Driving to France

[12dan34]

In discussions with the Mrs about driving to the South of France in May. Whilst I've driven in France quite a bit, I've never driven through it as this would require, and I read/heard somewhere about there being lots of ULEZ equivalent areas of France.

Can anyone verify this please and let me know if there's a map or app that would help the journey to go as smoothly as possible?

Many thanks.

[QJumper]

I drove through France just before Christmas and yes, there are clean air zones in some cities.

Basically though, there's no congestion charge as such, either your car qualifies as compliant, in which case you're ok, or it isn't, in which case you can't enter the zone without risking a fine.

You have to register your car details, and you get a coloured sticker/permit, based on your car's emissions rating, which determines where you can go. Cost of the sticker is only about 3 euros, and lasts forever.

You can get more info here:

https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/news/motoring-news/law...

And can apply for the sticker here:

https://www.certificat-air.gouv.fr/

I found it a quick and easy process.

[12dan34]

Excellent, thank you, I'll take a look at this.

[Phil.]

Also get a tag for the tolls. It saves so much time. I’ve used this one and it’s works across France and Spain:

https://www.bipdrive.com/en/

[12dan34]

Thanks for all the replies here.

Trip has been pushed into June now. Just reading the RAC top tips for driving in France, I have the high vis vests and the warning triangle, the beam adjusters but I'm not sure with the spare bulb kit...happy to buy and the RAC sells one which is listed as 'this will ensure that you are staying on the right side of the law whilst driving around Europe' for £13 but, how useful will it be in an F Type? Do you literally carry one and they tick a box if you get stopped, or will the rozzas actually fine you because the bulbs won't necessarily fit your headlamps?

Any guidance appreciated! Thanks

[Bill]

AIUI (I haven't looked into it since working out my car isn't eligible...) the crit air sticker can also be needed at times when there are departement wide restrictions which could happen if pollution is particularly bad. I have no idea how often this happens or how likely you are to be stopped though.

[NDA]

Not sure I understand the Crit'Air thing.

My V8, in the UK, is taxed as the most polluting vehicle and considered the work of the devil. But Crit'Air gives it a purple '1' sticker - which like driving a car made of lettuce.

[Bill]

It's about particulates.

[//j17]

12dan34 said:

Just reading the RAC top tips for driving in France, I have the high vis vests and the warning triangle, the beam adjusters but I'm not sure with the spare bulb kit...but, how useful will it be in an F Type? Do you literally carry one and they tick a box if you get stopped, or will the rozzas actually fine you because the bulbs won't necessarily fit your headlamps?

You're just required to carry spare bulbs. There's no requirement for them to fit your car, or for you to have the ability to fit them at the roadsiide if you have a bulb fail (which on some cars seems to involve dismantling the whole front end of the car).


More generally for your trip if you're just planning to get South as fast as possible:
a) Get a peage doofer - but shop around as there are now many providers/offers and some are better for regular commuters/other better for temporary visitors. Also don't leave this to the last minute as some people have issues getting the direct debit set up and you don't need the last minute headache - and if you have one that only charges in months you use the tab no financial penalty either.
b) To the best of my knowledge Crit'air won't be an issue on the drive down as I think they are all just applied in large urban areas. Even where a department has defined the whole department as a controlled area restrictions are still only activated in specific sub-areas, not the whole department.
c) Download one of the apps that cover emissions zones. I've got the "Green-Zones" Android app which lets you enter your car details and see not only where the zones are but also if they are active at any point in time (a lot of the French ones aren't permanent and binary like the London one but switch off and on/off and on for different Crit'air certificates based on current polution levels). For example right now I CAN drive my car through Rouen but CAN'T drive it through Paris or Reims.

Edited by //j17 on Monday 9th May 10:29

[12dan34]

Thanks everyone, some really useful info here that I simply wouldn't have known otherwise.

Invaluable.

[12dan34]

Sorry, a peage doofer, new term to me, is it one of these...?

https://www.bipdrive.com/en/

[omniflow]

12dan34 said:

Sorry, a peage doofer, new term to me, is it one of these...?

https://www.bipdrive.com/en/

That is one yes - but that particular one is not suitable for people who only have a UK bank account and UK address

[leyorkie]

Motorways can be hit by restrictions around the Lyon area, they have signs up reducing the speed limit to restrict emissions but there’s no Crit wire on the motorways.

[Phil.]

omniflow said:

12dan34 said:

Sorry, a peage doofer, new term to me, is it one of these...?

https://www.bipdrive.com/en/

That is one yes - but that particular one is not suitable for people who only have a UK bank account and UK address

I’m sure I use Bip and Drive via a UK account but haven’t used it for a while. I like that it’s great for occasional use only charging its small monthly fee when you use it. It can be used across France and Spain. Agree to order early as mine took a week to 10 days to arrive.

[//j17]

Phil. said:

omniflow said:

12dan34 said:

Sorry, a peage doofer, new term to me, is it one of these...?

https://www.bipdrive.com/en/

That is one yes - but that particular one is not suitable for people who only have a UK bank account and UK address

I’m sure I use Bip and Drive via a UK account but haven’t used it for a while. I like that it’s great for occasional use only charging its small monthly fee when you use it. It can be used across France and Spain. Agree to order early as mine took a week to 10 days to arrive.

I've got a Mango Mobilites one and didn't have any issues setting up the direct debit with my UK bank account. They currently have an offer of free set-up (saves €11) and 10 months with no monthly fee (saving €1.70 - but only charged for months in which you use the tag anyway).

[omniflow]

[Bannock]

If you get a Crit Air sticker, put in on the driver's side of your windscreen. The French Fuzz want it on the side near the pavement when parked on the road so they can see it clearly when walking past, and will even issue a fine if it's on the wrong side. Sounds petty I know, but it does happen.

Also, if you get the bip and go tag, the gantries get a more reliable read if it's on your passenger side of the rear view mirror as they're expecting to detect them on the French driver's side, or in the middle. Put it too far over towards the driver in a RHD and you risk it being hidden by your rear view mirror and so missed by the detectors, and you end up with the missus waving it out of the passenger window to be detected. Ask me how I know...

Edited by Bannock on Monday 9th May 15:52

[12dan34]

A wealth of knowledge, thank you!

[Phil.]

omniflow said:

It mentions an address in the EU. I bought mine in 2020 pre-Brexit. May be that’s the reason for the change?

[Rushjob]

You can still get either a French or Spain / Portugal tag sent to a UK address via the Eurotunnel website HERE A mate has just done it to come down to his holiday home here in Fr.