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[Nick W]

Chris you have three options

1. DONT GO..

2. Take the train.

3. SAME AS NUMBER 1.

There is option 4:


4. Do whatever the hell you want.    This could be titled "the French Option"

[TheBoy]

Need to adjust headlights, as per the glovebox literature User Manual (little levers behind the full beam rubbers).

1st aid kit is "highly recommended", which means jumped up little gendarme will want to do a prostrate check if you lack one.

I believe you have everything you need, except the breatherlysers (which have to be compliant with a certain spec)

[TheBoy]

Chris you have three options

1. DONT GO..

2. Take the train.

3. SAME AS NUMBER 1.

Only if you take half a tonne of semtex to educate the lying, thieving bastards. Did I mention they are a bunch of lying, thieving scumbags?

[Entwood]

Breathalysers are available in UK at around £5:00 for 2 .. but watch out for expiry dates and if they actually meet french specs.

In France they are around 1 euro each ... if you can find them. Leclercs did stock them but had a problem with an incorrectly dated batch so withdrew them. Intermarche do not stock them. Some pharmacies may stock them.

They are called "alcotest" and in hypermarkets may be found on the car accessory stands .. along with the airfreshners and oils ..

In  2 weeks of looking we never found anywhere actually selling them, and the french folk on the camp site said they did not carry them !!

[duggs]

Thank you for this post !  Remind me NOT to visit France any time soon....what a farce !

[feeutfo]

Well yes, it is a farce. Could quite easily have a car full of crap before we've loaded up. And an empty bank account before we've even got off the drive.

Although it might wake up a few BMW drivers with an ounce of practicality.  ...actually no. Who am I kidding.

[Lazydocker]

Chris you have three options

1. DONT GO..

2. Take the train.

3. SAME AS NUMBER 1.

Only if you take half a tonne of semtex to educate the lying, thieving bastards. Did I mention they are a bunch of lying, thieving scumbags?

You also forgot to add, as long as your car doesn't run on LPG as they don't allow LPG powered vehicles but you can take a cylinder in a pikey van through

[cam2502]

Christ. Do I have to sing the French national anthem at the road side too? 

 

[mantahatch]

Chris, somebody told me yesterday (a doctor no less!) that you need 2 triangles. Haven't checked whether that's right.

Only if towing. One is all you need if solo.

Also, you must carry all your documents in the car at all times, V5C, MOT, Insurance, Licence. It is also advisable to carry an international accident report form, they used to be free from Insurers but you can download one here ...

http://www.accidentsketch.com/accident-report.html

If stopped do NOT argue with Gendarmes, they are the most miserable and self-opinionated bunch of SOB's you'll ever meet, and will take great pleasure in making your life a misery. Smile, be nice, and just do as they say.

Def agree with that and would add if you get on the spot fine pay by card, under no circumstances offer CASH, If you pay by cash it generally ends up in there pockets.

[Lazydocker]

Oh... Another point. Inform your insurance company if needed. Some only provide 3rd party cover unless you have informed them

[henryd]

Oh... Another point. Inform your insurance company if needed. Some only provide 3rd party cover unless you have informed them

good point,my traders policy is like that

[Lazydocker]

Oh... Another point. Inform your insurance company if needed. Some only provide 3rd party cover unless you have informed them

good point,my traders policy is like that

As is mine But I remember that a lot of insurance companies started making European cover an option as an excuse to reduce the headline premiums but get more money out of others

[omegod]

Dont forget " Le spare Crank Sensor" if it's V6

[TheBoy]

Chris you have three options

1. DONT GO..

2. Take the train.

3. SAME AS NUMBER 1.

Only if you take half a tonne of semtex to educate the lying, thieving bastards. Did I mention they are a bunch of lying, thieving scumbags?

You also forgot to add, as long as your car doesn't run on LPG as they don't allow LPG powered vehicles but you can take a cylinder in a pikey van through

I was thining of donating the TBE to the cause, if only I could find a way for it to combust about 12m from Folkestone.

[kingycos2]

I take my miggy to France 4 or 5 times a year, i take the following:

Hi-vis vests, 4 of, put them behind the front seats
Warning triangle
First aid
Spare bulb kit
Breathalyser pack
All in the boot. Never had any trouble, just stick to speed limits. Defo check your insurance, I had to pay extra on my LV policy to drive abroad, don't forget breakdown cover too