French Motorhome over 3.5 ton rule

1360 Views 26 Replies 13 Participants Last post by raynipper, 2 mo ago

JanHank

Discussion Starter · 2 mo ago

I have just been told about this, but never read anything on the forum about it.

www.wandering-bird.com

Angles Morts Stickers- Does Your Motorhome or Camper Need one?

Confused about Angles Morts stickers for motorhomes and campervans? Here's everything you need to know about the French Blind Spot stickers...

www.wandering-bird.com

www.wandering-bird.com

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MrWez

· #2 · 2 mo ago

I've posted about it before but it's always good to get a reminder.

The clincher with the rule is not whether your vehicle is over 3.5 tonnes but whether it's capable of being over 3.5 tonne, so even if your MH is itself below the 3.5 tonne limit but you're towing a car then you're probably over the limit.

We use magnetic plaques which go on the cab door but these are no good on the rear right corner which is non-magnetic fibreglass. I used an old fashioned sticky-sticker but applied a thin smear of vaseline to the bodywork before applying the sticker. The sticker held for the 3 weeks we were away, I peeled it off as soon as we got back then cleaned up the area with isopropyl alcohol.

Reactions: 1

GMJ

· #3 · 2 mo ago

Pick a set up from Ebay or Amazon Jan. You can get a 2 x magnetic/1 x sticky one as a pack I believe. I do as Mr Wez says regarding the magnetic ones but I leave the rear one on permanently.

Are you likely to be visiting any low emission zones Jan? If so then you'll need a Crit Air sticker too. Only buy from the official site...

Le site officiel de la vignette Crit'Air (certificat qualité de l'air) - Ministère de la Transition écologique

Le seul site officiel à délivrer la vignette Crit'Air (certificat qualité de l'air), établie en fonction des émissions polluantes du véhicule.

www.certificat-air.gouv.fr

It costs around €5-6 from memory and is a simple, speedy process to get one. It lasts for the life of the MH or at least the life of your MH windscreen. It's a similar scheme to the one running in your country Jan.

JanHank

Discussion Starter · #4 · 2 mo ago

Thank you both. I had no idea until Roger (my English German motorhome friend) told me yesterday. Not having thought I would ever go to France ( as Hans and I always went East). I haven’t read the info on here for France in the past except when someone is travelling through on holiday.
I imagine when Roger comes next week he’ll come armed with everything I need.

bilbaoman

· #5 · 2 mo ago

You will see when you get to France that less than 50% of French vans bother to fit them

Reactions: 1

JanHank

Discussion Starter · #6 · 2 mo ago

bilbaoman said:
You will see when you get to France that less than 50% of French vans bother to fit them

But I will probably be the one to get stopped 😕, the policemen like to stop me here, well twice they have, right hand drive, lady driver with GB sticker and a German number plate, they get inquisitive. I don’t mind though because policemen are all young 😁.

raynipper

· #7 · 2 mo ago

I used to keep a board with all the new requirements of speed roundels and warning flashes to put across the back window for the MOT only. Then tucked it away under the bed the rest of the year. Then I had to have the weights stuck on the van just behind the cab door.

Ray.

MrWez

· #8 · 2 mo ago

I bought the Crit'Air sticker from the official site for my car recently, it cost less than €5 posted to the UK and it was delivered in less than 10 days although that was just before the recent industrial unrest. What you do get within a day is an e-mail as proof of your application with your vehicle classification on it which you can use as proof in-lieu of the sticker. You'll need to scan in a copy of your V5 or equivalent document, there's an English guide on the official site explaining what's needed.

With regards to whether less than 50% of French MHs have the Angles Mortes stickers fitted, that's a matter for them, for the sake of a few quid vs a much larger fine, I'll spend a few quid. We've all heard tales whether true or not of French police picking on foreign drivers and a MH is a very large and obvious target so I'd rather not give them any excuse to pick on me.

Reactions: 2

eurajohn

· #9 · 2 mo ago

Jan your van is registered as below 3500Kgs, you do not need to worry about the angles mort stickers.
It's not what your van actually weighs legal or not but what it is registered at.
If likely to go into an area requiring Crit'Air sticker get one easily from the site Geoff posted above.

