Driving a private 7.5 in France

Driving a private 7.5 in France

Author
Discussion

bacchus180

Original Poster:

779 posts

291 months

Saturday 26th July 2014
quotequote all
I have a 7.5 tonne truck converted into a car transporter its 2000 Iveco. . I want to take my vintage car to France to use for a few weeks when on holiday. I have never used a tacho although there is one in the dash. I don't have an HGV license I am old enough to drive a vehicle of this size.

Do I need anything to allow me to drive in France?, or is it simply as it is here in the UK. as long as its private its not restricted in anyway at all?

Thanks

smifffymoto

4,771 posts

212 months

Sunday 27th July 2014
quotequote all
As long as the truck is legal and you are legal in the country of registration and residence you're good to go,as I understand it.

TooMany2cvs

29,008 posts

133 months

Sunday 27th July 2014
quotequote all
Yep, mutual recognition. You have a licence that allows you to drive a 7.5tonner, so you can drive a 7.5tonner. You are a UK resident driving a UK registered truck, so UK tacho etc regs apply.

GC8

19,910 posts

197 months

Sunday 27th July 2014
quotequote all
Id still fit a chart in the head unit, to preserve it.

Super Slo Mo

5,368 posts

205 months

Sunday 27th July 2014
quotequote all
You are a UK resident driving a UK registered truck, so UK tacho etc regs apply.
If he's driving it entirely 'privately', that is with no reward at all, he doesn't require a tachometer in the uk. However it might be difficult to prove private use in some circumstances.
I don't know if the French have a similar rule with their private hgv users, personally I'd run to tacho regs for the trip, that way there's no arguing if the police pull you.
However, that's me erring on the side of caution. Others may choose to do things differently.

GC8

19,910 posts

197 months

Sunday 27th July 2014
quotequote all
I would agree, that observing driving and break periods makes good sense even if all of your driving is beyond the scope of the EU driving hours regs.

Very simply, you can drive for up to 4.5 hours before you need to take a 45 minute rest. You can then drive for a further 4.5 hours. On two days out of any working week you may extend your driving hours from nine to ten. Breaks can be split with the first being of at least 15 minutes duration and the second being of at least 30 minutes duration. The second/30min break must be taken before 4.5 hours of driving time is exceeded. Working days (of both driving and other work or POA) are limited to 13 hours which can be extended to 15 hours twice a week but this wont apply to you. Daily rest must be of 11 hours per night, but this can be reduced to 9 hours on three occasions.

Super Slo Mo

5,368 posts

205 months

Sunday 27th July 2014
quotequote all
The op's eyes are probably glazing over...... smile

If you do decide to go down the tacho route op, just break GC8's post down into individual parts. It's not too complicated, it just seems a lot to take in when someone throws it all at you at once.

bacchus180

Original Poster:

779 posts

291 months

Sunday 27th July 2014
quotequote all
thanks for that info.. the next question is where do you get tacho graphs from?.. and does it record speed?

Super Slo Mo

5,368 posts

205 months

Sunday 27th July 2014
quotequote all
I think staples used to sell them. You need the correct speed rated one for your vehicle, it's usually whatever top speed is on your speedo.
Might sound obvious, but use one tacho per 24 hours.
They record a trace which is your speed. It'll be obvious when you see it.

GC8

19,910 posts

197 months

Sunday 27th July 2014
quotequote all
One per day but you take it out when youre finished for the day.

That was my attempt at simple, but its hard to know what to include and what not to.

You can drive for nine hours per day but you can increase this to ten hours per day for two days in a fixed week.

You can drive for 4.5 hours and then you must stop for a 45 minute break.

These breaks can be split into a 15min and a 30min (in that order) if you wish.

You must take a rest of eleven hours between finishing in the evening and starting in the morning and this can be reduced to nine hours, three times per fixed week.

As the driver of a private vehicle none of this applies to you, but its good practice and an excellent defence in the event of an incident.

Clearer? hehe

GC8

19,910 posts

197 months

Sunday 27th July 2014
quotequote all
http://www.hgvdirect.co.uk/catalog/t2c-kienzle-aut...

Slightly cheaper on eBay, but youll get advice from HGV Direct too.

GC8

19,910 posts

197 months

grumpy52

5,717 posts

173 months

Sunday 27th July 2014
quotequote all
If you have a decent truck stop nearby they will probably sell them and someone will know the correct chart for your tacho head.

bacchus180

Original Poster:

779 posts

291 months

Sunday 27th July 2014
quotequote all
Thanks for all of the above, it has made it clearer. The only issue I see is that I have an unrestricted truck and do generally blat along a bit quicker than 56mph, I guess i will have to slow down, just makes it a very long way!.

If I was to hire a driver to drive it there for me I'm guessing it suddenly becomes a commercial trip and that means all sorts of different things I guess. I will just have to be patient. thanks again.

GC8

19,910 posts

197 months

Sunday 27th July 2014
quotequote all
Youll be limited to the relevant speed in each country, but I don't know what they are. Better to maintain 90kph anyway, as there seems to be a lot of confusion over speed limits.

Super Slo Mo

5,368 posts

205 months

Sunday 27th July 2014
quotequote all
An unrestricted 7.5 tonner can legally do 70 in the uk. Not sure about Europe although I took one to Seville and back one at 70 plus all the way without attracting attention.

cahami

1,248 posts

213 months

Wednesday 6th August 2014
quotequote all
Has the tacho been checked in the last 2 years ? If not it may not be worth putting a disc in it.

GC8

19,910 posts

197 months

Wednesday 6th August 2014
quotequote all
It should always have a disc in it, simply to protect it.