Driving a Hire Car in France - anyone?

[Radi0Star]

I've only ever driven hire cars in Spain, and have just booked a hire car to drive in France next month. I know rules are particularly stringent in France so just wanted to check a few things as I'm sure there are Mumsnetters who drive hire cars in France regularly!

• the high-vis vest and other items required in the boot of the car - I assume the hire company will provide all of these and we won't have to bring them from the UK? Is this correct?
• Since UK Brexited re any other documents required besides photo card driving license, passport and credit card?
• Anything else I should be aware of?

Thank you!

Yes, the high vis etc will be in the boot. There are ULEZ zones in some cities so hopefully your hire car will have a Crit'Air sticker but you need to check rules if you're planning on driving into a city. Ideally have a passenger to do the autoroute tolls.

The Hi-vis shouldn't be in the boot. Needs to be inside the car with the driver.

Check re the high viz and warning triangle before you drive away! We have had to buy both when we discovered they weren't in the car. Now we always check. You need a high viz for everyone in the car.
Check whether you still need a breathaliser kit.
Always stop for 5 seconds at a stop sign. You can be fined on the spot if you don't. The police hide out of sight and it is 60 Euros.
Check your tyre pressures. The airlines in petrol stations are locked up at weekends, even if the petrol station is open.

Inside the passenger compartment that means.

Also a minimum of one must be carried, but anyone standing outside the car on a hard shoulder for instance must wear one as well.

They are very strict with their speed limits! Once we were there for 5 days and came back to 4 driving tickets 😓
According to the letters DH had exceeded the speed limits by less than 5km each time. We were taken by surprise as usually on British roads the speed cameras are only triggered when you go over by about 10mph.

Hi Vis must be accessible for everyone before you set foot out of the car. We keep ours in the glove box.
Not sure what the rules are on breathalysers now, we've always taken our own.

If you need glasses for driving, you must have a spare pair with you in the car

Oh gosh - this is a lot! I might check with the Hire Co to see which items they provide...

Not sure what the rules are on breathalysers now, we've always taken our own.

Abolished completely now I think but although there was a legal requirement previously there was no punishment anyway.

We hired a car in France last summer and had to provide our own hi vis / warning triangle / spare bulbs. I think I bought a pack off Amazon. Think breathalysers are recommended but not required these days.