Driving in France/Belgium

Tican

Tican

Tican

Soldato
Joined
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Leicester
Hi there,

I am looking at going to France/Belgium for a week at the end of March, is there anything I need to know when doing this? Or is it just a case of getting European Insurance, Breakdown cover and a GB badge + Head Light converter (stickers)? I have held my licence for 2, nearly 3 years.

Sorry for the noob question,

Cheers
 
Motorway and B road driving in France is a pleasure compared to the UK. In the larger cities... less so. Belgium motorways are ROUGH!

Your UK insurance may cover a set amount of time abroad so check that before splashing out.

European breakdown worked out best for me when combined with travel insurance. I think I used Europe Assist but never had to use it thankfully.

GB badge is required if you don't have GB plates.

Don't take my word for it but I don't think headlight converters are a legal requirement in France or Belgium, that isn't to say that it wouldn't be courteous to use them. If you do get them I'd recommend getting a second hand set of headlight protectors for your motor and fit them to those. That way you can swap between the two on the ferry/tunnel, you won't damage your headlights (only really a problem with plastic lenses) and you can re use them for future trips.
 
lordrobs said:
Motorway and B road driving in France is a pleasure compared to the UK. In the larger cities... less so. Belgium motorways are ROUGH!

Your UK insurance may cover a set amount of time abroad so check that before splashing out.

European breakdown worked out best for me when combined with travel insurance. I think I used Europe Assist but never had to use it thankfully.

GB badge is required if you don't have GB plates.

Don't take my word for it but I don't think headlight converters are a legal requirement in France or Belgium, that isn't to say that it wouldn't be courteous to use them. If you do get them I'd recommend getting a second hand set of headlight protectors for your motor and fit them to those. That way you can swap between the two on the ferry/tunnel, you won't damage your headlights (only really a problem with plastic lenses) and you can re use them for future trips.
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Thinking about it, I am sure my insurance covers 8 days of European cover.
I shall look at the breakdown cover with the travel insurance.

I shall scour eBay for headlight protectors.

This is all, of course, if my car will get me there :p (Renault Megane Scenic)
 
I'm no expert on the French, so I'll leave that for others.

However, for Belgium..
Word of warning, Belgian drivers are nutters. Expect to be tailgated, cut up and generally ignored. Indicators are generally just for show, although they seem to be an optional extra on most cars.

We have a fantastic system called "priority from the right". If there are no markings on the road at a junction then you have to give way to the car from your right. If this is you, congratulations! You can exit said junction without even looking!

If you're on a road with a white and orange diamond, you have right of way and everyone else can get stuffed.

On motorways, lane discipline leaves a lot to be desired, and mirrors are generally ignored. Two-lane motorways are a pain, and three lane motorways are usually full of middle-lane hoggers. However, the 'slow' lane is usually full of ruts due to all the foreign trucks passing through. For free.

The general condition of the motorways isn't that bad at the moment. It was certainly a lot worse after last winter and a lot of the motorway network was resurfaced last year.
Have fun, drive safe ;)
 
I think you have to have spare bulbs in France and a Hi Vis vest for EACH OCCUPANT of the vehicle. The French police like pulling British drivers over and fining them for not having vests - easy money.

On the Autroute they might time you between toll booths and fine you for speeding if you're over the limit.

If you need to put a GB sticker on the car (IE you don't have it on the number plate) stick it on the LEFT hand side of your boot so that it is in line with the French drivers behind.
 
The roads are better than english roads.

As for the headlight stickers not everyone uses these if you are mainly driving in the day I wouldnt put them on. I have drove through france/belgium/holland and never put them on. You might want to buy a breakdown kit from like the RAC it will have spare bulbs, fuses, breakdown triangle, high vis vest headlight stickers and I think some other stuff.

Dont wait to buy any items on the boat as they are far more exspensive than here or in france. Dont fill up with petrol too close to where you dock as fuel prices are slightly higher than a few miles down the road.
 
I must have been really lucky as I didn't struggle with the Belgian drivers at all. I've seen far worse driving Spain and the like.

Stolen from our VAG-Opel show forum on AOC....

Legal requirement for your car - you must have these:

Warning triangle
GB or Euro stickers on car or numberplate
Visibility vest for every person in the car
Fire extinguisher
Spare Bulb set
Light Deflectors for your front lights
 
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Minxy said:
I must have been really lucky as I didn't struggle with the Belgian drivers at all. I've seen far worse driving Spain and the like.

Stolen from our VAG-Opel show forum on AOC....

Legal requirement for your car - you must have these:

Warning triangle
GB or Euro stickers on car or numberplate
Visibility vest for every person in the car
Fire extinguisher
Spare Bulb set
Light Deflectors for your front lights
Click to expand...
Sorry, but this is incorrect.
You only need a high-vis vest for the DRIVER.
You DO NOT need a spare bulb set in Belgium, and the fire extinguisher is not needed for foreign-registered cars.

FWIW, I don't even have a fire extinguisher in my Volvo. I nicked it out of my old Leon for the MOT and then put it back :p

What you need on UK plates:
light deflectors
high-vis vest
warning triangle
 
mjt said:
Sorry, but this is incorrect.
You only need a high-vis vest for the DRIVER.
You DO NOT need a spare bulb set in Belgium, and the fire extinguisher is not needed for foreign-registered cars.
Click to expand...

I shall take your word for it but I thought for France at least you required spare bulbs.

*Edit* Sorry mjt, edited my response before I saw you had quoted me. :)
 
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Minxy said:
The thread title says he is driving in France and Belgium.:confused:
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Sorry, I assumed you were talking about Belgium only as that was what you quoted.

Anyway, foreign-registered cars do not need a fire extinguisher in France to the best of my knowledge. It would be a ridiculous law if it were true.
And spare bulb sets are only a recommendation afaik.
 
For France you need the following:

Driving licence
V5C
Insurance certificate
Safety warning breakdown triangle
Hi-vis/reflective safety jacket
GB sticker or GB number plates
Headlamp deflectors

You do not need first aid kits, extinguishers, spare bulbs or anything else like that.
 
Minxy said:
I must have been really lucky as I didn't struggle with the Belgian drivers at all. I've seen far worse driving Spain and the like.
Click to expand...
Yeah, you notice it when you live here really.
The standard of driving in and around Brussels is particularly bad, but then it is the same in most cities.

Rush hour driving is appalling too. Although if I'm honest, I'll bomb down the wrong, but empty, lane and cut in at the last minute too.
When in Rome, etc..
 
Find and remember the sign for priority right, in small towns some roads from the right have priority onto the main road, if your using the tolls carry a decent amount of change
 
Try and avoid Belgian Motorways anywhere near the Cities of Brussels and Antwerp at the morning/evening Rush Hour! Craziest driving I've ever seen by far.
 
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