Taking the car to Disneyland Paris

shellyd_3

I want to take the car to DLP, but have not drove in France before. Do I have to do anything special to the lights? I have a Zafira.
Do I also have to tell my insurance co. and is this going to cost me more money? Do I have to have European breakdown cover? I am with the AA at the moment.
Sorry about all the questions but have only been on eurostar in the passed and want to do is as cheep as possible, all the extra amounts could start to add up.

Lastly what is the drive at the other side like, and do I need to know anything else?

Thank-you

Michelle

bargainaholic

On a RHD car the headlights are set up so they don't dazzle oncoming traffic when you're driving on the left. When you start driving on the right, obviously your lights are more likely to dazzle than a LHD car. You can buy stickers to go over your lights from Halfords etc., but how much driving in the dark are you really likely to do? We have a set of stickers that we bought way back, & have never used, but we take them in the glovebox every time we go - just in case. Perhaps if you keep the receipt...

You will have to tell your insurance company - they may or may not charge - it depnds on your policy. We're with Norwich Union Direct, & I think we had to pay about £20, but we were covered for a year.

You're not legally obliged to tell your Recovery Agents, but do you want to run the risk of breaking down & not being covered. From memory, I think had international roaming for free with the RAC, but don't quote me on it.

I believe that in France it is a legal requirement to carry spare petrol, check this out on the AA website or similar, & if so make sure your cases leave enough room for a can.

Driving on the other side is OK after the first few miles. When you first come off the train each time, you have to think about which way to go around the roundabouts etc, but I've always settled into quite quickly, & have to think about how to drive on this side again when I get home. Make sure you've got a clear view out of your passenger side rear window, because you'll need to check out of that one when changing lanes on the motorways, as your mirror will leave a blindspot for people coming past you.

I hope I've helped - happy holidays

lyndsaywarner

we drove to davy crocketts ranch last november, great journey (apart form seacat crossing!!!).

We had to inform our insurance company and pay about £20 to upgarde the policy to european cover, we also had to upgrade our green flag recovery to european cover about £13 I think.

I don't think you have to carry spare petrol, but you do have to have the following

spare set of headlamp bulbs
warning triangle
first aid kit
headlamp converters (about £6 from halfords easy to understand instructions!!)

Stopping at stop signs is very very compulsory even if nothing is coming (I know this is hte same in the UK but the french police are very hot on it!!!)

Ithink this is all we did, have a great time it is excellent fun

lyndsaywarner

sorry just thought of something else

it is compulsory to display an eu or gb sticker, our car is an 03 and our number plates have an eu symbol on them already

spuckle

lyndsaywarner wrote:

sorry just thought of something else

it is compulsory to display an eu or gb sticker, our car is an 03 and our number plates have an eu symbol on them already

If it has the letters "GB" on the plate, then you're ok. Otherwise you'll need a GB sticker.

shellyd_3

thany-you for the advice, I thought the headlights would only be a problem if night driving(we aren't) but wondered if the police would do anything if we didn't have them converted or the stickers in place. I will check out the petrol (diesel in my case) on the AA site. the GB shouldn't be a problem as it is on the plate. So just have to price breakdown cover, and buy the other required bits.

thanks again

michelle