RAC Motoring Services and RAC Financial Services Limited are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in respect of insurance mediation activities. Supplementary mirrors ; These are obligatory if the trailer masks the interior mirror or is wider than the towing vehicle they must not be more than 20cm wider than the trailer Lighting requirements: Two red rear lights, fog rear light on the left hand side as opposed to the UK two triangular red reflectors at the rear, square orange reflectors at the side and white reflectors at the front. Fines of 80-100 Euros can be incurred if you fail to follow this advice before driving to France!. You may want to consider car hire excess insurancefrom the equivalent of 2.99* a day it could be cheaper than waiting to add it when you collect your car. Your tow ball will have its own maximum load. Various conditions are attached to these, as follows: Contravening these rules could cost you between 135 and 1,500 euros. The sticker will tell you how much weight your car can carry, and you should follow it strictly. Driving licence covering the motorcycle you're riding**. The type of insurance you need will depend on the weight of what you plan on towing. 2023 RAC Motoring Services. On the subject of trailers, does anyone know the latest stance regarding "Tow a Car". Yes, you will need to take the original vehicle registration V5 document (log book) with you to prove youre the legal owner of the vehicle. The weight of a folding camper is below 3.5t. For a vehicle up to 4 years old. Your licence is recognised in France for as long as it is valid. As a UK resident, albeit a regular visitor to our house in France, the car is properly registered and insured in the UK. New member personal based prices from 16 a month. tow your vehicle. ETIAS stands for the European Travel Information and Authorisation System. [Contact Us]
As a guide, most family sized cars (e.g. You can only tow anything heavier than you're allowed if you're properly supervised. The tow ball load is the trailer weight which applies vertically to the rear of your vehicle. Breakdown recovery vehicles that are within 100km of their base. Trailer Towing FAQ (PDF - May 2008) Information about licensing, commercial vs utility trailer plates, brake/equipment requirements and weight limits. Is it compulsory to carry a spare wheel in France? Visit us online at Trailers.com or call today toll free 855-887-2453. Your vehicle's carte grise will specify a PTAC, the maximum total weight of your car when laden. Penalties. NOTE: This law is based on the 'theoretical' total GTM and, even if you are towing a smaller trailer with a lightly loaded car, stickers MUST still be applied. When towing a motorhome or a trailer, the maximum speed will be based on the combined weight of the vehicle and the trailer. The following vehicles are the only vehicles that are exempt from the LCV tachograph rules: Vehicles which cannot exceed 40km/h. These regulations are in force since 1 January 2021. The standard French driving license allows you to tow up to 3500kg without an additional premium, and a class 4 infringement will incur a fine of EUR130. The use of multi-tone horns, sirens and whistles is prohibited. If youre towing a trailer with more than this, youll have to pay a higher class five fine. Towing in France is a common practice, so long as you have the appropriate license. On a standard driving licence, motorists are allowed to tow a trailer with a maximum authorised mass of 750kg, including the trailer and its load. Here's a seasonal reminder about the regulations concerning the towing of caravans and trailers, and the use of roof boxes. Vehicle based cover from 10 a month. Eurolites are suitable for clear lens, projector and xenon headlights. 32-9-5. You can carry your bikes on the roof of your car provided they are attached to an adequate roof-rack and the total height does not exceed 4m. They must be installed under the same conditions as those in Group 0, Child seat with a 5-point harness or a protection tray, Booster seat or cushion with an adult seat belt, 124.83for vehicles 1.8 tonnes or under or 187.25between the hours of 18:00 and 08:00, weekends and bank holidays, 154.36 for vehicles 3.5t or under or 231.54 between the hours of 18:00 and 08:00, weekends and bank holidays, For vehicles over 3.5t, the cost is at the towing services discretion, fresh fruit (apart from bananas, coconuts, dates, pineapples and durians). 