Driving to France from UK

[londonbound]

Hi all!

I have a 2015 Mercedes S300hL and I am planning on driving to Paris.
There's a few requirements I have seen on numerous websites such as UK Stickers, headlight beam converters, first aid kit, reflective jacket etc.

What are the compulsory requirements I need when travelling to Europe? I will be taking the Eurotunnel to Calais.
Do I need the headlight deflector stickers as I know my car has the ability to change the lighting direction in the instrument cluster.
Also do I need the UK Stickers? my UK registration plate has the blue GB logo on the front and back.
Thanks in advance!

 

[NJS5]

Welcome londonbound

Have a look at this thread:- https://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/...late-to-replace-gb-plate.192814/#post-1976598

Here's my note on the topic for Europe generally:-

• Spare bulb & fuse kit
• 2 breathalysers
• UK (NOT GB) plate/sticker - Letters should be a minimum of 80mm high and a stroke thickness of 10 mm
• Headlamp beam deflectors/converters/adapters
• 1 high visibility vest per person
• 1 warning triangle
• 600g dry powder fire extinguisher
• First aid kit

NOTE: Driving in Spain or some other European countries Two warning triangles are required.

There is no penalty in France for not carrying a breathalyser but the law still requires you to carry one!

This GOV.UK thread may also be of use.


NJSS

 

[Blobcat]

Headlights need to be adjusted - either with a sticker, in the cluster or a lever in the headlights - whatever works

UK sticker is also required - you can get a sticker that covers your GB one on the plates

Hi-Viz in the cabin for anyone in the car - 4 occupants - 4 vests etc.

First aid kit and warning triangle

You won't get fined if you don't have breathalysers - I've some very old ones I carry though I also carry the same bulb kit I've had since 2002... with LED, Xenons and the like it's impossible for the driver to change a bulb so the H7 Halogens I carry are just to keep the Gendarmes happy

 

[LostKiwi]

To update the above:

Breathalyser - not required. As mentioned it's a requirement with no penalty.
High vis jacket - 1 per person kept within reach of the seated occupant.
As you're going to Paris you'll need to register for a crit d'air sticker for the car. Essentially defines your clean air credentials as will determine where you can go. https://www.certificat-air.gouv.fr/
You can order the sticker before departing.

If you've never driven in France here are some useful things to know.
Any village or town name sign bounded by a red border is the start of a 50kmh zone.
The name with a diagonal line through is the end of the speed restriction.
French are very hot on lane discipline - it's flipping marvellous compared to the UK!
The French have a tendency to follow very closely. Don't get agro about it, just get out of their way.
A car with a large white sticker with a red A is a new driver that's recently passed their test. Take a little more care around them.
Street parking in Paris and most cities and larger towns is accomplished using touch, often not gentle! Seek out car parks if you don't want a few souvenirs.

Remember we are not in the EU so we have limits on what can be carried in and out. Specifically you can't take produce or meat in, you can only bring limited alcohol and tobacco back, and if taking pets with you it's a it of a nightmare with animal health certificates and vet checks!

Above all though, enjoy the trip!

 

[tode]

If you have a 2015 S class, you should be able to change the headlights via Comand (change setting to 'drive on the right). And you should have a warning triangle in the boot.

The only other things you need, which you may not have, are the UK sticker and Hi-vis jackets for each person and a a spare bulb set (the set itself is not obligatory, but you could be required to change a faulty bulb if stopped by the gendarmerie).
No need for Breathalyser, first aid kit (although there should be one in the car from new) or extinguisher.

And don't forget the national limit is now 80 kph unless signed otherwise.

 

[LostKiwi]

One other thing to be aware of.
The French have a law about assisting a person in danger which also applies to road traffic accidents. If you're first on the scene it's a criminal offence not to stop and help.

If anyone is injured, call the police on 17 or 112. The law in France requires you to have a ‘duty to help/rescue’, and it is an offence to not help someone in need if it is safe to do so. You must at very least ring the emergency services.

Likewise should you be involved in an accident where there is injury you must remain at the scene.

 

[ajlsl600]

To update the above:

Breathalyser - not required. As mentioned it's a requirement with no penalty.
High vis jacket - 1 per person kept within reach of the seated occupant.
As you're going to Paris you'll need to register for a crit d'air sticker for the car. Essentially defines your clean air credentials as will determine where you can go. https://www.certificat-air.gouv.fr/
You can order the sticker before departing.

If you've never driven in France here are some useful things to know.
Any village or town name sign bounded by a red border is the start of a 50kmh zone.
The name with a diagonal line through is the end of the speed restriction.
French are very hot on lane discipline - it's flipping marvellous compared to the UK!
The French have a tendency to follow very closely. Don't get agro about it, just get out of their way.
A car with a large white sticker with a red A is a new driver that's recently passed their test. Take a little more care around them.
Street parking in Paris and most cities and larger towns is accomplished using touch, often not gentle! Seek out car parks if you don't want a few souvenirs.

Remember we are not in the EU so we have limits on what can be carried in and out. Specifically you can't take produce or meat in, you can only bring limited alcohol and tobacco back, and if taking pets with you it's a it of a nightmare with animal health certificates and vet checks!

Above all though, enjoy the trip!

Paris parking, u ain't wrong I sat at a pavement bar once and watched some guy belt the car in front and the one behind half a dozen times without a care in the world about damage. I was flabbergasted and have never or ever will be going to Paris in any car I own. They just don't give a sxxt.

