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Planning
your trip by car to France... |
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Planning
your trip to France is part of your holiday,
and in this section we provide lots of useful
information to help make your holiday an
enjoyable one. |
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Planning
your Route... |
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click on one of the links below to help you
decide which is the best route to your chosen
holiday property. |
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Channel
Crossings ... |
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| You
can click on your chosen operator and fill
in the online form for a quote. The discounted
channel crossings only apply when a property
is booked through Gîtes of France. |
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| Pets
passport |
| Pet
cats and dogs can travel back into the
UK via approved routes from a number
of countries, including France, without
undergoing quarantine - provided they
meet the conditions of the Pet Travel
Scheme. Please click the link for more
information. |
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Driving
in France... |
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| Driving
in France |
| Make
sure you have an up to date driving licence
(preferably the new euro photo licence), that
your insurance is up to date, you have your
original vehicle registration documents and
MOT (keep copies as a precaution), and a list
of relevant telephone numbers in case of an
emergency. European legislation now means
you are covered in Europe (the old green card),
but bear in mind it is only for third party
insurance and not comprehensive. |
| If
you have an accident, it is a good idea to
try and take some photographs. Always check
with your insurer just what your insurance
covers. We suggest you notify your UK insurer
before you travel. If the vehicle is not yours,
take a letter from the owner authorising you
to use it. |
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| Speed
limits |
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Autoroutes
130km/h (80 mph), unless it’s been
raining, then it’s 110km/h (70
mph) |
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Built
up areas 50km/h (30 mph) - the town
name starts the limit, a bar through
the town name marks the end of the limit |
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Non
Toll Motorways 110km/h (70 mph) |
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Other
roads 90 km/h (55 mph) |
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| The
French Government have recently begun a serious
crackdown on bad driving. Any foreign driver
caught doing 25km more than the official speed
limit will suffer the immediate loss of their
licence. Other speeders will have to pay
a heavy fine immediately. |
| If
you have recently passed your driving test,
please note that in France you cannot exceed
90 km/h for the first two years after passing
your test. You cannot drive in France until
you are 18. |
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| Fines |
| Police
collect fines on the spot. Alcohol between
0.05 and 0.08, 135 euro (maximum fine 4,500
euro). A 30% reduction for minor offences
may be granted if paid on the spot or within
24 hours. If you feel you are not at fault,
you will be asked to pay a deposit (amende
forfaitaire). A receipt must be issued showing
the amount paid. |
| Speeding
fines - the average fine is about 135 euro.
However, the fine can range from 750 euro
for exceeding the speed limit between 20-40
km/h to 1,500 euro for being 50 km/h more
than the limit. |
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| Auto
Routes |
| Use
the autoroutes for long stretches of the journey.
Most people have a picnic on the way. There
are many "aires" where you can stop
in comfort in scenic locations. Plan your
journey and reach your destination safely.
Listen to the radio for warnings and advice
(107.7 FM). |
| Beware
of the Police "hidden" car on a
bridge or in a lay-by about 5km from a toll
gate. ON-THE-SPOT fines are the order of the
day. If you cannot pay immediately, your car
can be impounded. They can monitor your speed
by checking the times on the toll ticket.
They only issue speed tickets if you are a
resident of that country. |
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| Breakdowns
& Repairs |
| Use
the orange SOS phones which are situated every
2km on motorways and every 4km on dual carriageways
and other major roads. Each one has a number.
You will be expected to give your identity,
your position, the type, colour and size of
your vehicle, as well as the registration
number. |
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| Emergency
Numbers |
| Police
17, Fire Department 18, SAMU/EMS (Emergency
medical services) 15, Operator 13. Directory
Enquiries 12. You can access all services
from a mobile on 112 |
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| Parking |
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Free
parking on roads with a dotted white
line or no markings at all |
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Orange
dotted lines - pay at meter (horodateur) |
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Do
not park against kerbs painted yellow |
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Parking
is forbidden in the centre of many major
towns. Many have a 'Zone Bleu' parking
area, which requires a blue disc windscreen
sticker which can be bought from the
local tobacconist or garage |
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Public
Holidays [Bank Holidays] |
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| Most
shops and restaurants close on Public Holidays
(Jours Feries). If you are travelling on French
Public Holidays make sure you have basic provisions
with you. |
| Below
are the bank holidays for 2005: |
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1st
January |
Thursday |
New
Year’s Day |
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12th
April |
Monday |
Easter
Monday |
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1st
May |
Saturday |
Labour
Day |
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8th
May |
Saturday |
Armistice
1945 |
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20th
May |
Thursday |
Ascension
Day |
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31st
May |
Monday |
Whitsun |
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14th
July |
Wednesday |
Bastille
Day |
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15th
August |
Sunday |
Assumption
Day |
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1st
November |
Monday |
All
Saints Day |
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11th
November |
Thursday |
Armistice
1918 |
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25th
December |
Saturday |
Christmas
Day |
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Health
Cover... |
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| E111
Health Form |
| It's
free and you can get it from the Post Office
or local DSS Office, where it must be stamped
to be valid. You will need your National Insurance
Number and Passport. It entitles you to medical
treatment at a Public Hospital, if you fall
ill or have an accident, in a European Economic
Area (EEA) country. It does not cover everything
and you may want to take out extra insurance
to be sure you are covered. Items not always
covered include prescriptions and outpatient
treatments. Bear in mind also, that many hospital
facilities and clinics are privately run. |
| The
E111 form needs renewing annually and covers
spouses and dependent children up to the age
of 16 (or 19 if they are in full time education). |
| If
you do have a problem, make sure you keep
all receipts. Even if you have travel insurance,
the real advantage of the E111 is that you
do not have to pay for treatment up front.
You are also saved the bother of dealing with
the paperwork required in an insurance claim.
There is also no "excess" to pay.
The E111 does not cover getting you back
to the UK, so you will need private insurance. |
| As
a precaution, get a spare and keep it somewhere
safe - in an emergency it can always be faxed
over to wherever you are being treated. Keep
a photocopy with the original in your passport
- some countries require both. |
| If
you have treatment and don't get the form
back you must remember to get a replacement. |
| It
does not cover treatment for a pre-existing
condition. You will need an E112 form authorised
by the Department of Health. |
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| For
more Information |
| A
leaflet "Health advice for Travellers"
is available at Post Offices. Call 0800 555
777 for a copy. |
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Useful
Links... |
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