Legal requirements in France......advice please

[Podney]

Good day Funsters!
We are off to France next month. First time with the van. Happy with the driving bit as have done that quite a few times in a car.
We are going on Chunnel and then down to Arras,then to a wedding in a village just north-east of Paris,then to Normandy coast,before returning home.
So far Ive got this list of legals:
Passports (really?!)
Bulb kit
Beam deflectors
Two warning triangles
High viz jackets

Any other legal requirements that I have overlooked? Thanks.

 

[Munchie]

V5, insurance docs.

 

[klaatu]

Driving licence.

GB badge if you don’t have euro plates.

 

[Popeye]

I noticed that the Chunnel are still displaying the need for two Breathalisers. Is that because they're stuffed with a load of stock they can't shift.

 

[Figaro]

MOT cert

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[normanandsue]

I noticed that the Chunnel are still displaying the need for two Breathalisers. Is that because they're stuffed with a load of stock they can't shift.

Yep

 

[normanandsue]

First aid kit, spare spectacles if you use them. Also emissions carte, don't know official name, if going through Paris or Lyon

 

[Podney]

V5, insurance docs.

Thanks Mr Munchie. I guess that a photocopy of the V5 would be OK? Don’t really want to travel everywhere with it.

 

[spitfire]

Thanks Mr Munchie. I guess that a photocopy of the V5 would be OK? Don’t really want to travel everywhere with it.

Sorry has to be original

 

[Clarky]

Rolex watch and at least £5k in cash. Make sure you have the insurance company phone number if you haven’t got a gas alarm.

Richard.

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[airwave]

First aid kit, spare spectacles if you use them. Also emissions carte, don't know official name, if going through Paris or Lyon

Crit-air . Also need warning triangle (think in france only one) , first aid kit , spare spec's , bulb kit , full vehicle doc's (insurance , mot , v5) yellow vest ( one for each person carried) , pass der port , sorry passport , beam bender's , not sure over the state of play with breathalyzer's at this time .



Oh and a bloody good map ! .

 

[Popeye]

£5k in cash

Jeeezus, that's gone up a bit, last time I looked it was only £2k, spoze I'll just have to save up a bit longer before setting off.

 

[Millcourt]

Illegal to have Sat-Nav warnings of Speed Cameras in France - can result in heavy fines. If you use one make sure it is up-to-date (and ,if necessary, disable the Speed Camera warning whilst in France). Tom-Tom updated their offering to warn of "Dangerous Road Section Ahead" and changed the warning tone so that it is not the same as that used for Speed Cameras (sorry....I should really call them "Safety Cameras"). The French think the change from a Speed Warning to a Dangerous Road Section Warning is perfectly acceptable and a good laugh!

 

[Munchie]

Thanks Mr Munchie. I guess that a photocopy of the V5 would be OK? Don’t really want to travel everywhere with it.

As said all documents have to be originals, we carry copies as well kept in a different place! BTW a Stop sign in France means you MUST stop! I. E. The wheels must not turn or risk a fine!

 

[Vanderek]

Don't forget a phrase book

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[Podney]

Don't forget a phrase book

View attachment 224017

Pas necessaire je pense

 

[treetops1]

Keep your v5 safe with you, if if a disaster occurs and your van is stolen the French police will not get involved until you show your v5. Enjoy your trip lol.

 

[Millcourt]

All of my original vehicle documents have been photocopied and then laminated. In laminate form they do not get damaged easily and look very official. I have never been asked to produce vehicle documents (yet - tempting fate!) anywhere in Europe but, just in case I do, I also take the originals with me when touring. As an extra precaution, I also have copies of Passports and all of the other documents stored in the "cloud". In the event of theft or other disaster, I can at least go on-line and, if necessary, print out a copy. It would (for example) be really useful having Passport details accessible if it became necessary to obtain temporary travel documents from an (say) a British Embassy.

As well as a MoHo, we are lucky enough to have a small sailing boat in which we have travelled extensively around Europe and in the Med. All of the equivalent Ship's Papers (ownership, insurance etc) are regularly required to be produced when checking in/out of marinas and new countries. Again I have laminated copies and keep the originals safely stored. So far, no Official has been unwilling to accept a laminated copy - perhaps mistakenly thinking they are originals.

