Car Hire in France - are warning traingles provided?

Snowball

I am hiring a car through CarRentals.com, (Alamo are the vendors) from Chamberey airport in France when we go skiing next month.

Can anyone tell me if the the hire company will include the legal essentials in the boot of the car - such as a high visability jacket and a warning triangle, which I understand by law I must travel with at all times?

Does anyone know if I have to by law hire snow chains too?

Thanks

pompeyrich

The hire company I used in Spain didn't provide the vests, I had need for them following a blow-out. I asked and they said they were available but had to leave a deposit, they also said they would re-imburse any fine I might have got due to them not providing the equipment.

Found this re chains " In France snow chains are NOT a legal requirement however your car must have the 'Equipement Obligatoire' when passing a round blue road sign with a wheel equipped with a chain, electronic road signs or Gendarmes signalling this.

This means the vehicle must be equipped with either snow tyres (studded or non-studded) on ALL wheels OR chains on at least the driving wheels.

If the sign is shown and no gendarmes are stopping cars, then it is up to your discretion to fit chains or not. However if you get stuck/block the road/have an accident due to snow cover or ice on the road and you have not fitted chains or do not have snow tyres, this is an infraction and you can be in serious trouble"

knightstyle

Most companies provide a vest and triangle but not the required spare bulb set!!!!!
For anyone buying a hi-vis vest for France make sure it has the european ce mark, this is a legal requirement!
Oh yes, the vest must be accessible by the driver from his seat! Not in the boot.

Snowball

Thanks, pompeyrich. So can I assume that although the jacket wasn't provided, the warning triangle was provided in your case?
I presume by your comment that it would be a good move to check that the hire car is provided with snow tyres, which if it was would possibly remove the need for snow chains.

Snowball

Thanks Knighstyle. Do you know if it is one vest that is required ie. just for driver; or one vest per passenger?
Spare bulbs - anything else that you know of!

knightstyle

At the moment only one vest but this will change to one vest per passenger sometime, not next year I think. I will ask on another forum about this. Here is a site that sells things for people driving to France that lists the requirements.
I have no connection with them!
So when and where are you going? We live in France, in UK at the moment for family Christmas. PM me if you like.
http://www.click-parts.co.uk/content/driving-in-france-checklist.php

creased-leach

Snowball wrote: »

Thanks Knighstyle. Do you know if it is one vest that is required ie. just for driver; or one vest per passenger?
Spare bulbs - anything else that you know of!

You need one per passenger- the law changed a couple of years ago, and they all have to be in the cabin.

The French are much better than us when it comes to dealing with snow. We've been awoken at 6am by a snow plough clearing a private drive in the Alps, wheres here out entire village never sees a gritter even. That year, we did the 12hr, cross country drive back up through France on the motorways- the entire country was coated in snow- and yet we didn't encounter a single problem on the roads. :T

creased-leach

creased-leach wrote: »

You need one per passenger- the law changed a couple of years ago, and they all have to be in the cabin.

The French are much better than us when it comes to dealing with snow. We've been awoken at 6am by a snow plough clearing a private drive in the Alps, wheres here out entire village never sees a gritter even. That year, we did the 12hr, cross country drive back up through France on the motorways- the entire country was coated in snow- and yet we didn't encounter a single problem on the roads. :T

Added- a friend with several houses in France told us about the vest law- but now, the more I read the more contradictions there are! :rolleyes:

Mr_Warren_2

Sorry guys here is the latest:

- High Viz vest is provided by rental car (1 per car is the law)
- Triangle is also supplied
- Chains have to be rented from car rental company
- Bulbs are not supplied as you should call the rental company emergency number if yours blow up !!!....no kidding.
- Not sure if cars are fitted with snow tyres in Chambery....?????

spiro

Also remember if you have to get out of the car on the hard shoulder you should exit through the near side door(s).