Driving through France - rental or own car?

Thoie

I'm semi considering driving around France later in the year on my own.

The cost of taking my own car over (excluding any additional insurance - need to check that) comes to around €300, whereas taking the ferry as a foot passenger, then renting a car comes to €600. Flight + rental car comes to €530.

Obviously taking my own car is by far the cheapest option, but anytime I've driven a LHD car abroad I've had a passenger to deal with tolls, carparks, etc (and also to tell me when it's safe to pass )

Would you consider the savings of taking your own car worth the inconvenience?

shrapnel222

Thoie wrote: »

I'm semi considering driving around France later in the year on my own.

The cost of taking my own car over (excluding any additional insurance - need to check that) comes to around €300, whereas taking the ferry as a foot passenger, then renting a car comes to €600. Flight + rental car comes to €530.

Obviously taking my own car is by far the cheapest option, but anytime I've driven a LHD car abroad I've had a passenger to deal with tolls, carparks, etc (and also to tell me when it's safe to pass )

Would you consider the savings of taking your own car worth the inconvenience?

nope. i'd rather have my own car to be honest.

hargo

Think of the boot full of Wine.

Mister men

Done it with my own car several times also any insurance company worth it's salt should'nt charge you more for taking your car to Europe for a while. I' ve never had to pay any extra.

magicianz

Own car definately, more comfortable cause you know it, and ofc the boot full of booze is always worth it! Ive seen people literally fill the boot with boxes of wine and stack them on the back seats around their kids! Or should i say stack the kids around their wine :P

Thoie

hargo wrote: »

Think of the boot full of Wine.

I actually hadn't considered the boot full of wine, but I am now

Mister men wrote: »

Done it with my own car several times also any insurance company worth it's salt should'nt charge you more for taking your car to Europe for a while. I' ve never had to pay any extra.

My memory is that normal insurance covers it, but would want to double check to be on the safe side. Would also need to recheck normal thinks like warning triangle, headlight deflectors etc as well, but that's just all the nitty gritty.

I suppose I'm wondering would driving be unbearable with no passenger to do things on that side of the car.

P. Breathnach

I take my car to France at least once each year, often twice. Very often I travel on my own. It's very easy.

Tolls: I don't use tolled roads because I simply don't like them. Motorways are not scenic.

Car Parks: I generally use on-street parking with pay and display systems.

Overtaking: A little more care is required, but who's in a hurry?

Insurance: my insurer does not require any extra premium. I think that is fairly standard.

Things you didn't mention:

Breakdown assistance (AA or similar): If I wanted it extended to France, I would have to pay extra; I don't bother, and take my chances. So far, so good.

Paying for petrol: That's the most awkward thing (and I'm not talking just about the price). I have to get out and walk around to the other side of the car to pay at the kiosk.

And I do bring home a bootful of wine, plus a few other bits and pieces. I stick to the prescribed limits, which is just as well, because customs usually take more interest in solo motorists than they do in couples or families.

enda1

P. Breathnach wrote: »

I take my car to France at least once each year, often twice. Very often I travel on my own. It's very easy.

Tolls: I don't use tolled roads because I simply don't like them. Motorways are not scenic.

Car Parks: I generally use on-street parking with pay and display systems.

Overtaking: A little more care is required, but who's in a hurry?

Insurance: my insurer does not require any extra premium. I think that is fairly standard.

Things you didn't mention:

Breakdown assistance (AA or similar): If I wanted it extended to France, I would have to pay extra; I don't bother, and take my chances. So far, so good.

Paying for petrol: That's the most awkward thing (and I'm not talking just about the price). I have to get out and walk around to the other side of the car to pay at the kiosk.

And I do bring home a bootful of wine, plus a few other bits and pieces. I stick to the prescribed limits, which is just as well, because customs usually take more interest in solo motorists than they do in couples or families.

There is no limit. Just might ask for proof that it's all for private consumption.
A beer belly should do (or wedding planned, christening etc.)

Davidth88

Driven many many times around France/Germany/Benelux in a LHD car.

There is no issue, on single carrageways you may find it difficult to overtake sometime. Also make sure you are reasonably careful first thing in the morning ( when starting off ), and at roundabouts ( there are a few ) .

Don't speed in France , the French police LOVE non French speeders, and will march you down to the local ATM quicker than you can say ' I was only doing 20 guv honest '.

Do get AA5 star ( or similar ) , if nothing else for peace of mind. Just imagine having a prang/breaking down and you don't know who to call or anything .

Don't try to drive too much , enjoy yourself , the way I did my last trip down the Loire valley was to set a limit of 100 miles per day , and once I reached that limit I stopped at the first decent place ....

a) This meant I found places off the beaten track
b) Meant I wasn't stuck to an schedule and HAD to be somewhere.

Really nice , visiting the vine yards etc .

ENjoy

Bon Chance !

P. Breathnach

enda1 wrote: »

There is no limit. Just might ask for proof that it's all for private consumption.
A beer belly should do (or wedding planned, christening etc.)

Customs work on guidelines. I accept that they are not strict limits, but if you exceed them greatly you can expect some hassle. The ones I remember are 90 litres per person for still wine and 1 kilogram of pipe tobacco.