Driving in France - what do we need?

[PiedWagtail]

Seem to remember we need a GB sign and a warning triangle. Is there anything else, from a legal point of view? What about stickers for our headlights - do you still need those? Do we need to take driving licences and insurance paperwork? tia! :)

a car

I think you need hi-vis jackets , I seem to remember we got a full list from the AA website?

You need the stickers for your headlights, a spare bulb kit, a hi-vis jacket that must be inside the car not the boot.

We took a folder with the V5, insurance certificate, MOT certificate, paper part of our licences and breakdown cover information.

We bought a car kit from the AA, I think it was reduced and we got a free european map book too which had everything in it that we needed.

Add to the above a warning triangle and as of June I think you also have to have 2 disposable alcotests. For real!

We got hi vis jackets for the kids from ikea.

You are also supposed to have a spare set of bulbs.

Wow, thanks all!! Hadn't realised any of this. Hi-vis jackets?? And breathalysers?? Why??

Oh yes, the breathalysers is a new one for this year isn't it? We got a family pack of hi-vis jackets from the AA and they are great actually - I would definitely use them in a breakdown situation in the UK too. You have to keep them in the car though, so you can put them on straight away before you get out - it's no good if they're in the boot with all the other junk

Breathalysers rule applies from 1st July (but no fines for not having one till November)

Definitive list here.

Also we have a telepeage doodah in the car. You pay something like £10 up front, and then you can go through the express lane at all the tolls. The fee is charged to your credit card. We have saved hours not queuing.

Don't forget, if you have a gps, you have to disable the speed camera warnings. It's an immediate fine. If your gps is fairly new, you are allowed to download and be warned about 'danger zones' - which includes speed cameras/fixed radars. Sarkozy is very anti-driver!!

We bought our gps 3 years ago, and can't get this type of update for it - so much for paying for lifetime updates.

if you have a child under 15months old they HAVE to be rear facing

Thanks for all this info! Does anyone know about car regulations for driving in Spain?

Nannyl - really? I've never heard of that, and we've been stopped by French police/customs for a random search with our 12 month old facing forwards.

AA's guides are always good -

Country Index

Spain info

Ali was it DS2? He is a chunk like my DS, isn't he? I got checked by a gendarme the other day (random check, I wasn't naughty) and he saw DS still RF, asked how old he was and said something along the lines of 'good think he only had another couple of months or he'll be too big'. French ignorance of ERF aside some are well up on the new rule. That said they won't demand to see a Birth Cert for a 1yo who might be a small 15mo, but they will tell you off for a 9mo who is obviously under.

Frak - yes it was! He is a chunk, he is almost 2 stone...

I feel your pain. We just passed the 2 stone mark and he's wearing 2-3yo clothes