I've never had a country sticker on my bike and I don't remember having one on my car. They look very naff. Maybe useful if you come from Uzbekistan or somewhere, but in Europe, most people know what a Swiss, British, French, Spanish, German etc etc plate looks like. I've done thousands of miles abroad - no one has ever mentioned it, even on the odd occasion I have been stopped by the police for something entirely different.
I'm riding in France at least 4 times per yr. Never had to bother with anything other than my licenses and passport. I know that road too. :wink: We've never been stopped by Gendarmes. We've been encouraged by them to fly past them as weve sat behind at the national speed limit. I tell thee, the French are ace.
That picture always reminds me of Scarborough for some reason. Some of my best biking memories are from that particular trip.
According to this site you need one but as I said, they don`t seem to be enforced that rigorously by the police. https://www.gov.uk/displaying-number-plates/flags-symbols-and-identifiers I rode in France without one, no problems. I rode in Germany last year with one, no problems. The three mates I went with both times had the eu symbol already printed on their plates. I took the view that "if" we got stopped, why give the police a reason to start writing ticket when, if everything looks ok with the bikes, a bollocking might be all that is required. I bought two loose stickers from a car accessories shop for something daft like 49p. I agree they do look naff though.
Got one integrated in the plate anyway....probably wont cut the mustard if I get stopped for it. But worried about my rear indicators though and they're built into the rear light.
I think you`ll be fine Matt. This is only my opinion but the French police seem to operate a live and let live policy, they seem to want you to have a good time, spend your money on local wares and come back next year to do the same. If you`re racing through built up areas or pillaging every village you come to then they will stop you and empty your wallet with alacrity. There are people who have posted on here who who can vouch for that. My limited experience with the Frenchies: Same as Bootsam, waved past by a cop doing just under the speed limit. Came upon an accident at a busy junction, the cop directing traffic saw us, pulled us out the queue and waved us on our way. Was he being bike friendly or just getting the dozy Brit bikers out the way so the locals can carry on with their demolition derby? You decide. We stopped in a village near Abbeville, at a cafe, for drinks. There was no room to park on the road so we pulled the bikes on to the wide kerb, next to a wall, plenty of room for pedestrians. We`re sat outside when up strolls a policeman, he looks at each bike, he walks up to us, (we`re for it now) gives us a friendly "bonjour," touches the peak of his cap with his truncheon and strolls off. If he`d come along 5 minutes earlier he could have arrested the whole sorry lot of us for crimes against the French language. I said pain au chocolat wasn`t hot chocolate but no, the clowns I`m with wouldn`t listen.
If you do need to apply for the E111, make sure you do not use a scam website which charges you for it. They are FREE (unless you are an illegal immigrant in which case you might have to pay someone to get you one fraudulently!).
Don't be, they're not the slightest bit interested. Don't be worried about stickers, hi-viz, dodgy lights or anything like that. Just hit France and enjoy. If you get stopped take your lid off, drop your head and start apologising - works every time
If you are going south about 8 miles away is little seaside town called Wissant, well worth a stop for coffee and a croissant
The blue euro GB on your number plate is 100% compliant, you only need a GB sticker if your number plate hasn't got a euro country identifier.