 

[airwave]

As said all documents have to be originals, we carry copies as well kept in a different place! BTW a Stop sign in France means you MUST stop! I. E. The wheels must not turn or risk a fine!

Can i make a suggestion here , i have in the past printed off very , very good copies of my driving licence , strictly for my use you understand (as a trucker i have to send my licence off every 5 year's for renewal) , using a colour printer . I did this out by accident the first time , but i seriously doubt they would be able to tell them apart .

As for the stop sign , it's the same over here , just no one take's any notice .

 

[RandallC]

Scan and upload to a cloud storage medium, icloud, onedrive, dropbox.

Have to take originals but if scanned can at least contact DVLA with details if the worst happens. Just remember it won't be you!

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[Munchie]

Can i make a suggestion here , i have in the past printed off very , very good copies of my driving licence , strictly for my use you understand (as a trucker i have to send my licence off every 5 year's for renewal) , using a colour printer . I did this out by accident the first time , but i seriously doubt they would be able to tell them apart .

As for the stop sign , it's the same over here , just no one take's any notice .

We pulled up at a stop sign in Brittany, on tickover, wife said clear here, my side was clear so pulled out. Gendarmes pulled me in and i was fined! On leaving he said in English your wheels must not turn!

 

[nicholsong]

Podney

You queried the need for passports.

The reason they are needed is that in France and many countries one has to carry a valid ID document at all times. Most Continentals satisfy this requirement by carrying a National ID card, but UK does not have one, not even the voluntary scheme which was terminated.

So a passport is the only way to identify oneself. A bit impractical if one is in shorts and a T-shirt(or on a nudist beach). I suspect that in most cases if one were asked for ID a photocard Driving Licence would be accepted, but personally I would prefer to back that up with the offer of seeing my passport in the MH, but would not risk bullsh*ting about that.

So it is best to take the passports.

Geoff

 

[RandallC]

Forgive me for saying this BUT is no wheels turning NOT a requirement in the UK for a stop sign?

Only difference (and sadly at times) is there isn't a bod poised to make you pay for your transgression!

At times we forget that the rules are very similar and we have grown accustomed to ignoring them. I'm as guilty of this as most and often apply the phrase that rules apply to others.

I WISH.

It's like the village we live in has introduced a 20mph limit, its now like a race track. WHY the narrow streets and parked cars make exceeding it dangerous. But heh what the heck lets go for it, been even forced off the road on the push bike just so they can zoom through.

Me thinks turning in togrumpy old man OR someone with common values?

 

[nicholsong]

We pulled up at a stop sign in Brittany, on tickover, wife said clear here, my side was clear so pulled out. Gendarmes pulled me in and i was fined! On leaving he said in English your wheels must not turn!

French drivers do seem to stop for 3-5 secs. so do as the locals do.

 

[Yorick]

It's a little known legal requirement in many European countries, to have a fridge full of cold beer.

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[RandallC]

It's a little known legal requirement in many European countries, to have a fridge full of cold beer.

Only half full, the other half full of wine! well that works for me.

 

[RandallC]

B***** forgot to leave room for the cheese....... DOH!

 

[Yorick]

Only half full, the other half full of wine! well that works for me.

A bottle of sherry is enough for the Sheilas.

 

[airwave]

BUT is no wheels turning NOT a requirement in the UK for a stop sign?

Yep , it's the difference between a stop and give way sign , except it's ignored over here .

To be honest i'd forgotten about it myself , like everyone else the only reason i actually stop at any junction , is if it's busy , beit with a car or 65 ft truck .

We pulled up at a stop sign in Brittany, on tickover, wife said clear here, my side was clear so pulled out. Gendarmes pulled me in and i was fined! On leaving he said in English your wheels must not turn!

I must remember it's enforced over there , Thank's for the head's up .

 

[Munchie]

Problem in France is Gendarmes hide behind trees etc that is how i got fined! There was no sign of them till i pulled out!

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