We are planning a long-term car rental for a couple months in Spain and France. We're traveling with a small baby and wondering about border crossing delays on the France-Spain border at Irun. Does anyone know what it's like now? We'll be doing the drive at the beginning of April.
Posted by
Basel, Switzerland
8889 posts
Graham, you need to look up "Schengen Area" and "EU".
There are no border controls between France and Spain. You do not have to stop or even slow down. In many cases the old border post has been pulled down to straighten the road. There will be a sign by the side of the road, and the language of the road signs will change. That is all, except on an Autoroute/Autopista you may have to stop to pay a toll.
Both France an Spain are members of the Schengen Area, which is a "passport union", there are NO passport controls between Schengen Countries. They are also both members of the EU (European Union), which is a customs union, there are NO customs checks between EU countries.
The same applies to most countries in Western and central Europe.
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Thanks a lot for this. I had thought this was the case, but my concern was that, after the Paris attacks, security entering France had been beefed up. I'd read a few articles from the summer about it.
Posted by
Basel, Switzerland
8889 posts
Graham, there may be spot checks. This could be due to the security or illegal immigrant concerns. If there is one of these, they will not be like proper border checks, where they check everybody; but just like a police spot-check which just happens to be near the border. They will wave for you to slow down, peer in the car and probably wave most people on without actually coming to a stop. The actual border posts have been mostly demolished anyway. They are looking for people who look nervious, or who look like they are travelling with all their worldy possessions and are unsure how the border will work.
I cross the Swiss / German border regularly. Sometimes there is a German "Bundespolizei" (Federal police) standing watching the traffic pass, you just ignore him like you would a supermarket guard.
BTW, you will need to inform your car hire company which countries you are visiting, to ensure you have insurance cover.
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