FabSwingers.com forum: UK to France (holidaying)

By *evaquit OP Couple
over a year ago

Catthorpe

Everything we need to know, any help appreciated.

Okay. Holiday booked, ferry sorted using our own car and both jabbed up to the max, previously travelled this way before brexit and covid, so what's different now, what do we need to know?

An unashamedly quick fire thread but any info., would be absolutely appreciated as a little lost just now.

Thanks in advance xxxxx

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By *xposedInTheSunCouple
over a year ago

Cambridgeshire

I think you are meant to have a UK sticker on your car, rather than the old GB.

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By *kiBum_SnowQueenCouple
over a year ago

Swindon ish

Really easy. Download your covid passport as you will need this. Need uk instead of GB markings. Some modes of travel need locator forms filling in. These are digital.

We are in France atm.

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By *rightonfranceMan
over a year ago

brighton - chalais france

dont forget they drive on the wrong side of the road, and any road that goes faster than 80kmh or 50 mph will cost you a toll. tolls aint cheap.. neither is fuel currently at nearly 2 euros a litre

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By *orkcoastguyMan
over a year ago

Bridlington.

"I think you are meant to have a UK sticker on your car, rather than the old GB."

Why?

Aren't we still Great Britain, it is a geographical entity.

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By *orkcoastguyMan
over a year ago

Bridlington.

"I think you are meant to have a UK sticker on your car, rather than the old GB."

Why?

Aren't we still Great Britain, it is a geographical entity.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"I think you are meant to have a UK sticker on your car, rather than the old GB.

Why?

Aren't we still Great Britain, it is a geographical entity."

Not sure which side decided to change it but after Brexit it changed to U.K. (Macron probably doesn’t think we are “great”)

Don’t forget your yellow vests and breakdown kit has to be reachable from within the car.

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By *elly39devonCouple
over a year ago

tavistock

we were puzzled by the UK thing but have decided poor northern ireland is still in EU by their reckoning

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By *istalloverCouple
over a year ago

Pays de la Loire -Normandie -Brittany borderFrance

Firstly avoid super u stores

Decent red ,rose and white for 2 euro per bottle or 9 euro for the 3 litre box for the professional.

Too addictive.

Remember everybody drives on the wrong side of the road

Most non tourist places close 12 till 2 and Sundays

Enjoy your hols

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By *iquidsilkCouple
over a year ago

Fife

GB excludes NI whereas UK includes NI.

As well as your yellow vests (for each person), don't forget your reflective warning triangle.

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By *aelic funMan
over a year ago

Carlisle Dumfries France

The decision to change from GB came from Boris - the first the French heard about it was when the UK/GB notified the UN of the change

It’s unlikely France will bother too much and certainly all the UK cars I’ve seen here since October have almost all be GB plated

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By *coptoCouple
over a year ago

Côte d'Azur & Great Yarmouth

“Not sure which side decided to change it but after Brexit it changed to U.K. (Macron probably doesn’t think we are “great”)”

Nothing to do with BREXIT per se, the EU, or even less to do with with Macron, the UK Government decided that in its usual tit-for-tat stupidity that as we were obliged to remove the EU stars from our number plates when travelling abroad, from 1 September 2021 “we’d show ‘em” by changing our vehicle identifier from GB to UK.

Utter BS, the international identifier for our nationality remains GBR (look at your passport) and for our currency GBP (look at any financial document). Or are we gonna “regain our sovereignty” by trying to change them too?

Last time I went to Wilco they didn’t yet have any magnetic UK stickers, I printed “UK” on paper and stuck it on my existing one and covered it with plastic. I’m pretty low-tech though, my headlights are modified with bits of white Fablon cut to shape.

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By *airyjMan
over a year ago

dumfries and 24 in France

Well said and explained. It was the usual brexiteer bullshit.

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By *xposedInTheSunCouple
over a year ago

Cambridgeshire

I'd imagine that 99.9% of the police have better things to do than pull over cars just because they still have GB on the back.

If they want to pull you over for some other reason, it does give them an excuse however.

