Quick word on peages: Look at signs above the lanes as you approach. Some lanes are reserved for vehicles with "badges" mounted on windscreen, and you can`t pay on them with card or cash (orange "t" symbol). Many are now automated and accept cash or cards, but not all cards, not "visa electron" or some debit cards.
Check list for long trip to the south of France
- Thread starter Jay-4.6HSE
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Also speed traps: as Dibbles says there are many mobile ones, hand held, car mounted, on bridges etc. If as a visitor you cannot attend court you will have to pay a deposit against any fine a court may impose. The gendarme or police will take cash from you at the roadside. If you don`t have enough they will be very nice and give yiu an escort to the nearest "hole in the wall". The deposit will miraculously be the same as the fine!
Spain: I`ve seen speed traps hidden beside old cars at roadside with bonnet up, as if broken-down. There is also a system where an un-marked car drives a little under the speed limit; a car overtaking it too fast is photo-ed; then a little further in front a marked car will stop the speeder when he catches up.
Also in most (all?) euro countries if you`re being pulled the police will overtake & stop from in front; not from behind as in UK.
P.S. Also rememberthat speed limits on autoroutes drop from 130km/hr to 110km/hr when road is wet.
Spain: I`ve seen speed traps hidden beside old cars at roadside with bonnet up, as if broken-down. There is also a system where an un-marked car drives a little under the speed limit; a car overtaking it too fast is photo-ed; then a little further in front a marked car will stop the speeder when he catches up.
Also in most (all?) euro countries if you`re being pulled the police will overtake & stop from in front; not from behind as in UK.
P.S. Also rememberthat speed limits on autoroutes drop from 130km/hr to 110km/hr when road is wet.
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Datatek
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Not sure if it's correct, but I have just been told you have to carry 2 warning triangles if you are towing a caravan or trailer. Bloody Eurocrats got nothing better to do than think up new rules, still I suppose it keeps the Chinese in business!
Datatek
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Make sure you have enough Euro's in cash as some of the lanes marked CB and automated Peages still will not accept UK Debit/Credit cards
Bloody embarrasing when you are stuck at the front of a long queue with no means of paying.
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Knew an old bloke once who toured France and Europe in general quite often in the 40s. Always said France and Germany look a lot better through a bomb site.
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rasheed
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:hysterically_laughi
oh by the way, for your checklist:
1. Hertz
2. Europcar
3. Avis
4. Sixt
get the idea? cos for all the spendin and worryin you'll be doing and in a forign language and overseas, an online search will find you a good rental deal and then its their problem if something f's up.
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Datatek
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Most of them won't let you take a rental car out of the country and it don't help with the peages
rasheed
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They do but there might be a fee. Or they arrange a swap at the ferry. To be fair I was thinking of a rental once over there when I wrote that. Agree that it would be a pain to shift all your stuff and no, doesn't help with les peages. On the other hand, the vests, the bulbs, the triangles, and all the mechanical checks are taken care of as well as recovery in case of a problem. Usually you just pick up a replacement car and are on you're merry way while they sort out what went wrong in the first one. Beats spending half your holiday waiting for lift and then haggling in a garage or waiting for parts somewhere while the rest of your party fume.
spanishlair
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A spare can of fuel. Just done the drive from UK to Spain in a 4.6. Unless your on a motorway you need a French credit card most of the time ( some big town stations take Visa). Most non motorway stations are not 24 hour and you have to have a French card to pay. Make sure you top the tank off on Saturday night if you have any plans for the Sunday as its the French card or nothing on Sundays. If you go across into Spain watch out for the habit they have of building super roads and not bothering to put a petrol station for 100 miles.
Datatek
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I live in France and I can tell you that almost all of the supermarket filling stations now take UK credit cards and they usually have pumps operational 24/7, many independant filling stations also accept UK cards.
magictiny
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I have only had a couple of stations reject my visa or mastercard
richwp
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We're currently in France en-route back towards Calais and the UK. Been here now for over 2 weeks.
The usual stuff applies - spare bulbs, warning triangle (2 if your towing a caravan!), hi-viz vests for all in the car (must be kept in the car). We've had no problem getting petrol or LPG in France - all on a UK card. If you're on LPG, you do need to fill up when the stations are open rather than rely on the 24hr option where you use your card at the pump as LPG pumps tend not to have this option.
We've covered over 2,600 miles so far - the only problem has been a failed tail light bulb (replaced from the spare bulb kit). It's always good to know that there are a number of people on here who live in France and who, I found, were ready to offer any help if needed.
Carry all that you're supposed to, stick to the speed limits and you'll have a great time. The roads out here are great - very little traffic compared to the UK, and very few potholes. The French seem to be impressed with the RR - some very admiring looks wherever we've been. Have a great time
The usual stuff applies - spare bulbs, warning triangle (2 if your towing a caravan!), hi-viz vests for all in the car (must be kept in the car). We've had no problem getting petrol or LPG in France - all on a UK card. If you're on LPG, you do need to fill up when the stations are open rather than rely on the 24hr option where you use your card at the pump as LPG pumps tend not to have this option.
We've covered over 2,600 miles so far - the only problem has been a failed tail light bulb (replaced from the spare bulb kit). It's always good to know that there are a number of people on here who live in France and who, I found, were ready to offer any help if needed.
Carry all that you're supposed to, stick to the speed limits and you'll have a great time. The roads out here are great - very little traffic compared to the UK, and very few potholes. The French seem to be impressed with the RR - some very admiring looks wherever we've been. Have a great time
