Taking Vehicle Abroad

Turn_to_Grey

All of the above and 2 triangles for Spain. Front and back.

WellKnownSid

knightstyle wrote: »

The waistcoat must be in reach of the driver which is why most French drivers have them on the back of the drivers seat.

Same in Spain, it's done so the police don't stop you just to check whether you have a high-vis jacket or not because it's, err, clearly visible.

Iceweasel

forgotmyname wrote: »

So the penalty for not having the must have breathalyser kit is they will tell you that you must have one? :T

Absolutely correct - the penalty for not having the compulsory breathalyser kits has been 'suspended indefinitely'.

knightstyle

The breathalyser subject has been aired a lot in the French press and a government statement was issued that they were no longer a legal requirement.

Iceweasel

knightstyle wrote: »

The breathalyser subject has been aired a lot in the French press and a government statement was issued that they were no longer a legal requirement.

True but the AA, RAC, the Tunnel and the Ferry companies are still trying to flog them to everyone who takes what they say as gospel.

It's like they also sell GB plates - you don't need one if you have the EU flag logo on your numberplate.

And those sticky patches on your headlights aren't needed either.

Nor is a spare bulb kit - but having said that you'd be best to have one as it's an offence to drive on once a policeman has pointed out a defective bulb.

What you really MUST have is a warning triangle and reflective vest.

There is conflicting information as to how many need to be carried - is it one per passenger or is one for the driver only sufficient?

Of course any sensible well prepared driver will be carrying a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit as well as all the things mentioned above that are not actually compulsory.

Best to have all of the stuff in the boot (apart from the vests) all the time - even in the UK - rather than swap it around depending on which country you're going to.

Nebulous2

I agree with Iceweasel, the motoring organisations and ferry companies really should know better. The rhetoric generally exceeds the reality. There is a willingness to believe anything about things that are 'foreign' that we would never believe at home. There is a persistent myth that you cannot drink the water in France for instance.

I've maybe been lucky but I haven't used a GB sticker or beam benders in years. With big perspex covers over my headlights it is almost impossible to know where to stick the beam benders even if I wanted to.

We do have spare bulbs, triangles, hi-viz vests and do carry all the vehicle documents. I've never been stopped or asked for any of them either.

dannyrst

Nebulous2 wrote: »

I agree with Iceweasel, the motoring organisations and ferry companies really should know better. The rhetoric generally exceeds the reality. There is a willingness to believe anything about things that are 'foreign' that we would never believe at home. There is a persistent myth that you cannot drink the water in France for instance.

I've maybe been lucky but I haven't used a GB sticker or beam benders in years. With big perspex covers over my headlights it is almost impossible to know where to stick the beam benders even if I wanted to.

We do have spare bulbs, triangles, hi-viz vests and do carry all the vehicle documents. I've never been stopped or asked for any of them either.

But in England you aren't supposed to drive with your foglights on if it isn't foggy. Does everyone abide by this law? No. Does everyone who doesn't abide by this law get pulled over when driving past the police? No.

Foreign police aren't sat in groups outside the ferry terminal waiting for cars to pull off without a GB sticker so they can pull them and give them a fine. They have better things to do, like our own police forces do, than to pull someone over because of a trivial infringement like that. If on the other hand, you are caught speeding across France and they pull you, realise you are British and don't have a GB sticker, I'm sure they'd happily throw a little extra on your fine.

agrinnall

If you wear glasses to drive then I believe in France you are required to carry a spare pair.

Iceweasel

agrinnall wrote: »

If you wear glasses to drive then I believe in France you are required to carry a spare pair.

Yes - and in Spain and Switzerland too.

That also applies if you are a contact lens wearer.

We haven't mentioned children yet - so .......

Children in the front seat

Children under ten can’t sit in the front seat in France, unless all the other rear seats are already occupied by children, there are no rear seats or there are no rear seat belts. Children up to 10 must also be seated in a child seat or child restraint.

The same goes for children up to the age of 12 and measuring less than 135cm tall in Spain.

In Germany it’s prohibited to use a child seat in the front seat if the airbag has not been deactivated. Those under 12 and measuring less than 150cm must be seated in a child seat or use a child restraint.

It's all so complicated isn't it - all these nasty foreign rules - perhaps it's easier to say in the UK.;)