France and Switzerland

edthered
edthered Forum Participant Posts: 2
edited July 2019 in Overseas Campsites & Touring #1

Hi we are travelling through France to Switzerland at the end of July I have been reading about sat nav which I have in the car it has the speed cameras warning on it do I need to remove it and also brought the new Garmin caravan sat nav for the campsites which I haven’t downloaded the cameras on it    Also brought the vignettes for car and caravan do you have to stick the car one on the left side or right side of windscreen and do you stick the one in the caravan   Thanks eddie 

Comments

  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,829 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2019 #2

    I don't know about the make of sat nav you have. The Tom tom website has information on their own speed camera warnings for each country. They say that the warnings their products give are legal in France, and that they do not give such warnings in Switzerland where they would be illegal. 

    Swiss vignettes go on the left of the car and the caravan. The officer who sells them at the frontier will probably do it for you in the precise and correct Swiss manner. The Swiss like precise and correct. 

     

  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,144 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2019 #3

    As I have a caravan towing cover I stuck my vignette (for the van) on the nearside (UK) front window.  Didn't get stopped or queried.

  • hitchglitch
    hitchglitch Forum Participant Posts: 3,007
    1000 Comments
    edited July 2019 #4

    My Garmin gives speed camera warnings in France as “Dangerous Road Segment” or something similar. I think they are clever enough to adjust the notification according to the country you are in. I have found the speed indication and speed limit information on the Garmin to be very accurate although, obviously, it doesn’t adjust for heavy vehicles or towing.

    If you are crossing at Basel and want to pay by credit card you need to park up and pay at the office. Don’t get stuck on the inside lane approaching the border as this is for lorries. Note that it is illegal to put a very slight smear of Vaseline etc. on the vignettes to aid removal as it would then be possible to resell it on eBay after your visit! Actually it is a genuine nuisance removing the vignette from acrylic.

    Suggest you download Archies POIs for sites. It is brilliant and updated quite frequently based on user feedback.

  • deryckhogge
    deryckhogge Forum Participant Posts: 18
    edited July 2019 #5

    I noticed Oneputt put his caravan sticker on the front nearside window of his caravan as he has a towing cover.

    I also use a towing cover and have already bought my vignettes. I was planning to put both stickers on the nearside of the car windscreen but has anyone else done this and had any problems.

    Windscreen or nearside van front window decision time soon !

  • H B Watson
    H B Watson Forum Participant Posts: 183
    edited July 2019 #6

    The stickers must be on the correct vehicle. Incidentally you don't need a vignette as long as you stay off the motorways - I've done both but consider the vignette worth it. I found the staff at the Basel border crossing to be really helpful.

    My understanding is that as long as the camera alerts are switched off then you're okay in France.

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