Motorist Stores

[ukkid35]

I always struggle to find motorist stores similar to Halfords, Lloyds, EuroCarParts etc when I’m on the continent. What should I look out for when I’m abroad?

[trunnie]

Here in France feu vert is the obvious alternative, though they appear to be franchises and the inshop range is not quite as wide as Halfords. They seem to be a workshop plus shop so are usually to be found in the light industrial/supermarket/furniture shop ghettos outside a town. Otherwise the big hypermarkets usually have a car section that contains most of the essentials.

[Fatt McMissile]

Roady and Norauto are two others, similar setups as Trunnie has described. There are also Centres L'auto E.LECLERC near some of their supermarkets.
Steve

[mikey77]

Pene Auto is more of a trade counter-type place and seems to have quite a few branches around my part of central-SW France.
There's also FAP - France Auto Pieces - which does tyres, batteries, spares and servicing and seems to have a lot of branches.

[ukkid35]

Thanks to all, that is very helpful. Anyone have any suggestions for Belgium?

[Le TVR]

Norauto in Belgium too.
Also try Auto5.

[Nobbles]

Oscaro.com

[smegmore]

Feu Vert is a very expensive franchise operation, as said, the larger French supermarkets usually have a large range of products such as filters, brake pads etc. If you can't find what you need there then the main dealers are the last resort with their rip-off prices.

[EnfantTerrible]

Try AD (auto distribution) - depending on what you're looking for, they are much cheaper than Feu Vert

[trunnie]

I forgot to mention in referring to Feu Vert that I went there to buy some car ramps. I got to the cash desk to be told that the price shown was per ramp - do motorcyclists buy single ramps as I can't see any other use for just one and I've never seen anyone else pricing ramps singly rather than the pair! At double the price it was cheaper to leave the ramps at the cash desk and go elsewhere.