First time ever holidaying in France and driving what do I need to know or do, buy???

[Dickorydockwhatthe]

So far I’ve brought speedoes for ds and dh. Do I have to notify my car insurance?? I am currently with Tesco Bank and have AA breakdown but not sure if this covers me abroad. I feel totally unprepared for this trip help!!

You need to read your insurance documents and roadside assistance to see what it covers as each policy is different. Insurance is often 30 days euro cover but assistance varies with policies.

Never been to a speedos only site yet either despite it being apparently common. Sat in my normal board shorts by the pool at this moment whilst the kids are in the pools in theirs

Believe you need a proper breakdown kit with warning triangle etc

You will need a high viz jacket and 2(?) breathalizer kits, as well as the warning triangle.

Breathalyser kit x 2 ?

As well as insurance & breakdown - what are the driving laws in France? Don't assume everything is the same here. Google for "driving in France" and there's a few websites covering speed limits, use of mobile phones, drink driving limits etc
Ignorance of the law will not be a defence.

And, great you've got the menfolk swim shorts .... do you need packing advice for the rest?!

www.greenflag.com/driving-in-europe/driving-advice/driving-in-france

Here you go - a few things you need for the car

In addition to the warning triangle, you need a fluorescent yellow jacket.

You also need to be aware of the priorité à droite / priority to the right rule.

You will need to extend your breakdown cover to cover Europe. We did a month ago for our trip to France. Good job we did as we needed to call someone out as had a problem with one of the tyres 😏

You need high viz jackets for every passenger

You need a high viz jacket for every occupant of the car. Put it in your door so if you were to be stopped by police, you can put it on before getting out of the car (or you can be fined for not wearing one on the side of the road - happened to friends of ours!)

You need to have your car registration docs and your insurance certificate with you. Check if you are covered for European breakdown cover (we had to pay extra for it).

You have to have a first aid kit in the car, a warning triangle, high viz for all and technically 2 breathalysers although I think that has changed and you aren't breaking the law if you don't have them. You also have to have the things on your lights that stop the dipped beam going into the other drivers eyes, and a visible GB sticker....

If you are using the motorways I'd really recommend the 'bip and go' toll thingy.. Its fabulous just driving through the peage queues.....

Have fun. And obey the speed limits, esp within 50kms of Calais. I swear the gendarmes sit there waiting to fine Brits racing home!

Don't forget an E111 card for each family member for health cover if anyone becomes ill.

Re the breathalysers, the law has changed. You "have" to have one but at the same time they can't fine you if you don't .

If you wear glasses you need to bring a spare pair.
Also the deflectors (not sure of actual name) for the headlights especially if planning to drive at night
GB sticker

Priorité à droite - ne careful with that when driving through villages. So many accidents involving foreigners- and French of course. If you have the misfortune to be seen not observing the give way, you will be fined on the spot.

You can get a sticker for the windscreen as a reminder of how to do roundabouts

The drink driving limit is lower - NOT that anyone should be thinking of drinking and driving, but still.

Are you going through eurotunnel? You can buy last minute driving stuff at the terminal. We got our holiday insurance and breakdown cover with them when I booked the journey. In the past we have just added it to our existing rac cover. I've never heard about having spare glasses and ds/dh have been fine with their baggy swimming shorts for the last 5 years Driving is actually easier in France as roads tend to be quieter. Our best recent thing has been a toll tag to fit on to our car windscreen so we can go to the automatic gates on the autoroute instead of faffing with tickets/cash. So convenient!

The speed limit on the "départementales" (major roads in English?) has recently come down from 90 to 80 km/h

(Long time French resident here)

Take your EHIC cards but ensure you also have adequate insurance to cover for eg repatriation or emergency transport in the event of an accident. (Ambulances are not necessarily free in France).

You don't really need breathalyser kits: the law was never fully implemented. You are supposed to have them but there is no legal sanction available for not having them. We don't bother, they go out of date quite fast.

You do need a yellow vest and a warning triangle for your car. It's also recommended to carry some spare bulbs, cars here always come with these.

Remember that on single carriageway roads the speed limit is now 80 kmph, not 90.

If you avoid driving in old town centres you will probably avoid coming across the priorité à droite rule (don't worry too much about it).

Not yet widely enforced but it now illegal to eat or drink at the wheel, as well as using a phone of course.

Swimming costume rules vary from place to place. We have found that unguarded campsite and hotel pools (outdoor) often tolerate beach wear. Take both sorts and also caps if you think you might swim at an indoor pool.

Carry photo ID documents everywhere.

Highly recommend bip 'n' go for péage especially if travelling at busy times (Fridays and weekends especially). But not strictly necessary.

Check your insurance, usually covers eu wide - print out your policy and carry in the glove compartment. Your aa won't cover Europe unless specified, but they will add on for a fee. You need to carry extra items by law including a red warning triangle, spare headlight bulbs and a breathilizer kit - go to a car store to pick up, plus you must have a gb sticker.

Take a few essentials if you are self catering eg tea bags but the supermarkets are excellent and similarly priced (unless you want to buy special "English food" of course" Speedo's you knew about, take towels unless your accommodation explicitly states they are included (previous post was complaining about that). Oh and we take cans of fizzy drinks because they are expensive in France, plus crisps etc for the journey, and I keep my breadknife and chopping board under the passenger seat - ideal for lunchtime, I just nip in a supermarket whilst refuelling and pick up an impromptu picnic

Wow thanks for the advice so many things I didn’t think about love the sticker for the roundabouts, not too sure on the give way to right rule so will google that and also the toll tag. Where can I get that to??

You need a clean air certificate thing for your car if your drive through certain cities as well

www.certificat-air.gouv.fr/en/

Give way to the right you will notice in certain villages, there aren’t many of them and you will have plenty of notice

The speed limits change in case of bad weather, not just recommended that you drive more slowly but the legal limit changes.

The priorité à droite rule depend on where you are. We are in Normandy and priorité à droite is everywhere on our country lanes. It is also on pretty much every junction in our local town. You need to look out for the St Andrew's cross on a road sign. We get a lot of Brits on holiday and see near misses every year. Apart from that as another long term resident I agree completely with @Mistigri. 😀