Riding in France ?
- Thread starter Arsey
- Start date
Yes
ThreeDawg
Registered user
Yes. Well, my wife carries it for me.
I guess you do if you’re travelling around but when I’m out for the day from my house I never do. Suppose I should of it’s the law
It's weird - I've never been asked for ID for many many years in France but last year we went for a day out by train. When our little rural train pulled into the station on the way back there was a spot check on ID by the Gendarmerie. Fortunately we always carry passport or residence card so no issue but a few (local) people didn't have ID on them and were being asked to provide proof by other means. All friendly and typically French and nothing like the USA ICE but something to be aware of.
I believe that you can carry a copy of a passport or residence card around - it doesn't have to be the original which can be left safe back at home
I've created an album on my phone with pictures of....
Driv Lic
V5
MOT
Ins
Passport
IDL
ESTA
EHIC
1 x Credit Card
...............and anything else that falls into that area.
Used loads at hotels etc etc, and if I lose anything at least Ive got a good record of what the details are.
I share the album with AN Other, usually Von Stolberg, so god forbid if you have your phone nicked its not a show stopper too.
(Apologies if Im teaching you to suck eggs).
Driv Lic
V5
MOT
Ins
Passport
IDL
ESTA
EHIC
1 x Credit Card
...............and anything else that falls into that area.
Used loads at hotels etc etc, and if I lose anything at least Ive got a good record of what the details are.
I share the album with AN Other, usually Von Stolberg, so god forbid if you have your phone nicked its not a show stopper too.
(Apologies if Im teaching you to suck eggs).
I’m not sure they’d accept a phone picture of docs
It is law that I have to carry my passport here in Portugal, as I do not have the "official" ID card....Stopped many times, only asked for it once, most don`t seem to care as long as you have the usual docs with you, which you have to carry by law.
I'm sure a phone pic isn't officially acceptable, but it can't do any harm, and it can prove helpful identifying policy numbers, passport number etc if the originals get lost.
For most of us - UK residents - we'll have our passports with us anyway to get into La Belle France in the first place.
Italy would be the same. You are supposed to carry ID at all times. In reality most people do not (on foot) and it is incredibly rare that anyone would be bothered.
Caveat is that you have to have your driving license with you when driving, both in France and Italy, and virtually all cases they would accept that as ID.
Worse case scenario (Italy at least) you'll have to go and show the documents at a police station later on, paying a small fine. But I've never heard of this happening.
If you are traveling, passport is with you most times anyway.
Digital copy of documents sometimes is helpful, especially on "friendly" checks.
Caveat is that you have to have your driving license with you when driving, both in France and Italy, and virtually all cases they would accept that as ID.
Worse case scenario (Italy at least) you'll have to go and show the documents at a police station later on, paying a small fine. But I've never heard of this happening.
If you are traveling, passport is with you most times anyway.
Digital copy of documents sometimes is helpful, especially on "friendly" checks.
The downside of having documents on your phone, is operating the damned thing when it’s raining, water bouncing off the screen and the police officer is becoming increasingly pissed off with waiting.
I always carried all my documents all the time; i would'nt want to leave them in the tent or in my hotel room for some horrible foreign fucker to pilffer whilst i was out; 
Solution is easy: be faster than the cops on wet roads.
Or avoid places where it rainsSolution is easy: be faster than the cops on wet roads.
Germany also. They will stop you driving/riding without it.
^^^^ ThisI always carried all my documents all the time; i would'nt want to leave them in the tent or in my hotel room for some horrible foreign fucker to pilffer whilst i was out;
Had a house in Spain & always carried passport when there. Lost the PP whilst there, what a pain getting a temporary PP which cost, then getting a replacement 10 yr PP. carried a laminated copy then on in, which I still carry when in foreign
In France (10 years) with the gendarmes and douaniere I would use my picture driving licence....in Portugal (3 years) dealing with the GNR pt, I carried Licence, mot, insurance and passport copies...after the first two random stops I learnt to say in a loud voice..."Bom Dia, do you speak english" and they'd wave me on.... Thought about getting a number plate for the front of the bike so they could see it before the traffic stop. Alternatively I could have learnt the language properly beyond "morning, can I have a beer"
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