Driving in France

thegills

Hi Guys,

I wasnt sure where to post this. I have AA that covers me for breakdown emergency and replacement car hire in Ireland / UK but will be driving through France soon. AA have an optional add on for €119 for 2 weeks that covers me for same as Ireland but also hotels and getting me and my car home.

Are there any other options?

thegills

Toots

Hi OP, this is probably more of a motoring query, so I've moved it to the Motors Forum.

Motors mods, sorry if this is the wrong place for it!

Mr. Manager

thegills wrote: »

Hi Guys,

I wasnt sure where to post this. I have AA that covers me for breakdown emergency and replacement car hire in Ireland / UK but will be driving through France soon. AA have an optional add on for €119 for 2 weeks that covers me for same as Ireland but also hotels and getting me and my car home.

Are there any other options?

thegills

I took a trip to France just before Christmas and grabbed insurance from AA too.

For what I was paying, they couldn't be beaten (at the time). Can't say I have much/any experience with other crowds but I couldn't fault my level of cover from AA

pajo1981

€119 for two weeks cover when the odds of your car breaking down during that time are practically nil is insane.

Ninap

Check your policy (or shop around). Most will include breakdown assist for short visits to continental Europe. You shouldn't have to pay any extra at all

Ninap

Ps. Be aware of the legal requirements for driving in France (http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/overseas/index.html). Mainly having a high-vis jacket and spare bulbs in the car. Also remember to give priority to cars joining from the right (including on many roundabouts).

R.O.R

pajo1981 wrote: »

€119 for two weeks cover when the odds of your car breaking down during that time are practically nil is insane.

I bet that's quite a bit cheaper than having to get a vehicle towed to a mechanic's in France, off the M-Way, then organise a replacement vehicle to get where you need to go because the mechanic had to order a part for you car, then pay to get your car transported down to where you are now rather than traipsing halfway back across France.

€119 is expensive if nothing happens, but the bargain of the century if sh1t happens, and we all know, sh1t happens.

savagecabbages

+1

I have been in a vehicle which was subject to a check for such items, also tire pressures. They even weighed the camper we were travelling in...

And beware of speeding on toll motorways, the system is a ticket system where you pull a ticket on entry to the system, and pay the toll on exit. I have heard of drivers getting speeding tickets for entering and exiting the toll system in too short a time to be travelling under the speed limit. You'll often see long queues of cars parked up just before the toll gate area.... Crafty French eh:rolleyes::rolleyes:

Berty

Considerably cheaper

You get European Breakdown cover and 12 month Irish Cover.

AA are robbing gits.

http://www.breakdowncover.ie/

EPM

R.O.R wrote: »

I bet that's quite a bit cheaper than having to get a vehicle towed to a mechanic's in France, off the M-Way, then organise a replacement vehicle to get where you need to go because the mechanic had to order a part for you car, then pay to get your car transported down to where you are now rather than traipsing halfway back across France.

€119 is expensive if nothing happens, but the bargain of the century if sh1t happens, and we all know, sh1t happens.

+2

First thing that happened my last car the second I got it out of the country...twice!

R.O.R

EPM wrote: »

+2

First thing that happened my last car the second I got it out of the country...twice!

I'm beginning to suspect it's not the cars fault..........................:p

EPM

R.O.R wrote: »

I'm beginning to suspect it's not the cars fault..........................:p

It's the manufacturers...git:D

pajo1981

It's still a rip off. I can get annual multi-trip travel health insurance for like €15.

The odds of any modern car breaking down to the point it won't move in a given two weeks of the year would be extremely slight.

CiniO

R.O.R wrote: »

I bet that's quite a bit cheaper than having to get a vehicle towed to a mechanic's in France, off the M-Way, then organise a replacement vehicle to get where you need to go because the mechanic had to order a part for you car, then pay to get your car transported down to where you are now rather than traipsing halfway back across France.

€119 is expensive if nothing happens, but the bargain of the century if sh1t happens, and we all know, sh1t happens.

First of all breakdown is quite rare.
Even if it happens, recovery cost wouldn't be that much.
How much can towing to garage cost, hiring a car for few days, and maybe even accomodation for few days? Couple hundred euro?
What's the point to pay a quarter of the price to insure such unlikely event?

As I wrote recently in similar thread.
AA Ireland EU breakdown cover prices is a joke.
Last time I was going to Continent for 2 months in my Irish registered car, I got cover from a company from the Continent for that period for about 10 euros. Cover was almost the same as what was offered by AA Ireland for 200 euros.

R.O.R

CiniO wrote: »

First of all breakdown is quite rare.
Even if it happens, recovery cost wouldn't be that much.
How much can towing to garage cost, hiring a car for few days, and maybe even accomodation for few days? Couple hundred euro?
What's the point to pay a quarter of the price to insure such unlikely event?

Breakdown might be rare, but I know that it happens, frequently enough, and on occasion to people in foreign countries, without breakdown assistance - that's an expensive lesson that driver will never forget!

You obviously haven't had anything towed to a garage recently have you? Rental cars at short notice can be very expensive, as can hotel rooms.

All insurance is a waste of money, until you need it.

inforfun

savagecabbages wrote: »

And beware of speeding on toll motorways, the system is a ticket system where you pull a ticket on entry to the system, and pay the toll on exit. I have heard of drivers getting speeding tickets for entering and exiting the toll system in too short a time to be travelling under the speed limit. You'll often see long queues of cars parked up just before the toll gate area.... Crafty French eh:rolleyes::rolleyes:

A guy in the pub told you that?
Absolute nonsense.

CiniO

R.O.R wrote: »

Breakdown might be rare, but I know that it happens, frequently enough, and on occasion to people in foreign countries, without breakdown assistance - that's an expensive lesson that driver will never forget!

