Hello,

I have been doing some research on renting a car in Spain and driving into France.
One rental car company told me that you are required to have an alcohol breathalyzer test in your car.
Has anyone heard of this?
Are there any other legal requirements?

Thanks!

I believe that the implemention of the requirement has been postponed.

legal requirement in Spain I've read -if you need to wear spectacles whilst driving you must carry a spare pair in your vehicle.

The breathalyzer requirement in France has yes been shelved for the immediate future French friends tell me.

Avoid dropping the car in France, as cross-border fees are very high.

If you are from the States or Canada, you'll need the IDP, International Driving Permit, issued by AAA. As far as the breathalyzer test goes, it's not currently required. If it were, then the rental agency will have to provide it.

One thing to note is that the Guardia Civil (Spain) does set up check points along the highway from time to time, requiring the driver to take a breathalyzer test, so be careful of drinking and driving.

I don't know who you've been in contact with, but check out Auto Europe regarding your rental car.

the breathalyser requirement is a bit weird,,,,

basically the requirement is still there but the punishment for failure has been shelved.....

and they say "Ils sont fous, ces Anglais"

You only have to have a spare pair of glasses with you if your licence states you wear glasses, otherwise you are fine according to the Dutch motoring organisation ANWB.

You are supposed to carry two breathalysers in the car, which mustn't be out of date, but as Bilbo says you won't be punished if you don't have them. Ours are out of date I discovered, and I am in two minds about buying new ones. You can get them at a Tabac if the car doesn't have them.

You must have an IDP.

If you wear prescription glasses, you must have a spare pair.

You have to have a safety kit consisting of flares, yellow vest, etc. (rental outfit must provide).

breathalyzers - don't worry about it at this point.

Renting a car in Spain and leaving it in France will cost a small fortune on top of the rental charges.

<i> Driving from Spain to France
Posted by: beckysimms on Aug 5, 16 at 6:55pm</i>

It would be simpler and cheaper to take a train into France and rent the car there. For an illustrated introduction to driving in Europe see http://www.enjoy-europe.com/hte/chap18/auto-1.htm.

OP doesn't say they are leaving the car in France, only driving into France. If they are not planning on leaving it in France it will not cost them any extra to drive it in France.

<i>hetismij2 on Aug 6, 16 at 7:25am
OP doesn't say they are leaving the car in France, only driving into France. If they are not planning on leaving it in France it will not cost them any extra to drive it in France.</i>

Whether they are leaving it in France or not it will be simpler and cheaper to rent in France. And the issues of breathalyzer, eyeglasses, and etc will be managed according to French law, which seems to be an issue of dispute with several on this thread.

StCirq:- Road Flares are not a requirement in any European country.

This is written for UK drivers but it is still relevant.
http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice...equipment.html

So the information in this link regarding safetwy measures is incorrect?

http://www.spain.info/en/informacion...cir_en_espana/

<i>Whether they are leaving it in France or not it will be simpler and cheaper to rent in France. </i>

Is the cost of rentals higher in Spain?

Quite a bit cheaper, except in July/August.

<i>Quite a bit cheaper, except in July/August.</i>

A quick search on Autoeurope.com shows that a two week rental of a compact car will cost $228 in Barcelona and $239 in Perpignan, using Sept. 14 to 28 as the dates.

We had two rentals this summer (Europcar through Auto Europe), one in late June, Nimes to Biarritz, that ran $24.36/day (basic rate) for 10 days, the second in mid-July, Pamplona to Madrid, billed at $44.92/day (basic rate) for 8 days.

Everyting being equal (same class of car, a compact), the rental in France was far less expensive, even after they applied our discount.

But you do have to fill up in Spain, where the cost of fuel is much cheaper.

<i>Everyting being equal (same class of car, a compact), the rental in France was far less expensive, even after they applied our discount.</i>

But everything was not equal; one was in shoulder season and the other in high tourist season. The OP will have to do her own comparisons according to her travel times.

StCirq o the information in this link regarding safetwy measures is incorrect?

Yes it is.
That says taxis are obliged to use child seats. However this says in all of Europe they are not obliged.
https://sillasdecoche.fundacionmapfr...union-europea/ (point 6)
My note that it would be impossible for a taxi to carry around at least one of the child seats covering the various age groups. Then suppose there are more children. It is impossible.
Plus there is no mention on road flares in the link you have provided.


To other posters. Have you read the OP's profile? Before you down the road of suggesting the acquisition of an IDP and writing prices in Dollars. We should first establish where they are from. Maybe they have different dollars to you ;-)

oh and that article in Spain.info does not mention anything about it is illegal to drive in flip-flops nor about it is illegal for the driver to touch the GPS whilst moving. And a few other issues.