Moped Riding in France
Jan 11th 2009, 2:16 pm
#16
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Re: Moped Riding in France
Thanks for the clarification - as I hope is understandable, I just want to make absolutely sure before deciding upon a course of action. I'll certainly also be looking into the insurance options more carefully now, and may post a thread with any queries I have regarding this in due course.
Apologies if my response regarding the accident rate seemed to convey insolence - this was not in any way my intention. It does become a little tiresome, however, to be responded to in a 'blanket' fashion simply because of one's age; the accident rates are indisputable, but some of us fully appreciate the dangers and intend to take every possible measure to avoid such eventualities.
All of that said, I'm extremely grateful for all of the replies this thread has received, and look forward to drawing upon this immense pool of collected knowledge throughout the next eight months and beyond.
Apologies if my response regarding the accident rate seemed to convey insolence - this was not in any way my intention. It does become a little tiresome, however, to be responded to in a 'blanket' fashion simply because of one's age; the accident rates are indisputable, but some of us fully appreciate the dangers and intend to take every possible measure to avoid such eventualities.
All of that said, I'm extremely grateful for all of the replies this thread has received, and look forward to drawing upon this immense pool of collected knowledge throughout the next eight months and beyond.
Jan 11th 2009, 2:22 pm
#17
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,987
Re: Moped Riding in France
Remember also, that here in France it's the law that your documents are carried with you at all times when on the moped. They have to be originals too. Not copies. You're not required to have a reflective vest by law, but it's a bloody good idea to have one just the same.
Blanket assertions are there because of the statistics I'm afraid. And that you don't have a) years of experience in any kind of driving, and b) you have little if any experience of the driving conditions here in France.
It's one of the reasons that almost all insurance companies class you as a liability until the age of 25.
Blanket assertions are there because of the statistics I'm afraid. And that you don't have a) years of experience in any kind of driving, and b) you have little if any experience of the driving conditions here in France.
It's one of the reasons that almost all insurance companies class you as a liability until the age of 25.
Jan 12th 2009, 12:13 pm
#18
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Re: Moped Riding in France
Good advice re carrying the documentation. The French themselves often forget this and my work colleague was bemoaning only this morning that the police stopped him on his scooter yesterday when all he had on him was his credit card. They fined him nearly 150 euros for not having all the docs with him. Ouch.
On insurance not sure how it works with scooters but after lots of internet searches and discussions with expats I did manage to find insurance for my UK registered car which covers both the UK and continental Europe for a 12 monthly basis - the policy is with AXA, the French insurance company and it is bloody expensive (600 pounds for a Ford Focus vs 200 pounds for a UK only policy). Apparently I am "supposed" to re-register my car if I am in France for more than 6 months but I am told that this is a very grey area in terms of EU guidance vs French policy and even the French police have different ideas of what is right/wrong depending on suburbs. My suburb is full of expats and there are many here on permanent or semi-permanent basis driving around in UK registered cars. Since I am only in France for 3 years I will take my chances with my UK registration and the expensive insurance policy.
On insurance not sure how it works with scooters but after lots of internet searches and discussions with expats I did manage to find insurance for my UK registered car which covers both the UK and continental Europe for a 12 monthly basis - the policy is with AXA, the French insurance company and it is bloody expensive (600 pounds for a Ford Focus vs 200 pounds for a UK only policy). Apparently I am "supposed" to re-register my car if I am in France for more than 6 months but I am told that this is a very grey area in terms of EU guidance vs French policy and even the French police have different ideas of what is right/wrong depending on suburbs. My suburb is full of expats and there are many here on permanent or semi-permanent basis driving around in UK registered cars. Since I am only in France for 3 years I will take my chances with my UK registration and the expensive insurance policy.
Jan 12th 2009, 4:47 pm
#19
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Re: Moped Riding in France
Good advice re carrying the documentation. The French themselves often forget this and my work colleague was bemoaning only this morning that the police stopped him on his scooter yesterday when all he had on him was his credit card. They fined him nearly 150 euros for not having all the docs with him. Ouch.
On insurance not sure how it works with scooters but after lots of internet searches and discussions with expats I did manage to find insurance for my UK registered car which covers both the UK and continental Europe for a 12 monthly basis - the policy is with AXA, the French insurance company and it is bloody expensive (600 pounds for a Ford Focus vs 200 pounds for a UK only policy). Apparently I am "supposed" to re-register my car if I am in France for more than 6 months but I am told that this is a very grey area in terms of EU guidance vs French policy and even the French police have different ideas of what is right/wrong depending on suburbs. My suburb is full of expats and there are many here on permanent or semi-permanent basis driving around in UK registered cars. Since I am only in France for 3 years I will take my chances with my UK registration and the expensive insurance policy.
On insurance not sure how it works with scooters but after lots of internet searches and discussions with expats I did manage to find insurance for my UK registered car which covers both the UK and continental Europe for a 12 monthly basis - the policy is with AXA, the French insurance company and it is bloody expensive (600 pounds for a Ford Focus vs 200 pounds for a UK only policy). Apparently I am "supposed" to re-register my car if I am in France for more than 6 months but I am told that this is a very grey area in terms of EU guidance vs French policy and even the French police have different ideas of what is right/wrong depending on suburbs. My suburb is full of expats and there are many here on permanent or semi-permanent basis driving around in UK registered cars. Since I am only in France for 3 years I will take my chances with my UK registration and the expensive insurance policy.
Jan 12th 2009, 4:49 pm
#20
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 10,551
Re: Moped Riding in France
Urm NO Road Tax In France
.Hand in your Garb of Justice on the way out
Plus in France they don't Crush Cars they export them to the pikeys in Ireland.
Last edited by Ka Ora!; Jan 12th 2009 at 4:53 pm.