You obviously haven't had anything towed to a garage recently have you? Rental cars at short notice can be very expensive, as can hotel rooms.

Hence as well, that we live in Ireland where prices seem to be one of the highest in Europe.
If you are on Continent, you can only expect to pay less than at home for such things.

And to be honest with you - I really don't think it might be that expensive.
Towing to the nearest garage in France shouldn't cost you more than 200 euros.
Taxi to the hotel or b&b probably another 100. Accomodation depending on how many people travel, but most likely not more than 50 per day per person (your insurance wouldn't pay more anyway).
Short notice car rental shouldn't be a problem, as most companies always have plenty of spare cars.

In average case you should close all in about 500 if repair can be carried out quickly.
What's the point then in paying 120 insurance to cover that.

All insurance is a waste of money, until you need it.

Generally speaking all insurance companies exist on the market to make money.
It means, that average person pays more insurance premiums during his/her life, than he/she ever gets back from claims.
For most of average people it would be wiser not to buy any kind of insurance at all during all its life, as the cost would be smaller even they had to pay for every emergency themselves.

I don't like the whole insurance thing, and I only insure what I'm obliged to, or what I feel that might be worth for me as I'm in bigger risk than average person, while insurance company might not be aware of it.

Zascar

Try some UK companies. AA Ireland are a compete ripoff. They wanted €118 for motorbike breakdown for 11 days for me. I got it though a UK company for £24. I did actually break down too, and the guys fixed the bike on the spot, whereas the AA will only toe you to a garage.

savagecabbages

inforfun wrote: »

A guy in the pub told you that?
Absolute nonsense.

Nothing nonsense about someone entering a toll system, driving 130 km and exiting less than an hour later(or similar ratio) . Ticket in the post. Evidence in hand! Caused a big scandal the first time it was done a few years back.

Back OT defo worth shopping around, though I can understand how car insurance is much more than simple travel cover. i.e. 4 people go to France in a car, all 4 get travel insurance. Only the driver gets car insurance. Much less policies taken out = higher prices...

One last thing. If you don't have cover and DO break down, make sure its in roadworks = free tow:P

keithclancy

savagecabbages wrote: »

Nothing nonsense about someone entering a toll system, driving 130 km and exiting less than an hour later(or similar ratio) . Ticket in the post. Evidence in hand! Caused a big scandal the first time it was done a few years back.

Back OT defo worth shopping around, though I can understand how car insurance is much more than simple travel cover. i.e. 4 people go to France in a car, all 4 get travel insurance. Only the driver gets car insurance. Much less policies taken out = higher prices...

One last thing. If you don't have cover and DO break down, make sure its in roadworks = free tow:P

Nice Story.

There is no Average Speed System on the Autoroute, a Cop Clocks your speed, radios ahead and another Cop gives you the ticket at the toll point, mainly because its the safest place to pull you on the Motorway.

And those A**holes want cash So much so they'll drive with you to an ATM to get it out.

Would be stupid anyway, unless there was barrier free tolling, theres always a queue.

Plus the French have no way of obtaining an address from Irish Plates unless you give them one.

I wouldn't get 'cheap' Breakdown cover again, false economy.

If you do get it then make sure they're reputable.

I paid 76 euros for full European breakdown cover with ANWB here in NL, don't know how that compares to Ireland.

thegills

Last time I was going to Continent for 2 months in my Irish registered car, I got cover from a company from the Continent

CiniO - Who was this with??

I got it though a UK company for £24

Zascar - Who was this with.

I'm just looking for some companies who can do better than AA

BTW - Thanks for all the tips driving in France. I have the spare lights and high-viz jacket and a Vanessa Paradis CD at the ready to keep them sweet.

CiniO

thegills wrote: »

CiniO - Who was this with??

http://www.sospzmot.pl

Website in Polish only

Absurdum

If I may hijack this thread a little, as I'll be driving in France over the next 10 days...:p

According to the AA link above, it is only recommended that a spare bulb pack is carried in the car (as opposed to being compulsory), I can't be arsed spending ~€50 on a set of replacement HID bulbs that I will probably never need - I have replacement bulbs for all other lights on the car though, should this be ok? I have hi-vis and all the rest coverered.

savagecabbages

It is compulsory, and they do check for EVERY bulb...
You could borrow a few bulbs off a friend while your away maybe??

CiniO

savagecabbages wrote: »

It is compulsory, and they do check for EVERY bulb...
You could borrow a few bulbs off a friend while your away maybe??

Compulsory me ar3e!

All cars in international traffic, has to be equipped as required in country of registration.
That's one of the basic principles of Road traffic convention from Vienna 1968.

As spare bulbs are not required in Ireland you don't have to carry them while driving in France, or anywhere in Europe.

savagecabbages

You can tell that to the Gendarme who checks your car for spare bulbs, vests, triangles etc. next time your driving in France. I'm sure he/she will be very understanding.

Have a nice trip OP;)

keithclancy

Absurdum wrote: »

If I may hijack this thread a little, as I'll be driving in France over the next 10 days...:p

According to the AA link above, it is only recommended that a spare bulb pack is carried in the car (as opposed to being compulsory), I can't be arsed spending ~€50 on a set of replacement HID bulbs that I will probably never need - I have replacement bulbs for all other lights on the car though, should this be ok? I have hi-vis and all the rest coverered.

I think they only recommend it because bulbs are a ripoff in the Motorway stations.

I got one headlamp bulb for the price of an entire pack at some ARAL Petrol station on the Motorway in Germany.

I don't think this checking your spares thing is true, they only fine the arse off you when you dont have them and you need them.

Besides they'll only stop you if your driving like an a$$ anyway