sight, hearing, blood pressure and general mobility, every two years, unless existing medical problems then yearly.
The b class only covers up to 3500Kg although if a French national and passed your French driving test before 1976 it is possible to get a "special" permit for up to 4250Kg covering Camping Car, they do not offer that for entitlements transferred from a UK licence.

On the camper front the payload subject is a thorny one with many experts giving advice, lots will depend on you your choices and needs, how you intend to use the van etc.
Big vans with plenty of payload have their definite advantages along with at least an equal amount of disadvantages, if you choose your vehicle wisely it is possible to survive at the 3500Kg category, I've had both along with a few registered at 3500 that were most definitely over.
My current motorhome is 6.8 metres has everything we need is registered at 3500Kg and with care stays legal.
If you want anything specific PM me.

Forgot you asked about tolls, if you stay at 3500 Kg you will be class 2 over you will attract higher rates depending on how many wheels, how high or long you are etc, many on here will tell you to argue at the booth you are class 2 camping car (and I'm English), that always used to work not so often now with the automated pay booths sometimes you will be lucky, maybe not.
Moving about not so much of an issue but some stopovers will be more difficult with a bigger van.

 

[138go]

We downsized to 3500 and it’s the best thing we could have done, there are countless advantages.

 

[Old Gibber]

Not many vans that size with at least a 700kg payload which I consider the minimum for two people, you can get away with less on Brit built vans as they throw in loads of stuff as standard.

That's the point, you may need 700kg, we certainly did not, and yes we had loads of stuff as standard, plus an auto box.

 

[Spindlefish]

Really appreciate all the replies here, thank you for taking the time to give me your thoughts.

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[nicholsong]

Spindlefish -(interesting choice of user name.)

I will only answer in respect of payload relative to 3500kg.

I think that it depends on whether you want to use campsites or Aires/wildcamping. If the latter and you want to leave home with full fuel and water then as said above 700kg, or near, is what is needed.

To get 700kg and a quality well-built MH is almost impossible at 3500kg. The quality ones come heavier with less payloa.

Have you thought of going for the medical, so that if you pass you know that your choice of MH can include ones over 3500kg, which will make choosing easier? If you then choose a 3500kg you can drop the C1+E at the next renewal.

Personally I would not consider under 3500kg, but that is because of the quality of MH I like, e.g. our N&B and our style of MHoming(leaving with full tanks). I am 79 and have passed 3 C1+E medicals and fortunately my last one, in Poland, lasts for 5 years

Geoff

 

[yodeli]

I'm French. Passed my licence in 1978, No Medical check at all since, and am now 62 . And only had to ask from my doctor a certification so I was not a danger for me or others before I was allowed to pass my licence test. Sight is checked in the car when passing the test with spectacles on when needed.

Amicalement
Frankie