driving in france

[south]

Aside from all the standard jokes about the french...

- Will most major breakdown companies offer an addtional/add on policy for mainland EU?
- Is their version of super unleaded 98/99 ron or do I need an addictive?
- Heard something about needing a breathalyser? I've already got a triangle/first aid/vest etc.

Anything else I should be aware of? It's been a long time since I've been!

[Nodz]

Aside from all the standard jokes about the french...

- Will most major breakdown companies offer an addtional/add on policy for mainland EU?

Yes

- Is their version of super unleaded 98/99 ron or do I need an addictive?

Think its 98

- Heard something about needing a breathalyser?
Yes, you can buy them on the boat or in halfords
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductMobileDisplay?catalogId=10151&storeId=10001&productId=871069&categoryId=226211&langId=-1

I've already got a triangle/first aid/vest etc.

Anything else I should be aware of? It's been a long time since I've been!

The AA's quick guide here
http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/touring_tips/compulsory_equipment.pdf

[V2 FAN]

You will also need

1. registration document
2. GB sticker
3. Insurance
4. Headlamp beam adjuster
5. breathalyser 11 Euro fine in you don't have one  

[south]

Thanks guys... (thanks button seems to have disappeared for me!)

[Stanipkiss]

I also took a fire extinguisher and a vest each passenger! Talk to your insurer, the AA wanted near-on £300 to cover me in France, spoke to my insurer (flux) and charged me £68 for everything AA had.

[Nodz]

You can't thank in random chat.

Make sure the breathalyser is a pack of 2 or buy 2 of them as they say you must carry 2 at all times

Also make sure the high vis jackets are in the front for all passengers as you must exit the car wearing them, they can't be left in the boot

[GrayMK5GTI]

Do you need a warning triangle as well? I got one from tesco for a fiver just in case when I went

[Nodz]

Yes you do

[phil1975]

Plenty of euro's for the toll roads and turn off any speed camera/radar detectors you may have even on a sat nav.

[Tamiyoman]

Plenty of euro's for the toll roads and turn off any speed camera/radar detectors you may have even on a sat nav.

Its a better idea to ensure your passenger knows how to turn the camera warnings off in case you get pulled over, we had them on with the Tom Tom as they dont tell you EXACTLY where cameras are only that you get a warning for a 1 mile stretch of road, although we soon twigged that they were roughly 1/4 or 1/3rd mile after the warning came up. We only saw 2 police cars during our 14 hours on the Autoroutes, 1 marked car and 1 unmarked Megane RS (Spotted him as the sun shone off his very inconspicuous slimline blue light on his roof!), does not seem to be that many around.

The main places to keep to speed limits are on the approach to Peage/Toll booths as the speed limit decreases in stages as you approach them and you can miss them as you try to plot which lane you want, we stuck at 90mph most of the time.

Best bit is the Peage Grand Prix after you have paid 

[Viking]

Nodz is spot on. High viz vests in the car, not in the boot. That way you can put them on without getting out of the car. Many people hang them on the head rest so that french plod can see them without stopping you to check.

As said, two breathalysers, because if you get stopped and have to use one, in effect you then haven't got one left for your continued journey.

Toll booths sometimes have average speed cameras between them, so usually a good idea to stick below the posted limit anyway.

[phil1975]

Plenty of euro's for the toll roads and turn off any speed camera/radar detectors you may have even on a sat nav.

Its a better idea to ensure your passenger knows how to turn the camera warnings off in case you get pulled over, we had them on with the Tom Tom as they dont tell you EXACTLY where cameras are only that you get a warning for a 1 mile stretch of road, although we soon twigged that they were roughly 1/4 or 1/3rd mile after the warning came up. We only saw 2 police cars during our 14 hours on the Autoroutes, 1 marked car and 1 unmarked Megane RS (Spotted him as the sun shone off his very inconspicuous slimline blue light on his roof!), does not seem to be that many around.

The main places to keep to speed limits are on the approach to Peage/Toll booths as the speed limit decreases in stages as you approach them and you can miss them as you try to plot which lane you want, we stuck at 90mph most of the time.

Best bit is the Peage Grand Prix after you have paid 

Your idea may be "better" as you claim I was just advising the op of the law as I understand it, how he chooses to interpret that is his business.   

http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/overseas/radar-detectors-in-france.html

[Tamiyoman]

Plenty of euro's for the toll roads and turn off any speed camera/radar detectors you may have even on a sat nav.

Its a better idea to ensure your passenger knows how to turn the camera warnings off in case you get pulled over, we had them on with the Tom Tom as they dont tell you EXACTLY where cameras are only that you get a warning for a 1 mile stretch of road, although we soon twigged that they were roughly 1/4 or 1/3rd mile after the warning came up. We only saw 2 police cars during our 14 hours on the Autoroutes, 1 marked car and 1 unmarked Megane RS (Spotted him as the sun shone off his very inconspicuous slimline blue light on his roof!), does not seem to be that many around.

The main places to keep to speed limits are on the approach to Peage/Toll booths as the speed limit decreases in stages as you approach them and you can miss them as you try to plot which lane you want, we stuck at 90mph most of the time.

Best bit is the Peage Grand Prix after you have paid 

Your idea may be "better" as you claim I was just advising the op of the law as I understand it, how he chooses to interpret that is his business.   

http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/overseas/radar-detectors-in-france.html

It takes 4 taps of the screen to turn them off an  takes around 6 seconds 

[Golfgirl]

You need a first aid kit as well.  And beam deflectors if you can't switch from RHD to LHD on your car.

Some useful info here: http://about-france.com/travel.htm

Supermarkets are best for fuel as they are several cents cheaper than normal petrol stations.

[Tamiyoman]

Supermarkets are best for fuel as they are several cents cheaper than normal petrol stations.

Was just about to add that myself, we used the Tom Tom to find the large Leclerc, Supermarche etc etc with Petrol stations (POI's as Fuel stations on Tom Tom), most were automated and round back of Supermarket car park.

Motorway Fuel prices for Diesel were 141.9 to 147.9 (Cheapest was 141.9, most were 144.9 last month when we went), if you come off the motorway and use the large stores the cheapest we got was 125.9 and most expensive was 129.9 (Average was 127.9) so saves you 12-19c per litre, we were driving from Calais to Mont Blanc (540 miles each way) and managed to save 30 Euros doing that, it does not sound much but at the local Aldi/Lidl about 20 minutes from our apartment (I forget which it was) you could get a box of 20 x 250cl beers for 6 Euros so we had 100 beers instead of paying motorway prices 

As others have said, Hi Vis in the car (We had them on Parcel shelf and got 5 for £10 delivered) and 2 Breath Testers (about £4), Warning triangle and First Aid kit are part of most modern cars anyway but best to check yours!