Reactions: 2

Webby1

· #10 · 2 mo ago

How would you know that your van was capable of beig over 3.5 if you have not checked to get it upplated........seems rather silly to me.Then again for the first time this year we had someone pull out from the right in front of us muttering priorite under her breath.I did wonder if it was a cash for cash scam. So the ule still exists and we finally learnt the meaning of those yellow diamonds

Remember that when you decide to ignore those 3.5 weight limits into small villages and bridges you will be plastered with angles morts stickers saying that you are over 3.5.I thought it might of been an issue at the peage but I understand they just go by height

JanHank

Discussion Starter · #11 · 2 mo ago

Webby1 said:
How would you know that your van was capable of being over 3.5 if you have not checked to get it upplated........seems rather silly to me.Then again for the first time this year we had someone pull out from the right in front of us muttering priorite under her breath.I did wonder if it was a cash for cash scam. So the ule still exists and we finally learnt the meaning of those yellow diamonds

Remember that when you decide to ignore those 3.5 weight limits into small villages and bridges you will be plastered with angles morts stickers saying that you are over 3.5.I thought it might of been an issue at the peage but I understand they just go by height

It tells you under the bonnet, even I knew that 😂. Whet does my signature say Peter. Mine can be up plated to 3.850kg. if I remember correctly.

If you were driving in Germany then in certain places you give way to vehicles coming from the right.
In Germany, drivers have to yield to the right when no signs or traffic lights indicate otherwise,

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raynipper

· #12 · 2 mo ago

Yes Jan, its still in existence here in the odd high street. Crazy but some French love it and exercise their 'right' with impunity.
So strangers beware.

Ray.

Reactions: 1

barryd

· #13 · 2 mo ago

raynipper said:
Yes Jan, its still in existence here in the odd high street. Crazy but some French love it and exercise their 'right' with impunity.
So strangers beware.

Ray.

I have never understood that mad way of thinking. If you are aware that many will not be familiar with this bonkers rule how is exercising your "right" going to help you when your vehicle gets wiped out in an accident? It might be legal to jump off a cliff but I dont think I would bother trying it.

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rayc

· #14 · 2 mo ago

Still my favourite French road article. BBC NEWS | World | Europe | Paris mayoral feud blocks street

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Penquin

· #15 · 2 mo ago

Yes Angles Morts stickers are needed for all motorhomes registered about 3500kg.

BUT very many vans do not have them. We were advised by our Controle Technique assessor that they are ONLY required in towns and cities - places that many MH do not visit, hence, perhaps why they are not universal. The magnetic ones from eBay work on the side doors, but not on the rear as that is fibreglass, so you will need 2 magnetic and one self-adhesive. That cost £11.48 but that seller no longer offers them (last April).

The magnetic ones adhere very well but I am aware some people remove them before driving on motorways due to worries about wind speed and buffeting. That MIGHT account for why they are not 100% prevalent…….” Honestly Officer it was there when I left !”

Yes, we do have them, but even before I fitted them I was never checked…..

Yes Priorité à droit does still exist and is used by many, when it suits them, but not always….. It is most often found in towns at eg town squares with roads entering and leaving at every corner. Major roads are not affected by it, but France has some very odd junctions where suddenly it is working…..

Good luck !

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weldted

· #16 · 2 mo ago

Mousetrap Motor vehicle Match Rectangle Font

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weldted

· #17 · 2 mo ago

Have these on front and sides, the side ones are tapered at the front to offer less resistance to the wind. Covered over 10,000 miles just take them off periodically clean the surface and back on again.

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teemyob

· #18 · 2 mo ago

Ridiculous idea. Typical French. Imagine if every European country insisted on them in their language ?.

could be a great moneymaker for the uk, Germany, Spain…..

my Spanish car already has 3 environmental zone stickers on the windscreen and an ITV sticker.

I won’t be able to see out of it at this rate

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GMJ

· #19 · 2 mo ago

I guess we'd be stopping at the border to take one lot off and pop another one on!

Bluddy foreigners

erneboy

· #20 · 2 mo ago

Making up laws just to inconvenience Brits.

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