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By *ebjonnsonMan
over a year ago

Maldon

"GB excludes NI whereas UK includes NI.

As well as your yellow vests (for each person), don't forget your reflective warning triangle."

Also need to carry:

Breathalysers

Pregnancy test kits

COVID tests

Condoms - the French have some hot & horny policewomen that get very turned on at the sight of an Englishman driving in his shorts & sandals.

Stay safe out there.

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By *rightonfranceMan
over a year ago

brighton - chalais france

"GB excludes NI whereas UK includes NI.

As well as your yellow vests (for each person), don't forget your reflective warning triangle.

Also need to carry:

Breathalysers

Pregnancy test kits

COVID tests

Condoms - the French have some hot & horny policewomen that get very turned on at the sight of an Englishman driving in his shorts & sandals.

Stay safe out there."

isnt it an englishman with his sandals and socks.. lol

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By *ebjonnsonMan
over a year ago

Maldon

"GB excludes NI whereas UK includes NI.

As well as your yellow vests (for each person), don't forget your reflective warning triangle.

Also need to carry:

Breathalysers

Pregnancy test kits

COVID tests

Condoms - the French have some hot & horny policewomen that get very turned on at the sight of an Englishman driving in his shorts & sandals.

Stay safe out there.

isnt it an englishman with his sandals and socks.. lol "

Sliders & socks seems to be the trend.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"GB excludes NI whereas UK includes NI.

As well as your yellow vests (for each person), don't forget your reflective warning triangle.

Also need to carry:

Breathalysers

Pregnancy test kits

COVID tests

Condoms - the French have some hot & horny policewomen that get very turned on at the sight of an Englishman driving in his shorts & sandals.

Stay safe out there.

isnt it an englishman with his sandals and socks.. lol

Sliders & socks seems to be the trend. "

You might be unaware but it’s illegal to drive in France in bare feet or with sandals that don’t have backs on them.

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By *ebjonnsonMan
over a year ago

Maldon

"GB excludes NI whereas UK includes NI.

As well as your yellow vests (for each person), don't forget your reflective warning triangle.

Also need to carry:

Breathalysers

Pregnancy test kits

COVID tests

Condoms - the French have some hot & horny policewomen that get very turned on at the sight of an Englishman driving in his shorts & sandals.

Stay safe out there.

isnt it an englishman with his sandals and socks.. lol

Sliders & socks seems to be the trend.

You might be unaware but it’s illegal to drive in France in bare feet or with sandals that don’t have backs on them.

What are you, a cop?

Rules are meant to be broken.

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By *xposedInTheSunCouple
over a year ago

Cambridgeshire

"Rules are meant to be broken. "

You may have been labouring under a misapprehension all your life...

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By *ebjonnsonMan
over a year ago

Maldon

"Rules are meant to be broken.

You may have been labouring under a misapprehension all your life..."

I thought that was the French way?

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By *asques and boxersCouple
over a year ago

Ashford and dept16

You can continue with the GB sticker but your number plate has to sport a Union Jack not a Euro star ring or a Welsh Dragon Scots blue and White Cross or St Georges White with Red Cross.

The yellow vest and breathalayser red trianagle easily accessable not buried.

Sworn statement available on French Website. No meat or dairy products no plants or vegatables that includes tea bags the list goes on welcome to travel after Brexit. "Didnt we do well" what do votes make an utter joke.

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By *evaquit OP Couple
over a year ago

Catthorpe

How about driving? Do I need any extra documentation? We used to have European insurance and that was it.

Thanks.

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By *asques and boxersCouple
over a year ago

Ashford and dept16

International driving license PO £5.00 and gren card YOUR INSURER FREE.

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By *asques and boxersCouple
over a year ago

Ashford and dept16

Whoops green card

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By *ere4fun200Man
over a year ago

Bewdley

Green cards have been not required for driving UK registered in France since last October.

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By *ere4fun200Man
over a year ago

Bewdley

Cars must also have a UK sticker (easily purchased online) not a GB sticker as this is no longer a recognised international driving symbol and if you have a plastic card driving licence you do not need an international driving permit, this is only required if you still have the old paper driving licence.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I noticed that a breathalyser has been mentioned on here as being required on France - that is not the case and has not been for a few years.