32-9-6. . All trailers must be fitted with their own lights. Check your car's handbook to find out its gross train weight (GTW). Search RAC Drive for news, reviews, advice and more. If youre carrying a trailer, you should be aware of the weight limits of the car and trailer before setting off. Riders of mopeds or motorcycles up to 125cc must be aged 16 or over. Mentions lgales|Privacy policy, Insuring and towing caravans and trailers, More generous reimbursements planned for those with health insurance, Prepare to say goodbye to chemical pesticides and herbicides in your garden, A stricter contrle technique in January 2019, Updated step-by-step guide to selling a car privately in France, Ten percent premium discount when a dashcam is used, Discounts available on compulsory insurance for auto-entrepreneurs, Asking the police to keep an eye on your house when you go away, Smoke detectors/alarms required in March 2015. You must also be aware of the weight restrictions of a particular vehicle. Rule changes were delayed after they were originally scheduled for 15 November 2021. Remember too that non-presentation of documents - insurance, driving license, certificates d'immatriculation (cartes grises), contrle technique (MoT) for the car - can result in a fine of between 11 and 750 euros. GO to https://www.remorquage-mulhouse.fr for more info. A flashing amber light indicates caution, slow down or proceed but give way to vehicles coming from the right. (P2 or P3) Indicate presence of a wide vehicle. You now need a clean air sticker - called a Crit'Air vignette displayed on your car when travelling to certain cities. -, Important advice - Please read below about NEW LAWS in France for Caravans and Trailers. The presence and legibility of this plate is also part of the standard French MoT (contrle technique / CT). If this is not possible, or you do not want DVLA to use the photo on your passport, you cannot renew the photo on your licence online.. Find out more about driving offences in Europe here. These will probably not be covered by default, but it should be possible to add this to you policy as required. In France, you must also be aware of French laws. [Event Diary]
Towing courses . Towing guide 2022: UK laws, licences, costs and tips - currently reading Whether you're towing a caravan, a trailer or even a boat, our towing guide explains how to do it. Towing a car over eight hundred kilograms is illegal. To renew the photo on your driving licence (online) you must provide your UK passport number, which must have been issued within the last five years. The police have the power to carry out random breath tests. Get in touch. In France, you could have to pay a massive fine of 1,500 if caught. If that is the case, you will need to undergo 7 hours of training (3 hours on the road, plus 4 of theory and practice - no medical test) to prepare for a test to gain category 96 compliance on your class B French license. In order to tow a car or other vehicle in France, you must have a license that allows you to tow. RAC Insurance Ltd is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. If youre driving a small van or a folding camper, you can tow it in France without any problems. It is also illegal to use one in Luxembourg. *A 15 booking fee applies to European holidays (crossings, campsites and, Taking your pet to Europe and Northern Ireland after Brexit, Passports, visas and travel documents after Brexit, Sites in the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, have plain yellow in the centre with a red outline. The horn may be used only in cases of absolute necessity. Speed limits are lowered in rain and other adverse weather conditions, while special speed restrictions apply to certain classes of vehicle, including coaches and cars with trailers, so check before travel. Towing a camper or a folding camper in France can be a serious matter. In the UK, the regulations depend on your driving license. You will need to renew the photo on your photocard licence at least every 10 years to keep your photo up to date. Drivers approaching a roundabout indicated by a triangular sign with a red border and three arrows forming a circle in the centre must give way to traffic already on the roundabout. Maximum combined length for two vehicles 60 ft. Triple-towing is not allowed. Minimum age: The minimum age for driving a car in France is 18; thus no-one under the age of 18 can drive a car in France, even if he or she holds a valid licence in another country. It is also advisable to notify your insurer that you intend to tow a trailer. Towing speed limits in France Up to a train weight of 3500 KG the speed limits for towing remain the same as for a normal vehicle except where specific limits are indicated (usually on steep declines) Above this weight a limit of 110KPH applies on autoroutes. *Based on UK resident buying a single trip policy to cover 10 days car rental in Europe. The police may hold his or her vehicle until payment is made. Please note: The Department for Transport advises that A-frames are not legal for use by UK campers and caravanners abroad. [Caravan Sites & Camping]
