France - Do I Really Need The V5?
Discussion
Google tells me that I need to carry the V5 to my van and motorcycle that I'm taking on holiday to France
Are they happy with a photo or a scan ?
Same question with insurance details
I'd rather not take originals with me, particularly when they tend to get stroppy about carrying a motorcycle in a van in case you intend to sell it - to have the ownership papers with it seems counterproductive
Are they happy with a photo or a scan ?
Same question with insurance details
I'd rather not take originals with me, particularly when they tend to get stroppy about carrying a motorcycle in a van in case you intend to sell it - to have the ownership papers with it seems counterproductive
I’ve been checked a couple of times but I was there a few times a year and had the correct docs .
Only you can decide but many years ago I picked a mate up from Malaga airport in a French registered car and for stopping in the wrong place and not having my license with me I got a fine and towed away followed by a 2 and a half hour round taxi trip to retrieve the car .
Don’t under estimate the jobs worth person in authority , especially now !
Only you can decide but many years ago I picked a mate up from Malaga airport in a French registered car and for stopping in the wrong place and not having my license with me I got a fine and towed away followed by a 2 and a half hour round taxi trip to retrieve the car .
Don’t under estimate the jobs worth person in authority , especially now !
Because I could not produce vehicle documents when stopped in Portugal.....they were in my apartment 500 yards down the road....I was given an on the spot 60 euro fine, and they refused to accept my Mastercard credit card!
As a direct result of this, I now carry vehicle docs in a clear plastic folder which is kept in the glovebox.
As a direct result of this, I now carry vehicle docs in a clear plastic folder which is kept in the glovebox.
Doofus said:
I carry a colour photocopy of my V5, and I have needed it.
Most French coppers don't actually know what they're looking at, but if you get stopped, they can ask for it.
I did this recently when I went to France and Germany. It wasn’t needed but at least I could provide something if asked. Who knows whether they would have been happy with it though?Most French coppers don't actually know what they're looking at, but if you get stopped, they can ask for it.
Just carry the original one and a print out of your insurance. Very worst case scenario is you lose it and have to pay £25 for a new one.
Or just not bother. Faffing about with high quality photocopies just seems a waste of effort all round and the worst of both worlds (ie. you are still scuppered if a jobsworth flic wants to see the originals).
Or just not bother. Faffing about with high quality photocopies just seems a waste of effort all round and the worst of both worlds (ie. you are still scuppered if a jobsworth flic wants to see the originals).
Truckosaurus said:
Just carry the original one and a print out of your insurance. Very worst case scenario is you lose it and have to pay £25 for a new one.
Or just not bother. Faffing about with high quality photocopies just seems a waste of effort all round and the worst of both worlds (ie. you are still scuppered if a jobsworth flic wants to see the originals).
The police were perfectly happy with my photocopy. Or just not bother. Faffing about with high quality photocopies just seems a waste of effort all round and the worst of both worlds (ie. you are still scuppered if a jobsworth flic wants to see the originals).
I have a colour laser printer, so I didn't have to "faff about" with photocopies.
Plus, getting a photocopy seems to me to be a lot less effort than needing to apply (and pay) for a replacement V5.
Truckosaurus said:
Just carry the original one and a print out of your insurance. Very worst case scenario is you lose it and have to pay £25 for a new one.
Or just not bother. Faffing about with high quality photocopies just seems a waste of effort all round and the worst of both worlds (ie. you are still scuppered if a jobsworth flic wants to see the originals).
This ^^ do you perhaps carry a photocopy of your passport too in car you lose the original? Or just not bother. Faffing about with high quality photocopies just seems a waste of effort all round and the worst of both worlds (ie. you are still scuppered if a jobsworth flic wants to see the originals).
I lived there and still carried my originals, as I do now in Spain. It really is not worth it as your chances of winning the argument at the side of the road in a foreign country are pretty much zero.
Car bon said:
No-one can give you a definitive answer - so it depends on your attitude to risk.
I spend 6 months / year in France and have done for many years - I've never needed my V5 even when being fined for speeding. However, one day I just might....
This ^^I spend 6 months / year in France and have done for many years - I've never needed my V5 even when being fined for speeding. However, one day I just might....
Lived in France for 8 years, stopped numerous times at roadside controles, needed my V5 at first whilst importing the car, then my carte grise numerous times.
Anyway
The definitive answer is covered by French law.
Documents are mentioned in the law.
Not copies, scans or facsimiles but documents.
With France operating under the Code Civil, there is no room for interpretation or discussion, it is codified in law that you will produce the relevant document or be fined, then fined a lot more if you don't produce it within 5 days.
I always take it.
French Police do not have a sense of humour, nor Germans or Belgians and I've been stopped/fined/prosecuted at least once by all three (though not for many years now). The experience goes considerably smoother if you can produce all the documentation they ask for, as required by law.
I cannot see why you'd be worried about losing it, how would you? It's also a lot less valuable and easier to replace than a passport, phone, bank cards, money etc all of which is carried by default.
French Police do not have a sense of humour, nor Germans or Belgians and I've been stopped/fined/prosecuted at least once by all three (though not for many years now). The experience goes considerably smoother if you can produce all the documentation they ask for, as required by law.
I cannot see why you'd be worried about losing it, how would you? It's also a lot less valuable and easier to replace than a passport, phone, bank cards, money etc all of which is carried by default.
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