Driving in France

[alf27]

Chrisfr slightly off topic, but, when you took your car to France (presumably UK spec) how did you change the rear fog light to operate on the left or did you get both working ?

[AndyJudge]

Originally Posted by The Thong

As mentioned above, my 2007 Civic had a MPH to Kilometres button on the dash, you pressed it and it switched the units over... Simples!! Why haven’t Volvo done this??

TT

My Old 'Y' the first time round MG Maestro 1600 had a button as well.

[The Thong]

Originally Posted by AndyJudge

My Old 'Y' the first time round MG Maestro 1600 had a button as well.

It’s a little sad that Volvo couldn’t have added this minor function

TT

[Fat Magpie]

Back from France on a quick break with another couple, we went thru Switzerland and purchased the obligatory road tax vignette upon entering roughly 40 euros.
On the return journey, departing Switzerland at the border checkpoint, we were pulled by the Swiss customs people.
Yhe female officer displayed a real arrogant, and rude attitude, we were asked to produce ID which we did. The female officer looked at my passport and the other passengers who had valid ID documents, she then stated "I need to check these out properly" and disappeared for 15 min with our documents. She came back saying our ID's were ok, but my vignette was not. She said it could be detached and used again for another vehicle. We produced the receipt showing it was only 3 days old. Also, they have NPR and thus could check if I was a regular visitor. I have not been in Switzerland for over two yrs tough she said and fined me 200 Swiss Francs or 180 euros.

Nice people

[simonjedrake]

Originally Posted by Fat Magpie

Back from France on a quick break with another couple, we went thru Switzerland and purchased the obligatory road tax vignette upon entering roughly 40 euros.
On the return journey, departing Switzerland at the border checkpoint, we were pulled by the Swiss customs people.
Yhe female officer displayed a real arrogant, and rude attitude, we were asked to produce ID which we did. The female officer looked at my passport and the other passengers who had valid ID documents, she then stated "I need to check these out properly" and disappeared for 15 min with our documents. She came back saying our ID's were ok, but my vignette was not. She said it could be detached and used again for another vehicle. We produced the receipt showing it was only 3 days old. Also, they have NPR and thus could check if I was a regular visitor. I have not been in Switzerland for over two yrs tough she said and fined me 200 Swiss Francs or 180 euros.

Nice people

Soory to hear this saga.
So just what is the process you must follow with the Swiss Vignette to avoid the fine?

[NigelDay]

Originally Posted by simonjedrake

Soory to hear this saga.
So just what is the process you must follow with the Swiss Vignette to avoid the fine?

Indeed. Very strange.
I've just returned from Austria. They have a similar system but the Vignette can be purchased for 10 days, 2 months or annual. The Vignette is date stamped with a punch-out to visibly indicate the date of issue. I also suspect the Vignette 'self-destructs' on removal.
Regarding Switzerland, I'll be buying their Vignette later this year. I'll keep the paperwork.

[Fat Magpie]

Well I did not attach the vignette properly to the windscreen, it was purchased at 4:00 am, I just wanted to get back on the road to get to our destination so instead of peeling the adhesive backing off I tucked it against the windscreen using the little plastic clip which is part of the car.

Now I accept their argument that I could then sell it on or give it to a friend as it was not properly attached but we had the receipt, and they took the vignette away to check it double. I tried to explain it was a genuine error and they could check when it was purchased and how often I crossed their border. They were quite arrogant and just fined me a large amount about the cost of the vignette.

Their attitude of examing our passports at the car and then stating "we need to check these". 15 min she returned and stated these are ok and threw them at me. We are two middle-aged couples, law-abiding with no history of any criminal activity. Their attitude of arrogance and rudeness was appalling. In my job I travel a lot, I have had to deal with customs bring in equipment to different countries (carnets) and have always found customs to be professional and helpful. These guys were out for the kill, I have never had my passport taken to a back office for 15 min to be examined and then the arrogance.


EDIT: after some googling, the Swiss have a poor reputation, one example, a German pensioner drove his classic car with an older registration across the border. The Swiss deemed his car was not legal as it did not have an EU plate and seized it fining him 17000 Swiss francs. Be careful, its known as being "Swiszerlanded", lots of negative comments on their customs people.

[Kevin Plaskitt]

Hi

Newbie here. Have just. Bought an xc90 that has a compressor and gunge instead of a spare. Is this ok for France or do I need to get a space saver or spare?

[alanoconnor]

I was driving from Budapest to Bratislava, onto Vienna and then finally ending up in Paris not long ago. The sales guy I was with was looking a bit tired so I said I'd drive. Stopped the car and changed seats in this station - since the hire care was in his name I floored it. I don't think it would have been possible to get a Vauxhall Corsa to Paris any quicker.

However, the sales guy (who was French) turned round to me as we approached the French border: "Don't drive like that in France."

Apparently, they are extremely strict on speeding offences.

[MikeIOW]

Originally Posted by Kevin Plaskitt

Hi

Newbie here. Have just. Bought an xc90 that has a compressor and gunge instead of a spare. Is this ok for France or do I need to get a space saver or spare?

Pretty certain there is no law there requiring a spare wheel.
https://www.theaa.com/european-break...what-do-i-need has a link that confirms it. You do need to take your V5, warning triangle, enough hi-viz jackets for all in the car (& reachable from within the car!).