 Poster: A snowHead
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@Judwin, thanks- that’s a useful looking website.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| pam w wrote: |
| But - also in my experience - they are not always the right size. |
A good point. The chain sets are often stacked-up in the agency office in the pickup/drop-off area and obviously get swapped between vehicles. Tedious as it may be at the point when you just want to get going, it's worth checking that the chains in the boot do actually match the tyres on the vehicle.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Pragmatic view says "put em on" IN THE HIRE PLACE, why would you want to find out suitability WHEN YOU REALLY NEEDED THEM 
At least you can kick them/vehicle etc back while you're there if anything isn't fit for suitable use.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| Quote: |
Drive to Les Saisies, much simple than Crest-Voland, same ski area?
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Idris has a good point. Les Saisies is also likely to have better snow, so early in the season. The bottom of the Saisies slopes is about the same altitude as the top of Crest Voland.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Thanks so much to everyone here for all the spot-on advice. As a result? We're going to stick with train to Lyon airport on 26th and our friends from Albertville are now going to pick us up from there AND also take us along to Crest-Voland for the Monday. They're going to see if they can find a properly kitted-out car for us to hire from Albertille>C-V otherwise we'll take the bus for the week...
| Mr.Egg wrote: |
Personally, I avoid france for the ballache it is for the final leg. |
Yep, I feel I've learned a lot about that with this! And also, thanks to everyone, dodged a few potentially hefty bullets.
bP
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@BaobabPowder, Hope you have a great trip, and if you try to get a kitted out car from Europcar or someone in Albertville, even if they are seduced by the notion that the new laws aren't being enforced in 2021, remind them that your hire period extends into 2022, so whatever vehicle you get WILL need to be legal.
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| WindOfChange wrote: |
| @BaobabPowder, Hope you have a great trip, and if you try to get a kitted out car from Europcar or someone in Albertville, even if they are seduced by the notion that the new laws aren't being enforced in 2021, remind them that your hire period extends into 2022, so whatever vehicle you get WILL need to be legal. |
Legal YES enforced not before winter 2022..... SO I will not bet a lot on the ability of car rental companies to provide such equipements even into zones like Albertville.
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I have rented a mid-size SUV with Keddy by Europcar from LYS from 9 March for a week. Rental cost was less than £300 which is decent. Europcar seems to suggest they have winter tyres now? https://www.europcar.com/en-us/p/car-rental/extras/winter-equipment
Would be interested to see if the car has winter tyres on them and if I'll have to pay extra for them (although might be less of an issue in March depending on the weather). Will report back.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| euanovsky wrote: |
| … report back. |
Please do. I avoid flying to LYS when I need a rental car as getting winter tyres there seems to be a bit of a lottery. I’d hoped that the local laws requiring winterisation of cars would mean more rentals with winter tyres, but I’ve not heard if that’s happening.
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| euanovsky wrote: |
Would be interested to see if the car has winter tyres on them and if I'll have to pay extra for them (although might be less of an issue in March depending on the weather). Will report back. |
As Lyon is not into the zone where Winter Equipment is mandatory, you can bet your car will not have winter tyres mounted. And they will not mounted them for you even if you pay for it. They may switch to another model with winter tyres mounted but this could be a smaller car....
Winter Equipment is not just a weather issue, it's a law requirement to have it even if the weather is perfect. Gendarmerie can force you to drive back.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Thanks - will be renting a car from LYS to Alpe d'huez. Is there any place on route that I could stop by and get chains? People mentioned Albertville but that's not on my way. Is there a equivalent of Halfords there or will I be able get chains from any service stations?
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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| euanovsky wrote: |
| Thanks - will be renting a car from LYS to Alpe d'huez. Is there any place on route that I could stop by and get chains? People mentioned Albertville but that's not on my way. Is there a equivalent of Halfords there or will I be able get chains from any service stations? |
When in moutain zone, look for supermarkets and you will find chains
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You can probably also hire them from the car rental people. By March, stocks of chains might be getting a bit low, with not all sizes stocked. If you don't have winter tyres you will legally need chains (or socks) regardless of how warm and sunny the weather, though it's most unlikely to become in issue in that case. One French equivalent of Halfords is called Feu Vert.
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You know it makes sense.
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Norauto is another.
