Driving in Europe
- Thread starter Dave Potts
- Start date
We stopped there for three nights last time we were in the T6 in Spain. The site and location were fine -nice site and good walks.
Hi, lazy question here that some involved internet research would satisfy but why bother when I have you experts on tap! Driving through France to Barcelona in a couple of weeks and wondered what motoring regulations I need to comply with? I’ll suss out the COVID situation but just wondered what idiosyncrasies I need to get correct for driving in the EU (got insurance & roadside assistance covered).
Thanks in advance,
Ian
PS I remember in the 70’s painting yellow varnish on my dad’s Citroen Basalt headlights and sticking some black stripes on them to divert the beam. I was only a nipper and it was really windy so there ended up being more leaves and flies on them than yellow…
Thanks in advance,
Ian
PS I remember in the 70’s painting yellow varnish on my dad’s Citroen Basalt headlights and sticking some black stripes on them to divert the beam. I was only a nipper and it was really windy so there ended up being more leaves and flies on them than yellow…
Depends. Pick up the AA European driving pack, https://www.amazon.co.uk/AA-Travel-...52825908&sprefix=AA+Europe,aps,63&sr=8-3&th=1.
if you have LED headlights you can adjust them via some options in the settings menu.
if you have an old paper driving licence you will need to go to the post office and pick up an international driving licence.
look into toll roads - Emovis Tag UK
Plan your route with enough stops - look for Aires for overnight stays.
that’s a starter for 10.
if you have LED headlights you can adjust them via some options in the settings menu.
if you have an old paper driving licence you will need to go to the post office and pick up an international driving licence.
look into toll roads - Emovis Tag UK
Plan your route with enough stops - look for Aires for overnight stays.
that’s a starter for 10.
Yellow high viz, warning triangle, 2x disposable breathalyser (recommended), spare bulb kit.....UK sticker and first aid kit
Currently doing just that. Sat by a lavender field just east of Madrid as we speak.
We have:-
Insurance cert with Spanish & French translation, free from Aplan.
Original V5
Green flag European cover
Covid certs
Passports ( these are actually out of the 10 year age limit required by the EU, but still have over 6 months to run, so technically in-valid for travel to the EU. Came via Dover, no problem)
Fire extinguisher
Hi-viz vest, 1 per passenger
Warning triangle
First aid kit
No spare bulbs, our van is all LED
Driving licences
UK sticker on number plates.
In France, it’s illegal to have any kind of speed camera detectors or warning devices, this also applies to having speed camera POIs on your satnav.
The French have speed cameras everywhere & the speed limits can change without warning. The “national” speed limit is 80kmh, but some departments have kept the old 90kmh. Speed limits in towns and villages are generally 50kmh, but there won’t be a sign telling you this, you are expected to know!!
That said, since Brexit, the DVLA no longer share driver info with the EU, so if you do get flashed, chances are, nothing will come of it. You may still get caught in a roadside speed trap, & have to pay an on the spot fine though.
Autoroutes in France are expensive & we set the satnav to “Avoid Tolls”, this works very well.
Autovias in Spain are mostly free & excellent.
I’d recommend crossing the Pyrenees via Pau -Huesca via the N134. Visit Canfranc station.
Avoid Bayonne unless you want to sit in miles of lorries.
If I think of anything else I’ll post
You will also need the old green card cover (ask your insurance company for it - now white!), spare glasses if you wear them (for police stop, even though for past 10 years I have never been asked), yellow jackets for all passengers in case of breakdown. You cannot change your own tyre in Spain you must call out breakdown to do it and depending on which road you are on police will also come out to direct traffic.
Disposable breathalyser no longer required.
Copy of insurance for police (they will ask for it in Spain.
Unless you intend to drive during the dark hours, no light beam benders required.
Try ADAC for breakdown cover they are good, but I think is UK left EU they will only recover you to ports in France.
In a few weeks the heat in Barcelona will be in the 35/40C mark (today here in Murcia they are forecasting 33C (freak weather for the first time in 50 years) - your will need factor 50 if from the UK as burn time today without blocker is 12 minutes.........
If I think of any more will post again, but most of all ENJOY.
Disposable breathalyser no longer required.
Copy of insurance for police (they will ask for it in Spain.
Unless you intend to drive during the dark hours, no light beam benders required.
Try ADAC for breakdown cover they are good, but I think is UK left EU they will only recover you to ports in France.
In a few weeks the heat in Barcelona will be in the 35/40C mark (today here in Murcia they are forecasting 33C (freak weather for the first time in 50 years) - your will need factor 50 if from the UK as burn time today without blocker is 12 minutes.........
If I think of any more will post again, but most of all ENJOY.
Do Eurotunnel inspect your gas bottles before boarding ? Last few times I've been in the queue at Folkestone, they have checked the motorhomes in the queue in front of me ?
But seeing as they forced me to pay as a PV as opposed to a campervan, can I respectfully tell them to do one , politely?
But seeing as they forced me to pay as a PV as opposed to a campervan, can I respectfully tell them to do one , politely?
Agree
In Spain, I err on the side of caution and have a hi-viz for every available seat rather than number of people in the vehicle
The only inspection is that they are turned off / isolated. Unfortunately you can’t decline as the customs/safety check is not related to fare paid. Remember, these storm troopers are a bored lot and I wouldn’t give them an excuse to spanner you van to bits!
Sort of in that they ask you if it's switched off....... then they ask to look (if you stop them you don't get on!) but when I say look that is it you point at bottle!!! and they are happy (Covid has stopped them from touching it!!!!)
Is this true? I was trying to figure out what to do with my THQ headlights. Whilst I probably won't be driving in the dark, it might rain.
You can, there's no such rule in Spain or anywhere else in the world as far as I know. I think it's a rumour based on general advice to contact breakdown, emergency services etc. if you've in a hazardous position when it happens.
or a kilo of the finest Peruvian marching powder?!!!
I’m trying to find this info too. Thinking of randomly sticking some deflectors on so the box is ticked as I don’t intend to drive at night either (I did this for a mondeo I had with swivelling lights)
With the vast majority of cars having a setting now most won’t have stickers so I’m guessing they can’t stop everyone to check.
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