What to know about driving to the UK in a French car

From paperwork to equipment, via avoiding congestion charges, here’s what you need to know if you’re driving to the UK in a French-registered car.

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You may be asked to show proof that the car is either registered to you, or you have permission to drive it.
Country sticker
UK-registered cars usually need a UK sticker (previously a GB sticker) in order to visit France, showing the country of registration. This is not usually required for French cars because most French registered cars have the letter ‘F’ and the EU symbol on the number plate, showing where they are registered.
If your vehicle does not have this (eg a vintage vehicle) you will need an F sticker.
Headlight correctors
If your French car is a left-hand drive, which it almost certainly will be, you may want to buy stickers to correct the beam of the headlights so that they don’t dazzle oncoming drivers – available from specialist car shops or at ferry/tunnel terminals.
These are not compulsory for most drivers but they are advised for safety reasons, and may be a condition for insurance cover when driving in the UK.

Equipment
France requires drivers to carry certain items (eg a warning triangle and yellow vest), however there is no equivalent requirement for driving in the UK. Likewise there is no legal requirement for snow tyres, as there is in some areas of France.
What you need to carry in your car in France
Road tolls/congestion charges
The UK has few toll roads, but if you are driving north from Dover you may end up at the Dartford Bridge/Tunnel and that does require a toll payment.
The system is a free-flow one but you must go online and pay by midnight of the day you crossed, or you will be liable for late fees. You can pay here – if you are a regular traveller you can set up an account, register your car’s number plate and the charge will simply be automatically deducted every time you cross without you having to do anything.
Enforcement of non-UK registered cars who don’t pay the charge seems to be quite patchy, but we’re obviously not suggesting that you take that as an excuse not to pay.

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More problematic for non-UK registered cars is London’s congestion zone and ULEZ low emissions zone – the automated cameras for these systems seem to have problems recognising foreign-registered cars and many European drivers report being hit with huge fines after their vehicles were deemed non-compliant.
The key thing, if you are going to be driving in or around London, is to register in advance on the Transport for London website – full details here.
Pets/passports/gifts
Worth mentioning are a few post-Brexit travel issues that don’t only affect people driving French registered cars, but are worth keeping in mind.
Pets – some good news for pet owners, there is no extra paperwork for your cat, dog or ferret, as there can be if you are coming the other way. The UK has agreed to continue accepting the EU Pet Passport – more details here.
Passports – if you are travelling with someone who isn’t British, remember that ID cards are no longer accepted for entry into the UK, only a passport will do.

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French citizens can travel anywhere in the EU with their French ID cards, and around half of French people don’t have a passport, so it’s well worth checking with your French friends before you book a trip. If you’re a non-EU national who is resident in France, remember to show your carte de séjour with your passport when leaving and re-entering France, in order to avoid your passport being stamped.
Gifts – there are now strict rules on the items that can be brought into the France since Brexit (find the full list here), however after many delays the UK is still only checking commercial imports of things like meat or dairy products from the EU. Which means that bringing gifts of stinky French cheese, tins of cassoulet or huge suspicious sausages is absolutely OK.
Booze – there are, however, strict limits on the amount of alcohol that you can take into the UK from France – details here
EES/ETIAS/ETA – the UK and the EU both love an acronym and there are big changes coming up for all travellers thanks to these new security systems. The EU’s EES and ETIAS have recently been pushed back (again) and are likely to start in early 2025, full details here.
ETA is the UK’s new travel system, it is being phased from the beginning of 2025 – full details here.
PS – they drive on the left over there, don’t forget . . .

#driving in france
#Travel news
#Brits in france
#Brexit

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Pam

2024/11/15 17:00

French cars have flat-beam headlamps, so there’s no need for stickers, to avoid dazzling other drivers, in the UK, unless the car is a vintage vehicle.

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It’s common for Brits living in France to get a French-registered car, but if you’re travelling back to the UK for a visit there are some preparations that you need to make, which are easy to forget when you’re going ‘home’.
Likewise, anyone else with a French registered car who wants to pay a visit to the UK will need to ensure that their vehicle is compliant.
Here are a few things to remember;
Paperwork
There is no extra paperwork needed for the UK if you are only going for a visit, but your car must be road legal in France (ie up to date with the Contrôle technique if required) and be insured. Check with your French insurer whether your cover extends outside France.
You may be asked to show proof that the car is either registered to you, or you have permission to drive it.
Country sticker
UK-registered cars usually need a UK sticker (previously a GB sticker) in order to visit France, showing the country of registration. This is not usually required for French cars because most French registered cars have the letter ‘F’ and the EU symbol on the number plate, showing where they are registered.
If your vehicle does not have this (eg a vintage vehicle) you will need an F sticker.
Headlight correctors
If your French car is a left-hand drive, which it almost certainly will be, you may want to buy stickers to correct the beam of the headlights so that they don’t dazzle oncoming drivers – available from specialist car shops or at ferry/tunnel terminals.
These are not compulsory for most drivers but they are advised for safety reasons, and may be a condition for insurance cover when driving in the UK.
Equipment
France requires drivers to carry certain items (eg a warning triangle and yellow vest), however there is no equivalent requirement for driving in the UK. Likewise there is no legal requirement for snow tyres, as there is in some areas of France.
What you need to carry in your car in France
Road tolls/congestion charges
The UK has few toll roads, but if you are driving north from Dover you may end up at the Dartford Bridge/Tunnel and that does require a toll payment.
The system is a free-flow one but you must go online and pay by midnight of the day you crossed, or you will be liable for late fees. You can pay here – if you are a regular traveller you can set up an account, register your car’s number plate and the charge will simply be automatically deducted every time you cross without you having to do anything.
Enforcement of non-UK registered cars who don’t pay the charge seems to be quite patchy, but we’re obviously not suggesting that you take that as an excuse not to pay.
More problematic for non-UK registered cars is London’s congestion zone and ULEZ low emissions zone – the automated cameras for these systems seem to have problems recognising foreign-registered cars and many European drivers report being hit with huge fines after their vehicles were deemed non-compliant.
The key thing, if you are going to be driving in or around London, is to register in advance on the Transport for London website – full details here.
Pets/passports/gifts
Worth mentioning are a few post-Brexit travel issues that don’t only affect people driving French registered cars, but are worth keeping in mind.
Pets – some good news for pet owners, there is no extra paperwork for your cat, dog or ferret, as there can be if you are coming the other way. The UK has agreed to continue accepting the EU Pet Passport – more details here.
Passports – if you are travelling with someone who isn’t British, remember that ID cards are no longer accepted for entry into the UK, only a passport will do.
French citizens can travel anywhere in the EU with their French ID cards, and around half of French people don’t have a passport, so it’s well worth checking with your French friends before you book a trip. If you’re a non-EU national who is resident in France, remember to show your carte de séjour with your passport when leaving and re-entering France, in order to avoid your passport being stamped.
Gifts – there are now strict rules on the items that can be brought into the France since Brexit (find the full list here), however after many delays the UK is still only checking commercial imports of things like meat or dairy products from the EU. Which means that bringing gifts of stinky French cheese, tins of cassoulet or huge suspicious sausages is absolutely OK.
Booze – there are, however, strict limits on the amount of alcohol that you can take into the UK from France – details here
EES/ETIAS/ETA – the UK and the EU both love an acronym and there are big changes coming up for all travellers thanks to these new security systems. The EU’s EES and ETIAS have recently been pushed back (again) and are likely to start in early 2025, full details here.
ETA is the UK’s new travel system, it is being phased from the beginning of 2025 – full details here.
PS – they drive on the left over there, don’t forget . . .

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