Spare light bulbs are recommended rather than compulsory. See the motoring checklist from the Eurotunnel web site: https://www.eurotunnel.com/uk/traveller-info/driving-in-france/
We often take the car to France & I have a Sanef Télépéage tag inside the windscreen to enable us to use the Télépéage lane on the autoroutes rather than queuing to pay at the tolls. It can save a useful amount of time: https://www.saneftolling.co.uk/ https://www.saneftolling.co.uk/articles/setting-up-your-sanef-telepeage-tag
My understanding was that if a light fails you have the means to change on the spot not hobble to a garage in the dark
According to the RAC website it is a legal requirement to have a hi vis in France as are bulbs...... A high visibility vest (one per passenger) must be carried inside the passenger compartment of your vehicle in case of a car breakdown. Don’t dismiss this as a silly rule – the French police will stop British-registered vehicles to check they have the correct equipment for driving in France. If you breakdown on the motorway or need to repair a puncture, make sure you wear it as soon as you step out of the vehicle or you could risk a hefty fine. By law you’re also mandated to carry a spare bulb kit for your vehicle, should you have a failure. While most motorists in the UK would get a broken bulb fixed as soon as possible, the French police deem it necessary to replace it there and then on the grounds of safety. When we got separated from 2 of our group on a tour and stopped to wait (still sitting on bikes with engine running) at the side of the road a policeman stopped and made us drive to the nearest layby. He ranted about stopping and not wearing hi vis and got quite narky, I thought we were in for a fine. Luckily we just shrugged like we didn't have a clue what he was saying and he drove off still ranting.
I have had the Hi-Viz check once in France that was combined with a tyre tread check, they were stopping all traffic in a small town we were going through about 5 years ago. Bulbs what are they? Newer bikes and cars are now all LED and the unit has to changed! On the Crit'air query I have found out that if its a motorcycle the web site allows you continue without filling in the CO2 number! All applied for now.
They should try changing a bulb on certain car models. One side is usually easy, the other has a bunch of stuff in the way. Our old Corsa was an absolute joke unless you're this guy.
The VW Polo that I used to own was the same. You had to take the whole of the front of the car off and take the lights out so that you could get to the back of them and replace the bulb in the driver’s side headlight.
The AA site explains the requirements very well, but since their list of requirements varies from some others, it's hard to know if it is correct. Scroll to "Our driving tips for France, in full" . https://www.theaa.com/european-breakdown-cover/driving-in-europe/driving-in-france The stickers on the helmet might be worth considering, if only to prevent Le Flic having a reason to pull you over?
So we now have AA driving "tips2" and the RAC saying it is a legal requirement, but both of theses organisations are businesses that make money out of selling spare bulb kits. There is still no French text that I know of that says this is a legal requirement. When I lived in the UK I also thought that all French coppers are machines who persecute foreign riders whenever they can, how wrong I was. They are as human as every one else in the world and I doubt if there are many petty ar$eholes who wouuld bother about a blown bulb other than to tell you that it is not working. Just be polite and you will find that they are great. I have a high vis in the car, but no spare bulbs or high vis on any of the 5 bikes and have managed without them for the 14 years that I have lived here full time.
No just a house in the woods with a garage that is not big enough for what I would like to put into it. I retired here at 45 so could not afford nor do I want anything bigger. The sun and the easy going bike ownership here is all that I need.
What a load of crap about France! driving is no better or worse than here, though they are definitely more biker friendly and aware. Been driving and riding motorcycles over there at various times, in different departments, cities, villages and mountains, North, South, East, West for over 27 years without incident. The only accidents I have witnessed, fatals at that, have been in Germany on dual carriageways. Terrible driving witnessed in Holland and Spain. Speed limit is lower? Every time I drive in the UK I come across a country road that used to have a higher speed limit. Welcome to the modern world where reduction in speed is the only solution political dimwits can come up with! Get with it, its like reading bloody MCN with the dreadful negativity that would see everyone hanging up their leathers.
Well done you! How 'canny' you are and yes hopefully another tunnel will be dug soon so you can simply exit in Belgium without having the inconvenience of passing through with contributing to our economy in any meaningful way. A shame because what we really need right now over here is yet one more sanctimonious bell-end on an adventure bike gurgling out a barrage of ill-informed nonsense that would baffle Chomsky!
France has consistently had more tourists than anywhere else. The most visited country in the world. The mecca for thousands of bikers every year. There are those who put this wonderful country down, but they are also welcome to visit, they will be made welcome in a way that only the friendly French people can. I was in the UK recently, in Dorset, with my French registered car. It was the only one that was targeted by a twat who scratched it down the side. It was the only French registered car there. They never succeeded in getting the french person that they targeted but instead got me, someone who served in the Royal Air Force for all of his life. Never heard of any foreign registered cars being vandalised in my area of France. I won't visit the the UK in any vehicle again.
