what speed towing in france
- Thread starter lee_374355239
- Start date
On autoroutes towing speed is 130Kmph unless it's wet when it 110Kmph. However some downward slopes are marked with a limit of 80Kms. Duel carriageways are limited to 90Kms. N-roads 80Kms. If your outfit has a total weight of more than 3.5T then the autoroute limit is 90Kms.
Not sure where John Douglas got that info from, but I think it's wrong. Just checked the Caravan Club website which confirms that speed limits for outfits under 3.5T are 130 kph for motorways, 110 kph for dual carriageways and 90 kph for single carriageway (unless lower limits are posted - as in the case of some downhill stretches of motorway)The Caravan Club update was posted on 8th July 2009
John M
John M
No John Douglas is correct - I think somewhere on this forum is an earlier post mentioning the changed regulations for outfits over (or even potentially over) 3.5T - I'll try and find it.
It's certainly mentioned on other forums.
It's certainly mentioned on other forums.
Here's the original thread - you'll have to do a search for
Speed limit for outfits over 3500kg in
There's quite a discussion about who it actually applies to.
Speed limit for outfits over 3500kg in
There's quite a discussion about who it actually applies to.
I've just re-read my previous post and yes, I've made a typo. I should have written duel carriageway is indeed 110Kmph and 100 when wet.
This is the advice from the Caravan Club, dated 07/07/2009
Speed Limits France
We have now received confirmation from the legal department of Automobile Club de France regarding speed limits in France :
Motorway
Dual carriageway
Single carriageway
Vehicle towing a caravan/trailer where the vehicle has a gross train mass of under 3.5t - or a motorhome that has a gross vehicle weight under 3.5t*
autoroute 130
dual carraigeway 110
single carriageway 90
Motorhome which has a gross vehicle weight over 3.5t*
autoroute 110
dual carriageway 100
single carriageway 80
Vehicle towing a caravan/trailer where the vehicle has a gross train mass over 3.5t
autoroute 90
dual carriageway 90
single carriageway 80
*Motorhomes without a trailer, if the motorhome has a trailer then the speed limit will be based on the gross train mass.
Gross vehicle weight - the weight of the vehicle when fully loaded with luggage, and passengers etc to its maximum permitted capacity.
Gross train mass - This information can normally be found in your owner‟s manual, on a plate or sticker fitted to the vehicle or by contacting the manufacturer of your car. In general terms the GTM is the gross vehicle weight of your car plus its towing limit. (There are exceptions to this rule, if in any doubt please contact your car manufacturer.)
Example
Honda CR-V 2.2 i-CTDI SE
Gross vehicle weight - 2160kg
Towing limit - 2000kg
Gross train mass - 4160kg
If you tow any trailer/caravan behind this car you will need to tow at the lower speed limits regardless of how much your trailer weighs. If the Honda is towing a caravan weighing 1000kg (total weight of 3160kg) the lower speed limits will still apply, because the gross train mass is over 3500kg.
The French highway code stipulates that 80 and 90 stickers must be displayed by vehicles required to drive at the lower limits, however we have been contacted by various members who live in France advising us that this requirement is being ignored, and the French police are not interested in enforcing it, nevertheless it is legal requirement and the stickers can be purchased from
Speed Limits France
We have now received confirmation from the legal department of Automobile Club de France regarding speed limits in France :
Motorway
Dual carriageway
Single carriageway
Vehicle towing a caravan/trailer where the vehicle has a gross train mass of under 3.5t - or a motorhome that has a gross vehicle weight under 3.5t*
autoroute 130
dual carraigeway 110
single carriageway 90
Motorhome which has a gross vehicle weight over 3.5t*
autoroute 110
dual carriageway 100
single carriageway 80
Vehicle towing a caravan/trailer where the vehicle has a gross train mass over 3.5t
autoroute 90
dual carriageway 90
single carriageway 80
*Motorhomes without a trailer, if the motorhome has a trailer then the speed limit will be based on the gross train mass.
Gross vehicle weight - the weight of the vehicle when fully loaded with luggage, and passengers etc to its maximum permitted capacity.
Gross train mass - This information can normally be found in your owner‟s manual, on a plate or sticker fitted to the vehicle or by contacting the manufacturer of your car. In general terms the GTM is the gross vehicle weight of your car plus its towing limit. (There are exceptions to this rule, if in any doubt please contact your car manufacturer.)
Example
Honda CR-V 2.2 i-CTDI SE
Gross vehicle weight - 2160kg
Towing limit - 2000kg
Gross train mass - 4160kg
If you tow any trailer/caravan behind this car you will need to tow at the lower speed limits regardless of how much your trailer weighs. If the Honda is towing a caravan weighing 1000kg (total weight of 3160kg) the lower speed limits will still apply, because the gross train mass is over 3500kg.
