Driving in France - Definitive List of Requirements

Questions, tips & observations about taking your Bongo over the water.

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Muzorewa
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Re: Driving in France - Definitive List of Requirements

Post by Muzorewa » Wed Sep 11, 2013 10:31 am

Any specifics for Spain & Portugal in addition to France? And can anyone confirm that the breathalyser thing is dead in the water.

tvm
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Re: Driving in France - Definitive List of Requirements

Post by g8dhe » Wed Sep 11, 2013 12:33 pm

The latest I have regarding the French breath test kits is here;
http://www.connexionfrance.com/news_art ... hp?id=4520
France drops breath test fines
March 04, 2013

France has finally dropped plans to fine motorists who do not have a breath test kit in their vehicles – but has left in place the law obliging them to carry the kits.

Under the law introduced by the Sarkozy government last year, drivers and motorcyclists faced an €11 fine for not carrying a breath test kit. The law was due to come into full force on July 1, 2012 but the imposition of fines was delayed until November due to the shortage of kits.

This November date was then further extended to March 1 and French manufacturer, Contralco, said it had taken on 160 extra staff to try to meet demand.

However, new Interior Minister Manuel Valls had indicated he was sceptical of the value of the kits and asked the Conseil National de la Sécurité Routière to have another look at the plan.

The CNSR said on February 13 that it recommended the carrying of a breath test in vehicles but in a decree published on Friday in the Journal Officiel the government annulled the sanction of the €11 fine.
- See more at: http://www.connexionfrance.com/news_art ... Lo13Z.dpuf
So you have to carry a kit, but now there is no fine if you don't!
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Re: Driving in France - Definitive List of Requirements

Post by dvisor » Sat Sep 14, 2013 9:25 am

Muzorewa wrote:Any specifics for Spain & Portugal in addition to France? And can anyone confirm that the breathalyser thing is dead in the water.

tvm
I put this together over 3 years ago for Spain, maybe some things have changed since then http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... 13#p420113

According to the RAC, spare bulbs are no longer required to be carried, and some sites now say that carrying spare fuel in an appropriate container is allowed. I haven't verified either of these.
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Re: Driving in France - Definitive List of Requirements

Post by Muzorewa » Sat Sep 14, 2013 10:15 am

Thanks. In Portugal, there's talk that you can't carry bikes on the back of cars, whether "cars" includes campervans is another thing. And their toll roads appear to be very user-unfriendly, no cash only vignettes and card payment in advance - but what if you're not too sure where and when you're travelling? :?
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Re: Driving in France - Definitive List of Requirements

Post by dvisor » Sat Sep 14, 2013 10:26 am

Muzorewa wrote:Thanks. In Portugal, there's talk that you can't carry bikes on the back of cars, whether "cars" includes campervans is another thing. And their toll roads appear to be very user-unfriendly, no cash only vignettes and card payment in advance - but what if you're not too sure where and when you're travelling? :?
See what you mean about the tolls. You've probably already found https://www.ctt.pt/fectt/export/sites/d ... da_eng.pdf. I'm not sure that that their English makes it any clearer!
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Re: Driving in France - list of our findings at Brittany

Post by BongoGog » Fri Feb 13, 2015 1:40 pm

Thanks for the extensive list and thanks to all who have given much info on planning our trip to Brittany last Sept which turned out ace, and Cornwall for a few days on return was really good.

Just wanted to share some of our findings in Brittany:
Didn't need any of the stuff listed for driving in France - thankfully, but you never know when you'll need it.
Public Car park with height restriction barriers of 2M are misleading - easy clear 2.1M!
Much fuss about veh ht x length and bike racks etc on booking ferry ticket - no one cared when actually boarding, all vehs sizes mixed together!
France municipal campsites are brilliant - good and clean and safe for kids at a fraction of the cost of the 'big park' type campsites which we didnt use but sound horrible to me.
Road tolls are very expensive - may be worth checking diversions if you have the time. Sat Nav essential Id say!

Thanks again, here's to next venture Espana!
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Re: Driving in France - list of our findings at Brittany

Post by Muzorewa » Fri Feb 13, 2015 2:04 pm

BongoGog wrote:Thanks again, here's to next venture Espana!
Hey amigo, if you need any tips for that, let me know but in the meantime whet your appetite with this... http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... 37&t=67347 :wink:
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Re: Driving in France - Definitive List of Requirements

Post by Muzorewa » Sun Feb 15, 2015 10:44 am

Replies moved here http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... 7&start=69 to avoid hijacking the original thread
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