I run motorcycle tours for (mainly) UK clients and stopped advising them to carry this.

Triangle, spare bulbs (always a grey area with LED lights so we do not carry them on a motorcycle but I do in my car) plus the HiVis vests for each occupant are still required.

Green card or international driving licence is NOT required for France.

Your car insurance will cover France as a matter of course - but always worth checking!

Hope this helps.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"I noticed that a breathalyser has been mentioned on here as being required on France - that is not the case and has not been for a few years.

I run motorcycle tours for (mainly) UK clients and stopped advising them to carry this.

Triangle, spare bulbs (always a grey area with LED lights so we do not carry them on a motorcycle but I do in my car) plus the HiVis vests for each occupant are still required.

Green card or international driving licence is NOT required for France.

Your car insurance will cover France as a matter of course - but always worth checking!

Hope this helps."

Car insurance will often only cover you for 3rd party so you may need to arrange and pay for extra cover to be fully comp.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"I noticed that a breathalyser has been mentioned on here as being required on France - that is not the case and has not been for a few years.

I run motorcycle tours for (mainly) UK clients and stopped advising them to carry this.

Triangle, spare bulbs (always a grey area with LED lights so we do not carry them on a motorcycle but I do in my car) plus the HiVis vests for each occupant are still required.

Green card or international driving licence is NOT required for France.

Your car insurance will cover France as a matter of course - but always worth checking!

Hope this helps.

Car insurance will often only cover you for 3rd party so you may need to arrange and pay for extra cover to be fully comp."

Good point and worth checking -although I have never come across this with clients on our trips, I am sure that there will be some insurance policies which cut things to the bare minimum.

We also advise having a recovery service for the vehicle.

The AA or RAC are often good places to start when looking for this type of cover and will give you an idea of costs as well as up to date advice.

There are also plenty of other companies out there who may be able to offer better rates including your own credit card which may already cover you - worth checking.

Also worth augmenting the equivalent of EU health card with a medical insurance.

All good advice on this thread which will hopefully help those looking to travel here (to France) on their holidays.

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By *asques and boxersCouple
over a year ago

Ashford and dept16

Thats a result we return in Sept 2021

So wont need it going forward.

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By *ebjonnsonMan
over a year ago

Maldon

Don’t forget to ‘accidentally’ tuck a fifty Euro note to your licence in case you get stopped for speeding.

I like the system in some east European countries “you were speeding, look here is the evidence on my speed gun”. “No I wasn’t officer, your gun is faulty, here is 50 Euro to get it fixed”.

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By *ot Wife BeckyCouple
over a year ago

Near Bergerac

[Removed by poster at 16/03/22 15:14:51]

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By *ot Wife BeckyCouple
over a year ago

Near Bergerac

"Don’t forget to ‘accidentally’ tuck a fifty Euro note to your licence in case you get stopped for speeding.

I think that's a very dodgy thing to do.

I've never encountered anyone who has suggested that the Police here can be bought.

I reckon that ploy would likely incur a very negative reaction from the officer and potentially make things a lot worse...

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By *itygamesMan
over a year ago

Check out motoring organisations sites

The orange one beginning with R and the yellow with A

I think your supposed to take warning triangle . 2 self use breathalysers bla bla bla ...theres a list of things you need ..

Pre check ya not carrying anything in luggage or car thats not allowes on thw boat

Must dash..im late

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By *elly39devonCouple
over a year ago

tavistock

i also think that is a very silly suggestion, French police carry guns I dot think trying to bribe them would be a good plan

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By *evaquit OP Couple
over a year ago

Catthorpe

"Don’t forget to ‘accidentally’ tuck a fifty Euro note to your licence in case you get stopped for speeding.

I like the system in some east European countries “you were speeding, look here is the evidence on my speed gun”. “No I wasn’t officer, your gun is faulty, here is 50 Euro to get it fixed”."

