Driving a Classic Car in France
Discussion
I travel to France twice a year and member of a French Motor Club I always have my cars MOT'd as I believe the police want to see if it is legal so I take the folder with all its details in to be on the safe side. We have not been since Covid but you need to carry a first aid kit, warning triangle x2, spare pair of glasses if you have to drive with them, breathalyser kit x2. 2 yellow reflective jackets if 2 people in car or one for each passenger if 4. I do not think BREXIT has changed anything. Best of luck and have a great trip.Edited by RONV on Thursday 26th May 19:20
Personally if I were bringing a classic over to France I'd get it tested just to be safe as if the wrong Gendarme stops you it could be a bit awkward.
Re the breathalysers mentioned above, there is no longer a requirement to carry them in the vehicle, the law being rescinded in 2020 or so.
Re the hi vis vests, they must be accessible to all occupants without getting out of the car, so not in the boot.
Re the breathalysers mentioned above, there is no longer a requirement to carry them in the vehicle, the law being rescinded in 2020 or so.
Re the hi vis vests, they must be accessible to all occupants without getting out of the car, so not in the boot.
Rushjob said:
Personally if I were bringing a classic over to France I'd get it tested just to be safe as if the wrong Gendarme stops you it could be a bit awkward.
Re the breathalysers mentioned above, there is no longer a requirement to carry them in the vehicle, the law being rescinded in 2020 or so.
Re the hi vis vests, they must be accessible to all occupants without getting out of the car, so not in the boot.
This. I wouldn't bring a car to France without a valid MOT. I think there is also still a requirement to carry spare bulbs - I certainly always do when taking assorted cars over to my house in France. Re the breathalysers mentioned above, there is no longer a requirement to carry them in the vehicle, the law being rescinded in 2020 or so.
Re the hi vis vests, they must be accessible to all occupants without getting out of the car, so not in the boot.
Have a look here
https://www.eurotunnel.com/uk/driving-in-france/#:...
Mot is a good idea. Plue european recovery and relay. And remember they drive kn the wrong side of tje road
https://www.eurotunnel.com/uk/driving-in-france/#:...
Mot is a good idea. Plue european recovery and relay. And remember they drive kn the wrong side of tje road
A word of caution, customs may demand a bond equivalent to 40% of a cars value on entry to ensure you're not bringing it over to sell!
Re breathalysers there never was an actual law demanding you carry them, it was effectively scrapped during Sarkozy's time before it got onto the statute book.
Yes you were supposed to have an unused one in the car but the proposed law was watered down leaving no penalty for not. how that was a law is beyond me.
When living there I resolved to never ever buy one and as the proposed 'penalty' for that was a piffling €11 I instead carried a Euro coin wrapped up in a €10 note to pay it if challenged which I never was.
The whole thing was done away with I think in 2020.
The ferry companies perpetuated the myth as they made money from conning daft Brits into buying them.
Only the French!
Re breathalysers there never was an actual law demanding you carry them, it was effectively scrapped during Sarkozy's time before it got onto the statute book.
Yes you were supposed to have an unused one in the car but the proposed law was watered down leaving no penalty for not. how that was a law is beyond me.
When living there I resolved to never ever buy one and as the proposed 'penalty' for that was a piffling €11 I instead carried a Euro coin wrapped up in a €10 note to pay it if challenged which I never was.
The whole thing was done away with I think in 2020.
The ferry companies perpetuated the myth as they made money from conning daft Brits into buying them.
Only the French!
Edited by Expatloon on Monday 6th June 17:01
[quote=Expatloon
Re breathalysers there never was an actual law demanding you carry them, it was effectively scrapped during Sarkozy's time before it got onto the statute book.
Yes you were supposed to have an unused one in the car but the proposed law was watered down leaving no penalty for not. how that was a law is beyond me.
When living there I resolved to never ever buy one and as the proposed 'penalty' for that was a piffling €11 I instead carried a Euro coin wrapped up in a €10 note to pay it if challenged which I never was.
The whole thing was done away with I think in 2020.
The ferry companies perpetuated the myth as they made money from conning daft Brits into buying them.
Only the French!
[/quote]
There WAS a law requiring every vehicle to have one available, hence the requirement for you to carry two so that you still had one after you'd just tested yourself.
This law was entered onto the books and came into force in 2012.
What was not done was to pass a second law allowing you to be fined/prosecuted for not carrying one, and, as you say the initial law requiring them to be carried was rescinded in January 2020.
And yes Eurotunnel, the ferry co's and the AA still want you to buy them
Re breathalysers there never was an actual law demanding you carry them, it was effectively scrapped during Sarkozy's time before it got onto the statute book.
Yes you were supposed to have an unused one in the car but the proposed law was watered down leaving no penalty for not. how that was a law is beyond me.
When living there I resolved to never ever buy one and as the proposed 'penalty' for that was a piffling €11 I instead carried a Euro coin wrapped up in a €10 note to pay it if challenged which I never was.
The whole thing was done away with I think in 2020.
The ferry companies perpetuated the myth as they made money from conning daft Brits into buying them.
Only the French!
Edited by Expatloon on Monday 6th June 17:01
[/quote]
There WAS a law requiring every vehicle to have one available, hence the requirement for you to carry two so that you still had one after you'd just tested yourself.
This law was entered onto the books and came into force in 2012.
What was not done was to pass a second law allowing you to be fined/prosecuted for not carrying one, and, as you say the initial law requiring them to be carried was rescinded in January 2020.
And yes Eurotunnel, the ferry co's and the AA still want you to buy them
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