Whilst planning my own journey to France this year, I realised that there are some essential items you’ll need for any road trip that takes you across the channel. Plus, I’ve shared some tips that’ll help you to minimise the amount of items you travel with.
This will save you space in the boot of your car, which can be handy if you want to bring back any souvenirs from your travels – or a bottle of wine from the vineyard! Here’s what you’ll need to pack for a driving holiday in France.
Driving in France
There are certain things you need to be able to drive in France. I’m someone who fully prepares and does a lot of research in advance of any trip so I can confidently say that this list will cover most of what you’ll need if you’re driving through France.
- Full UK driving licence
- Crit-Air sticker
- Insurance and ownership documents
- European breakdown cover
- UK stickers for your number plate and rear of the car
- Headlamp beam deflectors
- In-car emergency kit including a warning triangle and hi-visibility vests for everyone travelling with you, which must be worn before you step out of the vehicle if you’ve broken down
- Everything you’ll need for changing a tyre and replacement bulbs
- First aid kit
Of course, the regulations and emission zones change over the years so be sure to check out the current guidelines for travelling through France by car to make sure you’re on the right side of the law.
Other things I always keep with me are my passport, another form of photographic ID, HEIC health card, information about my destination and accommodation.
Be prepared
In terms of packing your suitcase, it IS possible to get away with a smaller bag. Even if you’re travelling by car and don’t need to worry about airline size restrictions, it still makes sense to keep your clothing to a minimum so that you’ll have space in the boot for your family’s belongings. And if you’re hoping to pack smart, you need to consider the weather.
In the north of France and along the coast, the weather conditions will be similar to the UK’s south coast. Consider what Cornwall or the Isle of Wight would be like weather-wise at the time of year you’re travelling. If you’d need a cosy coat or umbrella for wet weather in the UK, or cotton tees and light summer dresses for hot days on the south coast, that’s pretty-much what you’ll also need in Normandy or Brittany.
To save space, I’m taking a packable rain mac that’ll keep me dry if it drizzles but, seeing as it’s summer, I’m going to stick with lightweight items like this striped t-shirt that I can easily layer up with a cardi if the weather turns chilly. These hardworking items can be worn multiple times with different options – such as the tee with a skirt, shorts, trousers or jeans – and don’t take up much room in your suitcase at all.
Don’t overpack
When you’ve got your car with you, it can be tempting to take everything with you ‘just in case’. That’s kind of fine if you’re camping – yes, you probably will need the kitchen sink (or the washing-up bowl at least!) – but I’m not. I’m staying in hotels and holiday rentals so there’s no need for me to take towels, teabags or toiletries – they’ll all be provided.
Likewise, I won’t need a travel hair dryer and most places will be able to supply you with an iron or access to a microwave or kettle for preparing baby food. The key here is simply to check the services and items that your accommodation offers before you pack half your home to take away with you!
I hope that this list of driving essentials will help you if you’re travelling to France this year. And please let me know if you’ve recently taken a road trip across the channel in the comments below and please share what you needed to take with you – I’d love to get some advice from you before I complete my packing! 🙂
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Some items in this blog post have been gifted to me and the pink links indicate a gifted product, affiliate link or information source. All thoughts and opinions in this post are based on my own experience and I am not responsible for your experience 🙂