The cost of hiring chains for a week is usually more than the cost of buying a pair - but buying adds the hastle of jumping between supermarkets and 'Halfords' trying to find a pair to fit your hire car.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Thank you all. I took a look at my booking and noticed it didn't include winter tyres so I remade the booking with "pneus hiver" included (and got a slightly bigger car too) for around £50 extra so just went with that. I have never rented a car in France in winter before (have always been renting from Geneva) so was a bit nervous. All sorted now so thanks!
Last edited by Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name: on Thu 4-01-24 14:55; edited 1 time in total
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Poster: A snowHead
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Check when you pick the car up that it does actually have winter tyres on it - we once booked snow chains and were told they were in the car - they weren't. Easily sorted, but glad we checked.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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and if the chains ARE in the car they're not necessarily the right size
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Just for reference the law concerning the obligation to have winter equipment has never been officialised. Predictions are that it may come into force for next winter (after the European elections).
From Lyon airport, heading to the Oisans range l'Espace Comboire just past Grenboble is probably the easiest place to find chains. Although by March you are more likely to find sunshades, portable fans and inflatable beach unicorns in the car shops.
Even if the law is finally officialised there is no requirement to have winter equipment on the autoroute from Lyon to Grenoble (but it goes over an 1850' mountain pass, the notorious col de la Rossatière ) but you need them on all the side roads around that pass.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| pam w wrote: |
| and if the chains ARE in the car they're not necessarily the right size |
Unless Gendarmes ask you to mount them.....
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| davidof wrote: |
Just for reference the law concerning the obligation to have winter equipment has never been officialised. Predictions are that it may come into force for next winter (after the European elections).
From Lyon airport, heading to the Oisans range l'Espace Comboire just past Grenboble is probably the easiest place to find chains. Although by March you are more likely to find sunshades, portable fans and inflatable beach unicorns in the car shops.
Even if the law is finally officialised there is no requirement to have winter equipment on the autoroute from Lyon to Grenoble (but it goes over an 1850' mountain pass, the notorious col de la Rossatière ) but you need them on all the side roads around that pass. |
The Law is official. What's not is the ability to fine you if you don't have winter equipmnent. But even if you are not having any risk to be fine, Gendarme can turn you away from your destination if you don't have any winter equipment.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| Quote: |
Gendarme can turn you away from your destination if you don't have any winter equipment.
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that's long been the case, hasn't it? Happens several times a year and in my experience having winter tyres does NOT stop them insisting you put the chains on too.
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Wait as long as the car I rented have winter tyres I don't need chains right?
A separate topic as per gov.uk I don't think I need an IDP but I have been done for in Spain before. Whilst the car company there says I don't need an IDP to rent a car, I do need an IDP if I don't want to get additional insurance from them. It was probably some kind of scam but to be fair to them it was on their booking email and also T&Cs so I only got myself to blame for not having read it thoroughly...
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| euanovsky wrote: |
Wait as long as the car I rented have winter tyres I don't need chains right?
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Legally no. But if the rozzers decide you aren't going any further unless you put snow chains on, then good luck arguing the toss..
| euanovsky wrote: |
| A separate topic as per gov.uk I don't think I need an IDP but I have been done for in Spain before. Whilst the car company there says I don't need an IDP to rent a car, I do need an IDP if I don't want to get additional insurance from them. It was probably some kind of scam but to be fair to them it was on their booking email and also T&Cs so I only got myself to blame for not having read it thoroughly... |
If you have a photo license then no, you don't need an IDP (for Europe). If you have an old style paper license (like me) then technically yes you do need an IDP, although I've never been asked for mine (I do have one). That said, they're only a few quid from the Post Office, so if you're worried just go and get one.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| Judwin wrote: |
| euanovsky wrote: |
| A separate topic as per gov.uk I don't think I need an IDP but I have been done for in Spain before. Whilst the car company there says I don't need an IDP to rent a car, I do need an IDP if I don't want to get additional insurance from them. It was probably some kind of scam but to be fair to them it was on their booking email and also T&Cs so I only got myself to blame for not having read it thoroughly... |
If you have a photo license then no, you don't need an IDP (for Europe). If you have an old style paper license (like me) then technically yes you do need an IDP, although I've never been asked for mine (I do have one). That said, they're only a few quid from the Post Office, so if you're worried just go and get one. |
Make sure you know and get the right version of the IDP that is recognised for where you are going.
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