Trailers and caravans of more than 750 kg have to be declared to your insurance and have to have their own registration document. You can also carry your bikes on the back of your vehicle, provided they do not obscure lights, indicators or number plates. It is illegal to tow a heavy trailer if you are not insured. In Paris, free parking is allowed where a fee is normally payable. When towing a trailer in France, youll need to know the maximum weight limit for your car and the trailer. They can also be covered for damage and theft. On the rear - center, facing rearward - horizontally spaced 150 mm (6 in.) International driving permits are recognised but not required. There must be loads of Brits who have lived here some time who are blissfully aware that their licences have expired. We bring you the latest. Application for the authorisation to drive Towed Agricultural Implements HC-X or MC-X (Fact Sheet) 95 Kb. Traffic flows anti-clockwise round roundabouts in France, not clockwise as in the UK. To make your trip to mainland Europe as safe and stress-free as possible, weve put together a guide to everything you need to know before you go, from required documents to rules of the road. Overweight trailers are dangerous to tow, and youll be charged a class 4 fine and a class 5 infringement, which can result in a hefty fine of over 100 Euros and points on your licence. European regulations classify child restraints in five different groups according to the child's weight: Taxis are exempt but in other vehicles, a fine is levied if a child is not restrained. With swathes of stunning countryside and vibrant cities to explore, its no wonder that France is such a popular destination for driving holidays. Registered in England; Registered Offices: RAC House, Brockhurst Crescent, Walsall WS5 4AW. DVLA will aim to send your driving licence within two weeks of you submitting your application. 32-9-4. Every country has its own traffic and driving regulations, its always best to know these as best you can before you set off. The maximum gross weight you can tow in France is determined by the manufacturer of the trailer. Do I need a fire extinguisher to drive in France? Triple towing is allowed. As with many aspects of. All trailers must be equipped with lights: a white pair at the front, an orange pair on the sides, and a red pair at the rear. The other interpretation of your original question is whether you can load a trailer beyond its plated laden weight if towing with a UK vehicle. They range from the cleanest (CritAir 1) for electric vehicles to the most polluting (CritAir 6). Babies can also travel in a carry cot on the rear seat only, These are slightly bigger versions of those in Group 0. If travelling through France, make sure you have a breathalyser to hand. It will give youa wide range of benefits should you break down in France to make sure you stay safe. It could save you a heap of money and hassle if you are travelling on the autoroute and are unlucky enough to have a puncture. Restrictions and limitations are indicated by road signs or by yellow lines on the kerb. It offers some of the most helpful information about trailering because . French law prohibits drivers from devices capable of detecting speed cameras and warning drivers of their location. The following national speed limits apply: The maximum speedfora car towing a caravan ortrailer depends on their total weight: If the weight of the trailer exceeds that of the car, the speed limits are lower as follows: In these cases, a disc showing maximum speed must be displayed on the rear of caravan/trailers. These regulations apply to recreational towing, utility towing and boat towing. In France, the weight limit is 990kg. Weight 4. Ford Mondeo) will have a GTM in EXCESS of 3.5 tonnes. However, you should make sure you check all your tyres before setting off. You will need to display a UK sticker on the rear of your car. They must not protrude beyond the front of your vehicle. Towing in France On a standard driving licence, motorists are allowed to tow a trailer with a maximum authorised mass of 750kg, including the trailer and its load. The regulations limiting weights and dimensions on public highways are established through the The Vehicle Weight and Dimension Regulations, 2010. You must also give way to emergency vehicles with flashing lights and sirens. Does Carte Gris need to be renewed i.e. as long as you comply with the load limit for the trailer and the train weight for the van plus trailer you will be OK but try and remember a spare wheel.