 

[londonbound]

Thank you all! You've been really helpful! I will be ordering the stuff from Amazon later today!
Any other advice and tips are welcome!

 

[grayb]

Interesting to note that the little 'UK' on the edge of the number plates will not be sufficient. We always had a separate GB sticker anyway - but will be replacing these shortly! Off to Auxerre in the MGB next month... Soooo looking forward to the trip!

 

[LostKiwi]

Interesting to note that the little 'UK' on the edge of the number plates will not be sufficient. We always had a separate GB sticker anyway - but will be replacing these shortly! Off to Auxerre in the MGB next month... Soooo looking forward to the trip!

This style of plate is ok.


It has to be UK (GB is not acceptable) and must show an approved flag.

 

[lewyboy]

I was reading earlier about a Brit couple who pulled into the services in France and the locals were very excited to see their UK plate, turned out that they thought that our countrymen were fleeing Ukraine!

 

[Rockron]

If you're over 3.5tonnes don't forget the recently introduced fugly 3 X 'Angles Mort' signage

Very laudable and advisable to fully comply with the requirements of course, but in literally
hundreds of trans France crossings I've never been asked to produce any of these items.
As already advised, it's important to have the Crit Air sticker for gay Paree, auto detection
cameras having no mercy.

I didn't sport the new UK sticker this year, could signify being of Ukraine origin to some! Only takes
one roaming dispossessed Ruskie oligarch bearing a grudge and a brick to ruin the day! I've not applied
the GB sticker in many years on the premise that it pays not to advertise. I do carry the stickers should I be
stopped and inquisitioned, and of course would proffer my deep regret for my careless oversight and
get sticking.
To date no branch of the French flics has bothered to be concerned, hardly a safety issue.

Appears patronising to mention it but the most important thing to remember is to drive on the right,
I've witnessed newly arrived UK drivers storm out of the Calais on to the A16 access roundabout
clockwise. Twice I've seen 44 tonners do it, once whilst I was circulating (correctly of course!),
bit of a brown trouser moment. Other times were newly arrived UK flight passengers jumping into
self drive rentals forgetting they were in sunny Spain.

 

[EmilysDad]

If you're over 3.5tonnes don't forget the recently introduced fugly 3 X 'Angles Mort' signage

......

I only saw one of these for the first time last week on a Polish(?) HGV at a services. I'd never heard of them

 

[Rockron]

I saw many vehicles with them, most obviously the 44tonners. I suppose that because I had them as an
adornment myself I was taking a particular interest. I just hope cyclists notice them!
I have an easily detachable magnetic variety. Their positioning on a vehicle also has to conform
to set designated areas. It's not an onerous imposition but jeez they are fugly. Spain is following
suit with the idea, but with a differing sign I believe! Going to be very colourful vehicles in the
EU if it spreads.

 

[rorywquin]

..........

You won't get fined if you don't have breathalysers - I've some very old ones I carry though ..........

AFAIK they expire - I used mine to test myself in the morning a couple of times and was quite surprised by the results.

After a evening at home, where I was over the limit and a good 8 hours of sleep, the breathalysers still had me over the limit. I was quite surprised. I’ve always been aware of drunk driving after a night out but had assumed that a not too heavy night and a good sleep would be ok.

On a side note - I worked in Kazakstan where the police would pull us over and make the driver breath into a cone (made from a piece of A4 paper ) and then quickly sniff it - if they detected alcohol it was off to the clinic for a blood test.

 

[rorywquin]

.
Any village or town name sign bounded by a red border is the start of a 50kmh zone.
The name with a diagonal line through is the end of the speed restriction.
........

Useful, thanks - I always wondered why there was a line through the name of the town.

 

[Blobcat]

AFAIK they expire - I used mine to test myself in the morning a couple of times and was quite surprised by the results.

After a evening at home, where I was over the limit and a good 8 hours of sleep, the breathalysers still had me over the limit. I was quite surprised. I’ve always been aware of drunk driving after a night out but had assumed that a not too heavy night and a good sleep would be ok.

On a side note - I worked in Kazakstan where the police would pull us over and make the driver breath into a cone (made from a piece of A4 paper ) and then quickly sniff it - if they detected alcohol it was off to the clinic for a blood test.

Most drunk drivers in Scotland are caught driving to work next morning - a unit an hour is the rough guideline however very much dependent upon the individual.

 

[M80]

Is there a requirement to carry a 2nd pair of specs in France?

 

[rorywquin]

Most drunk drivers in Scotland are caught driving to work next morning - a unit an hour is the rough guideline however very much dependent upon the individual.

There was that Excel spreadsheet that did the rounds years ago, punch in your personal statistics, what and how much you drank etc and it would give some sort of time line toward when you’d be sober again......

 

[Bahnsturmer]

I didn't sport the new UK sticker this year, could signify being of Ukraine origin to some! Only takes
one roaming dispossessed Ruskie oligarch bearing a grudge and a brick to ruin the day! I've not applied
the GB sticker in many years on the premise that it pays not to advertise. I do carry the stickers should I be
stopped and inquisitioned, and of course would proffer my deep regret for my careless oversight and
get sticking.
To date no branch of the French flics has bothered to be concerned, hardly a safety issue.

Same here!