The French highway code stipulates that 80 and 90 stickers must be displayed by vehicles required to drive at the lower limits, however we have been contacted by various members who live in France advising us that this requirement is being ignored, and the French police are not interested in enforcing it, nevertheless it is legal requirement and the stickers can be purchased from
After the other post on this subject whilst in France we looked out for the larger outfits and no one follows this and the Police are obviously not interested in caravans re stickers.
Euro found when he asked his local French police that the're only bothered about and apply it to commercial type vehicles and only really if they attract attention with vehicles in poor condition or badly loaded trailers.
And it seems that the CC club advice is not really gospel as even the French can't agree on how the regulations apply!
1600 miles plus in France this trip and most of the time at true 60mph on cruise control. No French police gave us or our friends a second look, before we left France on Tuesday we were passed by some large caravan outfits with French police overtaking them at the same time. They just cruised by and other police did the same when two huge motorway works vans with large heavy trailers passed at about 70mph and the trailers did have 90kph signs.
We have though had one friendly wave and some friendly smiles from two pairs of handsome French motorcycle policemen!
Euro found when he asked his local French police that the're only bothered about and apply it to commercial type vehicles and only really if they attract attention with vehicles in poor condition or badly loaded trailers.
And it seems that the CC club advice is not really gospel as even the French can't agree on how the regulations apply!
1600 miles plus in France this trip and most of the time at true 60mph on cruise control. No French police gave us or our friends a second look, before we left France on Tuesday we were passed by some large caravan outfits with French police overtaking them at the same time. They just cruised by and other police did the same when two huge motorway works vans with large heavy trailers passed at about 70mph and the trailers did have 90kph signs.
We have though had one friendly wave and some friendly smiles from two pairs of handsome French motorcycle policemen!
Fantastic!!!
So I could tow my current van (1485kg MTPLM) with my last car (Civic 2.2 CDTi) at 130 kph as the gross train was 3390 kg (I think) even though the weight ratio would be 108%, however with my new car towing the same caravan with a ratio of 90% I have to do 90kph!!! No where is the logic in that???
So I could tow my current van (1485kg MTPLM) with my last car (Civic 2.2 CDTi) at 130 kph as the gross train was 3390 kg (I think) even though the weight ratio would be 108%, however with my new car towing the same caravan with a ratio of 90% I have to do 90kph!!! No where is the logic in that???
I always thought you couldn't tow above 100% but as you say Zafiral there now letting us do this 108%.
I would like to know how they've worked all this out and why we can tow at a higher ratio?
If the adise it to tow at 85% why say 108% is ok. lol
Does anyone know?
I would like to know how they've worked all this out and why we can tow at a higher ratio?
If the adise it to tow at 85% why say 108% is ok. lol
Does anyone know?
The 85% is only a recommendation. If one feels confident with exceeding that value and drives accordingly with necessary care and attention, that's quite OK so long as you stay within the limits specified by the manufacturer. Over 100%, however, requires a category B+E licence if you passed your driving test after the 1st January 1997.
Just to be clear, I am not saying it is a good idea to tow at 108%, I was just trying to show that this is a law with no real logical basis.
On a separate point, it also appears daft that the UK post 1997 test date law penalises you for having a big safe 2400kg gross weight car that will tow your 1450kg caravan safely, instead limiting a novice to a car that has a gross weight of 2050kg if they need to tow such a caravan and will probably have a 98% ratio. Perhaps the limit should be just the trailer weight.
On a separate point, it also appears daft that the UK post 1997 test date law penalises you for having a big safe 2400kg gross weight car that will tow your 1450kg caravan safely, instead limiting a novice to a car that has a gross weight of 2050kg if they need to tow such a caravan and will probably have a 98% ratio. Perhaps the limit should be just the trailer weight.
Zafiral
I agree, from what I am reading, the law is indeed an ass.
I also asked the question on here 'has anybody been stopped in Germany doing 60 mph towing'. Nobody replied and so I have assumed no.
Has anybody been stopped in France for 60mph towing? again, no.
I suggest you don't worry about it and drive as you normally do.
Note: Just before you have an accident, ensure you are doing 80kph so that you can say so on your insurance claim form. You wouldn't want to incriminate yourself would you? Actually, this may be the only area where this law is important. If you have an accident and are 'speeding at 60mph' then the insurance companies can refuse your claim. Its all making sense now.
Ian
I agree, from what I am reading, the law is indeed an ass.
I also asked the question on here 'has anybody been stopped in Germany doing 60 mph towing'. Nobody replied and so I have assumed no.
Has anybody been stopped in France for 60mph towing? again, no.
I suggest you don't worry about it and drive as you normally do.
Note: Just before you have an accident, ensure you are doing 80kph so that you can say so on your insurance claim form. You wouldn't want to incriminate yourself would you? Actually, this may be the only area where this law is important. If you have an accident and are 'speeding at 60mph' then the insurance companies can refuse your claim. Its all making sense now.
Ian
Facebook
Twitter