I have the amendes.gouv app, paid a few fines in the past

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By *ebjonnsonMan
over a year ago

Maldon

"i also think that is a very silly suggestion, French police carry guns I dot think trying to bribe them would be a good plan"

Tongue in cheek?

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Check ferry companies website for info?

We're over in Bretagne for Easter

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By *elly39devonCouple
over a year ago

tavistock

i dont care if it was tongue in cheek, some would take it seriously

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By *ebjonnsonMan
over a year ago

Maldon

"i dont care if it was tongue in cheek, some would take it seriously"

Wow. What happened to a sense of humour?

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By *evaquit OP Couple
over a year ago

Catthorpe

"Green cards have been not required for driving UK registered in France since last October."

Okay, so do I need the international driving licence or not? I take it the green card is unnecessary? Thanks.

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By *owel CoupleCouple
over a year ago

Living in South of France

"Green cards have been not required for driving UK registered in France since last October.

Okay, so do I need the international driving licence or not? I take it the green card is unnecessary? Thanks."

You don’t need either at the moment. However, if Article 16 gets invoked, check again.

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By *kijetCouple
over a year ago

bristol

"The decision to change from GB came from Boris - the first the French heard about it was when the UK/GB notified the UN of the change

It’s unlikely France will bother too much and certainly all the UK cars I’ve seen here since October have almost all be GB plated"

You talk Bollocks wish we could post photos of all the car out here for the Easter Holidays in the 3 Valleys with the horrible Big UK sticker. Fuck all of you twats that voted Brexit. And they are pulling them in for not displaying them

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By *asques and boxersCouple
over a year ago

Ashford and dept16

Cheers for the info update got ours s

Straight after the B-Day still better safe than sorry.

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By *evaquit OP Couple
over a year ago

Catthorpe

"The decision to change from GB came from Boris - the first the French heard about it was when the UK/GB notified the UN of the change

It’s unlikely France will bother too much and certainly all the UK cars I’ve seen here since October have almost all be GB plated

Lol.

Yes there are lots of cars with the UK sticker on including ours, only seen one car with the GB on so far.

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By *evaquit OP Couple
over a year ago

Catthorpe

"Green cards have been not required for driving UK registered in France since last October.

Okay, so do I need the international driving licence or not? I take it the green card is unnecessary? Thanks.

You don’t need either at the moment. However, if Article 16 gets invoked, check again."

Thanks

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Blame Boris. Our Government have made the change to UK rather than GB branding and insist that we change the identifier on our cars

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Think you need to upgrade your insurance if you want fully completed as I think it’s only 3rd party included

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

If you’re going into Paris between 8am and 8pm or Grenoble or Lyon sometimes! Then you need a crit air sticker it’s only 3.60 euro online petrol cars 1st jan 2006 and newer qualify older cars don’t. Diesels have to be newer

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By *evaquit OP Couple
over a year ago

Catthorpe

^Great info., thanks. Decided on getting the train into Paris.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"^Great info., thanks. Decided on getting the train into Paris."

Smart move!!! Finding hotels with parking is a bit of a mare!

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By *B1000Couple
over a year ago

North Lakes and Manchester

"^Great info., thanks. Decided on getting the train into Paris.

Smart move!!! Finding hotels with parking is a bit of a mare!"

So true… reminds us of our first time using sat Nav in the early 2000s, thought it was awesome it took us straight to the hotel door, just off the champs elysee

Tgen took us 2 hours to find a parking space

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By *izandpaulCouple
over a year ago

merseyside

"GB excludes NI whereas UK includes NI.

As well as your yellow vests (for each person), don't forget your reflective warning triangle.

Also need to carry:

Breathalysers

Pregnancy test kits

COVID tests

Condoms - the French have some hot & horny policewomen that get very turned on at the sight of an Englishman driving in his shorts & sandals.

Stay safe out there."

We agree totally.

Just to be on the safe side and to have no misunderstanding with French Policewomen, should you be pulled over and feel the policelady is being turned on by your Primarni fashion sense,

whip out your cock and just look at the overwhelming lust in her eyes.

Let us know how you get on. ??

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