Driving to France!

[JumpShip]

We drive through france to spain each year and normally just get a tiny UK sticker for the numberplate .
Never had any problems.

 

[Bav]

We drive through france to spain each year and normally just get a tiny UK sticker for the numberplate .
Never had any problems.

Good shout - I'll pop down to Halfords and see what they have.

 

[Ayjay]

@Bav. That’s what I did originally and never got pulled but I’ve now got a UK plate on the rack. If you’ve got time, maybe get a new plate or even just a UK sticker - £4 a pair from Amazon so you could get the tomorrow if you’re a Prime subscriber.

 

[Salty Spuds]

Do you have UK badges on your number plates? If so, just stick the UK sticker on the tailgate. You overestimate the “give a toss” coefficient of Mr Gendarme

 

[Bav]

Do you have UK badges on your number plates?

Unfortunately not - the van plates are the pressed metal variety and the rack has a plain plastic effort.

 

[WinFreak]

I normally just pop one of these on the rear reg plate when we go

 

[Bav]

@Bav. That’s what I did originally and never got pulled...

@Ayjay , when you say 'that's what I did', do you mean you put it in the plastic pouch? If so, I'll go that route and look to upgrade the rack plate at a later date.

 

[DXX]

If you can see it French Plod can see it, that’s the only requirement as far as I’m aware.
Quite handy to have a removable badge if you end up in an area where visitors aren’t welcomed with open arms.

 

[Ayjay]

@Ayjay , when you say 'that's what I did', do you mean you put it in the plastic pouch? If so, I'll go that route and look to upgrade the rack plate at a later date.

Affirmative - it's actually a magnetic one that was all that I had available and I stuck it onto the red/white panel in the see through pocket with some clear waterproof tape.

 

[kipperman]

If you can see French Plod can see it, that’s the only requirement as far as I’m aware.
Quite handy to have a removable badge if you end up in an area where visitors aren’t welcomed with open arms.

And they aren't going to recognise the UK numberplate as being exactly that whether it says UK or not?

 

[DXX]

And they aren't going to recognise the UK numberplate as being exactly that whether it says UK or not?

I’ve been asked where I’m from by Germans and French because they look at the reg’ plate and don’t see a country designation. You’d think the steering wheel would be a giveaway.

 

[WinFreak]

And they aren't going to recognise the UK numberplate as being exactly that whether it says UK or not?

I reckon they will, our horrible font and big fat letters stand out from a mile away, there’s no mistaking it for anything else

 

[Fishinbrine]

Quick question.

In preparation for Saturday's trip, I've just slapped my magnetic UK badge on the tailgate, but have realised it'll almost certainly be obscured by our bikes (which will be tow-bar mounted). A quick Google suggest the gendarmes will not take kindly to this.

There doesn't appear to anywhere on the tailgate where I can attach a magnetic badge and it be visible. Same goes with the back rack itself - the reg plate is plastic and the metalwork of the carrier will be covered by a Fiamma bike cover. The only alternative I can see is to pop it into the clear plastic pouch of the cover, where the hazard sign goes. Would this this be legal/satisfy the gendarmerie and, if not, can anyone offer an alternative solution?

TIA

I just got the UK stickers for on the numberplate - look absolutely fine and will suffice, put the magnetic one on your van too and then your sorted

 

[kipperman]

I reckon they will, our horrible font and big fat letters stand out from a mile away, there’s no mistaking it for anything else

Oh I don't know - the Swiss must have incredible eyesight as how they can see these tiny letters on their reg plates!

 

[DXX]

Oh I don't know - the Swiss must have incredible eyesight as how they can see these tiny letters on their reg plates!

No crime in Switzerland other than the cost of living.

 

[JumpShip]

We had a few people ask if UK on our plates meant Ukraine.

 

[Salty Spuds]

No crime in Switzerland other than the cost of living.

The prices keep out the undesirables, Monaco, Lichtenstein et al. The crime is still there but better quality

 

[DXX]

The prices keep out the undesirables, Monaco, Lichtenstein et al. The crime is still there but better quality

My kids are coppers, when I last visited Monaco my Russian speaking girlfriend was listening into some of the careless conversations from the working girls (oddly no ugly ones). With the feedback I got I messaged my kids and told them they are wasting their time.
A bit like putting out your recycling when Mr Trump is in power.