Do I need a green card?

General scooter chat, any scooter related non technical info.
parky
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Bearing in mind the situation with Brexit, I am travelling to France on my scoot in June, will I need to obtain a green card in addition to my European insurance cover?
warts
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Under EU legislation, any EU valid insurance ie issued within any EU state must extend cover across the whole EU. You did not need a separate Green Card, but some British ins co's required you to inform them of your travel, and others limited your travel abroad to 90 days or even 30 days per annum - or other restrictions. These are not EU sanctioned restrictions.

Once/if Britain exits the EU, your British insurance will require a "translation", which is what a Green Card originally was.

As a traveller from a non EU country,you will also require a "visa" the ETIAS. These are not really visas, just a means of identification and are valid for 3 years.

You do need at least 3 months validity remaining on your passport after your proposed return.
https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/etias/

Even at this late date no one knows how any other fine details will pan out, like the free roaming on your phone. Or how efficient recovery services will be in the event of no deal.

All or any of these could change in the next couple of weeks. And change again by your holiday date.
parky
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Thanks for the reply, I suppose the situation will be cleared up by March 29th as either we will be still in the EU or not. I will wait until then before sorting anything out.
warts
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That's the best.
rosscla
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parky wrote: Sat Mar 16, 2019 10:17 am suppose the situation will be cleared up by March 29th
Aye but what year :lol:
"Our dilemma is that we hate change and love it at the same time; what we really want is for things to remain the same but get better."
nick b
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I live in spain still have a gb license and have absolutely no idea what is going to happen in the near future either. I sort of think it all depends on how radical the leaving plan eventually is to what different steps[if any] need to be taken. in spain I don't think anything is going to change much but with the French you never know
l111amo
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I’m going France on my go in April, insurance company saying if out by then will need green card & some sort of difference to licence as well
warts
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IDP - International Driving Permit.
Get one at the Post Office if you have one. £5.50, a current photo and either a picture licence or your passport
But as ever bullshit baffles brains, and having far more documentation to baffle le Flic is much better than insufficient.

Best way is stay away from major roads and the outskirts of cities. The small D roads are much nicer to ride, choose right and they are almost traffic free. And a delight to use, you come across very nice little towns and villages.

In over 40 years, with up to 5 visits a year of varying lengths, long week ends to 6 week stays. Mostly bike, but also car off season.
I have been caught once in a speed trap - let off. It was too near lunch and the translation would be onerous. Don't count on this now.
Once leaving a restaurant late at night - let off, the police was so taken aback that the wheel was on the wrong side, he waved me on. Remember the Drink Drive limit is much lower in France.*
Once, a Gendamerie routine road block, presumably for early Sunday morning hungovers. I didn't have any paperwork, only the farmhouse rental agreement. She laughed and sent me on my way. (carrying no documentation is itself an offence in most of Europe).
Several other times I have come across routine traffic stops, and as soon as they see my foreign plate, wave me through.

The Gendamerie are not the same as police. There are rural and municipal local police too. The Gendamerie is a paramilitary organisation with more extensive powers. But all are armed.

*Fines are often pretty steep for many offences and may be demanded "on the spot". An escort to the atm if you don't have cash.
Speeding is now fairly draconian, staged punishments, up to confiscation of vehicle and/or imprisonment.

My experience and that of friends, is don't be a tw@7 and there is a chance they will be nice see above.
rosscla
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nick b wrote: Sat Mar 16, 2019 12:58 pm I live in spain still have a gb license and have absolutely no idea what is going to happen in the near future either. I sort of think it all depends on how radical the leaving plan eventually is to what different steps[if any] need to be taken. in spain I don't think anything is going to change much but with the French you never know
I read some advice that you should apply to have your GB licence converted to a local one in your country of residence. It recommend this because some countries may not recognise a GB licence and may require you to pass a test to get a local licence if we crash out with no deal.
"Our dilemma is that we hate change and love it at the same time; what we really want is for things to remain the same but get better."
nick b
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yes that is true but you can only get a Spanish license if you have residencia which despite living here 15 years I only got recently. also the backlog for licenses is massive so that is the next thing to do. I would be terrified to retake my test as after 35 years of driving I have every bad habit possible
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