Driving to France on Monday Hints and tips please

[Sugarsugarahhoneyhoney]

As the title says we are driving to France on Monday for 3 weeks, I have never driven abroad before is it really hard? Does anyone have any tips?

It's easy. And I say that as someone who isn't keen on long drives. Are you going on Eurotunnel? You literally drive off the train and onto the motorway. It's too late now but the automatic tag to put in your windscreen for the tolls is really good - get one for next time. Have a bit of cash for back up for tolls. You need someone in the passenger seat to pay on their side. DH likes to change the speedometer on the car to km instead of miles so it's easier to check.

The French love roundabouts. Keep saying look left, look left, at every roundabout. The tolls aren’t cheap. Many French roads run close to the tolls and are free.

Have you got your fluorescent jackets, warning triangle and crit’air sticker (if needed)?

Remember that traffic from the right has priority. Turn off your speed camera warning on sat nav.

Its easier once you’ve negotiated your first roundabout.

Watch out for the 'priorité à droite' (sometimes indicated with a triangular sign - white background, red contour and big black × in the center), basically any road on your right potentially has priority over you (unless you see they have a give way or stop sign, or they have a line on the ground it's best to assume they have right of way.

Thank you all for the pointers you have been most helpful.

When going round a roundabout, indicate left if not taking first right.

The fast/slow lanes are opposite to us.

You can also pay the tolls with a card.

Services are called ‘Aires’ and are fairly regular.

some just have toilets and a picnic area - it’s usually fairly clear from the signage if they have food etc too

Cheapest place to buy fuel is usually supermarkets, small independent rural stations can be V expensive.

FWIW the 'priorité à droite' rule is definitely one to be aware of but practically it most usually only really comes into play in built up areas and if there are zero road markings or signage to indicate who does what.

The speed limit changes if it's raining. So 130 Km/h drops to 110 Km/h if it's raining, and even less if it's foggy.

Is the tag worth it? I’ve never had a queue paying. We go a few times a year, but the annual fee and €7 a month usage fee seems a bit steep?

I think a lot depends on your exposure to the peages and to some extent when you use them.

Long journey, holiday season, changeover day, doing hundreds of Km on one of the really busy routes such as the A6/A7 around Lyon or the A9 along the Med then it might be worth it….

If you’re traveling more off peak then I guess it’s personal choice as to whether it’s worth the fee to gain the odd minute or so by rolling through rather than stopping for a few seconds.

FWIW on our maybe weekly journeys to the nearby big city on the peage we stop and stick a card in the machine. OTOH the locals who use the same Autoroute for their daily commute use the tag.

We are driving over Tuesday. The driving is lovely, I only realised yesterday that the Crit'air tag lasts for the lifetime of the vehicle. (Thank you trip advisor)

Remember to drive on the right. This may seem obvious, but it's easy to forget, especially when coming out of a petrol station or car park or side road with no other cars visible.

In the mid-60s my Mum had an accident in our road when someone who had just spent 6 weeks in France came round a corner on the wrong side of the road. He had just got completely used to being on the right.

We used to spend a lot of time driving between Europe and the UK. We developed a routine: Whenever moving off, the front-seat passenger (and sometimes DC) would say "Drive on the..." and the driver had to answer "right" (or left, if we were in the UK).

If you are not in a hurry, avoid the motorways, which are expensive and boring.

Everywhere in France has cheap motels (where you can check in at 11pm at a machine) and a McDonald's on the edge of town. The French absolutely love "McDo". Even if you never eat there, it's a good place to pull over, grab a coffee, and use the loo. Buffalo Grill is a super-cheap chain for steak and chips.

Do you still have to do something to your headlights when driving in France, or is that outdated now?

Also, check carefully when you're driving in towns - don't get caught out by a 'residents' only' zone, or other restrictions. And check whether bigger towns/cities have anything like ULEZ.

Buy a blue time card for parking, some little towns require them on some small car parks. - we didn’t know and received a fine recently, just read that there was a time limit but not that you need a pass / clock to say what time you arrived.

google blue parking France and Amazon sell the pass you need for about £8

It's good fun, but do your homework first.

Do you have European Breakdown cover?
Take your vehicle registration document and insurance docs with you in case you need to produce them
Legally you must carry high-vis vest for every passenger (in case you breakdown on the motorway and have to exit the car), warning triangle, and fire extinguisher.
If you are going to travel a lot on the toll roads then do get a tag for the toll roads. It saves having to faff and you can usually get through tolls with out queuing. Since Brexit times it's harder to find one which works with our UK bank accounts but this one does- you only pay the standing charge for the months you use it - and you just get a bill at the end of the month (it can be a startlingly high amount but at least you know how much the tolls actually cost you). Try this link - you have time Emovis

Understand the rules of the road, speed limits are generally displayed - however in case of bad weather the limit is lower- i.e. on motorway it's usually 130kph, but if raining then 110 kph. There is lots of info on line.

If you have a newer car then not so much. We looked into it and it's impossible to adjust our headlamps and the stickers wouldn't work so we just left it. Mostly drove during daylight hours so not really an issue.

We did use to buy some stickers which would stop headlamps dazzling oncoming drivers so check which model of car you have and whether they'd work.

The hi-vis jackets for each person travelling must be inside the car with you, NOT stowed in the boot.

Michelin maps are worth getting (or the free Via Michelin app). Green edged roads on the Michelin maps are scenic drives - well worth doing.

The Via Michelin app also gives fuel prices on the route and ideas for scenic stops - and gives toll-free and lower emissions routes.

It helps if your passenger is a driver - as they will have the best view for overtakes if you are driving a RHD car on the continent.

In my experience, often D-roads are quieter than the N-roads (both free) which carry more truck traffic. Autoroutes are good for covering long distances but not so interesting to drive (and tolls mount up). The toll tags do save time - there are some available that you do not have to pay a monthly fee for.

My only tip - make sure you get your car check out before going, and arrange some kind of recovery cover. My friends just came back from driving in Europe, had a nightmare with car breaking down - having to pay over a grand for the recovery to get it back to UK.

Be aware that the speed limit on single carriageway roads is 80km/h (50 mp/h) - it was lowered from 90/60 a few years ago, so do be vigilant.

Just think the driver hugs the kerb and you'll be fine

Assuming the limit 80 km/h is safe but just to add to the fun and games some departements have reverted to 90 km/h…🙄

There’s a list of embedded in this article here..we are still one of the 80 😡

https://media.roole.fr/quotidien/au-volant/retour-de-la-limitation-a-90-km-h-votre-departement-est-il-concerne#

Hadn't realised that @notimagain - thank you for the update, but talk about confusing!! Might explain why locals are itching to get past us!!

The also drive appalling compared to UK roads… to overtake its right at the last minute when they are practically drive bumper to bumper with you….Also it’s common if someone wants to come past you( saw you are in the fast lane) for them to drive literally as close as they can get and flash you till you move over.

also went coming onto a motorway from a road , Aire etc no one gives way like they do here… it’s a free for all and hope for the best.