Jan 12th 2009, 7:07 pm
#21
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Jan 12th 2009, 9:25 pm
#22
Joined: Mar 2007
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Re: Moped Riding in France
Car Tax is not an issue when being stopped by the Gendarmes, If your on English Insurance they might get a bit picky as no car tax would invalidate a lot of UK policies. Got stopped a few times when we first moved here our car was English with no Road Tax. We had sent dvla a letter saying the car was no longer in the UK and would not be returning and they stopped sending us those silly letters and our insurance was French, We did then shift it to French plates and my OH had a we bit of an accident in a cark park. So then it got scrapped
sodding annoying when you get rid of a new car that qickly.
Last edited by Ka Ora!; Jan 12th 2009 at 9:37 pm.
Jan 14th 2009, 8:21 am
#23
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Re: Moped Riding in France
The car is UK taxed. I know many people say legally you should re-register in France within 6 months but it is possible to get a valid insurance policy to cover a UK registered car France and in my case I am in France temporarily (3 years) and my residence status is borderline (still own home in UK, pay UK social security not French, have permanent UK employment contract with a temporary rider or secondment to France, receive UK child benefit etc). Others at work in the same boat as me get the Stuart Collins insurance policy and keep their UK registered cars and seems to be OK and one of them even had a claim for an accident in France met with no issue.
Jan 14th 2009, 8:48 am
#24
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Re: Moped Riding in France
PS. UK registered Rolls Royce Silver Shadow parked round the corner from my office off the Champs Elysees for the past year with a 2002 tax disc! Probably belongs to a diplomat or an embassy though.
Jan 14th 2009, 2:10 pm
#25
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Re: Moped Riding in France
The car is UK taxed. I know many people say legally you should re-register in France within 6 months but it is possible to get a valid insurance policy to cover a UK registered car France and in my case I am in France temporarily (3 years) and my residence status is borderline (still own home in UK, pay UK social security not French, have permanent UK employment contract with a temporary rider or secondment to France, receive UK child benefit etc). Others at work in the same boat as me get the Stuart Collins insurance policy and keep their UK registered cars and seems to be OK and one of them even had a claim for an accident in France met with no issue.
Jan 14th 2009, 3:00 pm
#26
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Re: Moped Riding in France
Only if its out of the UK for more than 12 months. My car will return to the UK every 11.5 months for a service and home visit before returning to its temporary residence in France.
Jan 20th 2009, 7:28 pm
#27
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Re: Moped Riding in France
Hi,
I'm planning to move out to France at the end of February and stay until October to get my French in order as part of a 'Gap Year' before starting University, and - having not yet passed my full driving test - am looking for an alternative method of independence for the period. A moped, then, seems like a good idea.
I have my standard British car provisional, and from what I understand will need to take a CBT before I can take the [under 50cc] moped I'll buy out on British roads as a learner. That's all fine, but I'm wondering what the situation in France will be - I've seen lots of websites which give contradictory information, and I'd like to get answers from someone 'in the know'.
As I'm only 18, then, will I need to achieve a full UK moped licence before being permitted onto French roads? I know that my provisional licence won't be legal outside of the UK, and I don't plan on getting a French one just to skirt that responsibility. I've seen some evidence, however, to suggest that so long as the moped is under 50cc and I'm not between 14 and 16 [the only ages seeming to require a written theory test before getting on a French moped - but again this could be wrong], I can just ride with no documentation other than proof of identity and insurance.
So...in brief...can I feasibly buy a <50cc moped in the UK, drive it to Dover on my provisional, post-CBT licence with 'L'-plates, then just take the plates off when I get to Calais? I'll have insurance...so that won't be an issue. I obviously won't be able to go on motorways or anything...but, to be honest, that's part of the whole appeal for me; I'm not going to France to go *anywhere* quickly.
Any thoughts? All help will be *very* warmly received.
I'm planning to move out to France at the end of February and stay until October to get my French in order as part of a 'Gap Year' before starting University, and - having not yet passed my full driving test - am looking for an alternative method of independence for the period. A moped, then, seems like a good idea.
I have my standard British car provisional, and from what I understand will need to take a CBT before I can take the [under 50cc] moped I'll buy out on British roads as a learner. That's all fine, but I'm wondering what the situation in France will be - I've seen lots of websites which give contradictory information, and I'd like to get answers from someone 'in the know'.
As I'm only 18, then, will I need to achieve a full UK moped licence before being permitted onto French roads? I know that my provisional licence won't be legal outside of the UK, and I don't plan on getting a French one just to skirt that responsibility. I've seen some evidence, however, to suggest that so long as the moped is under 50cc and I'm not between 14 and 16 [the only ages seeming to require a written theory test before getting on a French moped - but again this could be wrong], I can just ride with no documentation other than proof of identity and insurance.
So...in brief...can I feasibly buy a <50cc moped in the UK, drive it to Dover on my provisional, post-CBT licence with 'L'-plates, then just take the plates off when I get to Calais? I'll have insurance...so that won't be an issue. I obviously won't be able to go on motorways or anything...but, to be honest, that's part of the whole appeal for me; I'm not going to France to go *anywhere* quickly.
Any thoughts? All help will be *very* warmly received.
PJ
Last edited by paulajayne; Jan 20th 2009 at 7:34 pm. Reason: because I have nothing better to do
Jan 20th 2009, 7:36 pm
#29
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Jan 20th 2009, 10:43 pm
#30
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Re: Moped Riding in France
Good luck Ephiphanies. I'm pretty sure your insurance company will withdraw your insurance after a month so you will have to get insurance over here (marginally cheaper in my experience). Bear in mind that if your tax runs out while you are over here and you do not have current English insurance you will not be able to retax your vehicle. And because the system has become computerised they do not accept French based insurance on an English vehicle whatever the documentation says.