During June, the Geant Casino supermarket chain had a promotion on two hi-vis vests for ?2.50. They also had warning triangles and kid-sized hi-vis (and everything else you'd want for the car) much cheaper than at home.
These also were part of a store-wide promotion whereby you get 10% back in vouchers to spend on whatever you like later on, so I stocked up on wiper blades, spare bulbs and grip mat to line the door pockets with while I was getting mine.
To get headlight beam converters to stick properly, clean the glass with neat screenwash before applying them. To remove the glue, take them off as soon as you get home. Put the headlights on for about 10 mins to soften the glue. The converter should peel off first, followed by a film of glue. Use neat screenwash to remove the last of the residue.
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I got mine in Poundland. Garn, ask me how much they cost! ;>)
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1.17 euros ? For sale in Euroland shops in Germany last week for an Euro !
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In France the word 'yeuro' cannot exist because 'e' is pronounced 'euh', so it's un euro, pronouncing the 'n'. The words are always run together as well, as in uneuro, deuxeuros, troiseuros, quat'euros, cinqeuros, etc, etc.
Too often, Brits try to communicate - when they try at all - using French words but English pronunciation, forgetting - or not knowing - that 'e' is euh, 'i' is eee, 'r' is errrr, and so on. Then they don't understand why they get blank stares because the French aren't actually hearing their own language! I'm sure a cunning linguist could have explained this better but it all only requires a little effort...
Lesson over.
Edited by mike hannon on 06/08/2009 at 07:07
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I had fun with pronouncing BMW in Germany !
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I had fun with pronouncing BMW in Germany !
Bay-Em-Vay??
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Yep - in the end - I speak get-by German - Beer, food, diesel etc - but couldn't get my head around that.
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French is 'bayemmdoobleuhvay' - but they still love 'em!
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I was stopped by French police on A26 last month - 100 miles from Calais, cruise control had cut out and speed crept up to 150kph.
Police acted very professionally, gave me a receipt for the very modest fine, but did not check if I had any safety items .... Hi-viz jacket in car door, warning triangle in boot, spare bulbs too (but not for Xenon headlamp, I would need a garage to swap one of these). I'm sure they did not see the plastic stick on beam bender on headlamp either (headlamps were on) - being properly prepared is not difficult, and the safety requirements (apart from beam benders) makes good sense for general driving in UK too. I had already driven 450 miles that day, there were times I wished France would copy Germany and remove speed limits....
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We are taking our Peugeot 407SW to France and Belgium shortly and although we will only be travelling during daylight hours, after reading some of the comments on this forum i think that i had better fit some beam converters to it rather than risking a fine !
Can i just use the clear stick on beam delfectors i can see on ebay for about 3quid, or does anyone know if you can adjust the beam via some device on the headlamps themselves on these cars ?
I have only ever bothered to take a warning triangle and bulb kit in the past, but it sounds like us Brits are being stopped and checked more these days !
Cheers
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We were pulled over into a layby at a police checkpoint shortly after entering France from Italy on a fairly quiet road in daylight. Police wanted to see drivers licence and vehicle documents - I carry a photocopy of the V5 and insurance certificate - and whilst I was getting these they had a good look around the outside of the car, but did not ask about spare bulbs, vests or anything else. Hardly looked at the documents I produced and sent us on our way. No idea whether they had nothing better to do, or were looking for the Pink Panther, or what.
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> I carry a photocopy of the V5 and insurance certificate -
When in France I understand you are required to carry the originals.
www.eurotunnel.com/ukcP3Main/ukcPassengers/ukcTrav...m though the AA website does not mention it. Certainly been the case for decades.
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>I carry a photocopy of the V5 and insurance certificate -
>When in France I understand you are required to carry the originals.
Those are in the safe at home. I never keep the originals in the car. I could do it the other way around, I suppose (carry the originals and keep photocopies back at base). But if push comes to shove and verification is needed, can't they call the DVLA and/or my insurers?
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Thats not always possible and I don't think that the original is needed - when we went over to Europe Motability sent us a copy of the V5 which was enough for the Germans to issue us with the emmissions sticker but Motablity would not give us the original V5.
I don't think that they would risk a disabled person in their motability car being stranded because they didn't have an original V5...
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>>Motablity would not give us the original V5.
That's because the car doesn't belong to you! (If you had the V5 you could (probably. ish.) sell the car.) Instead, under those circumstances, you need proof of ownership.
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Leasing companies do the same with company cars
Edited by commerdriver on 11/08/2009 at 17:38
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Motability will issue you a VE 103 Vehicle on Hire Form if you ask, this is sufficient for use in Europe. This is because the majority of Motability cars are technically "hired "
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Motability will issue you a VE 103 Vehicle on Hire Form
As I said, HB, when I asked them all they sent was a copy of the V5 which shows my wife as the regsitered keeper and thats all it seems we need, the motability stuff we have makes no mention of any other stuff needed to travel abroad, I just kept it with the covering letter they sent and the insurance stuff.
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Thats what I thought MM, but the V5 is actually in my wife's name! The reason they say they do it that way is to make things easier when the three years finish and we swap cars... I supose it also means that if we decide to keep it it will only have one owner shown on the V5.
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So what do you do if you are given a "producer"?
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Sorry, MM, with you now - I'd just take along the Motability stuff which should be sufficient for the Police over here, and, I assume, over there as well...
I'm not saying whats right and wrong, but just thats what Motability do, and I suspect that they've got enough experience of their cars travelling abroad to know what's needed... and, honestly, the V5 is not in their name!!
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As a matter of interest, has anyone been asked for the V5 etc by a continental copper? In about thirty trips across La Manche I have been stopped once, by a Dutch motorcycle cop, as I crossed from Belgium. He escorted me to a mobile office where they checked my passport. No interest in the vehicle at all.
Once when I arrived back at Dover I was asked by Customs whose vehicle it was, and if I had the V5. I shrugged, and suggested they check with DVLA. My story stacked up, I had no contraband, so they didn't bother.
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The French expect to - and are expected to - have the originals of all their vehicle documents with them in the vehicle at all times.
Seems bonkers, but there it is.
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Yes! See earlier post!
>Police wanted to see drivers licence and vehicle documents - I carry a photocopy of the V5 and insurance certificate - and whilst I was getting these they had a good look around the outside of the car, but did not ask about spare bulbs, vests or anything else.
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>>Motablity would not give us the original V5.
I've had 2 Motobility cars and in both cases I've had the V5s, both made out in my name and address as keeper.
Have they changed now ?
Ted
Edited by 1400ted on 12/08/2009 at 00:38
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Must have Ted, we got ours last year and when I asked for it for when we go abroad thats what I got!
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>>Police didn't ask about spare bulbs.
That's not surprising as there's no legal requirement to carry them in France.
Eh? I hear you say.
No, HOWEVER, if you are stopped with a blown bulb, you will get an on the spot fine from a policeman. HOWEVER, if you are able to show him a box of bulbs and replace the blown one, you will get off.
So, you will never be asked to produce them.
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