Helgamobil Posted April 2 Share Posted April 2 Is it still legal in France (or the EU as a whole) to refill a gas tank for “domestic” use on a motorhome?? I thought the law had changed in the EU and LPG refilling at the pump is only for transport (LPG powered vehicles) and not permitted for domestic cooking/heating purposes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted April 3 Share Posted April 3 This mid-2023 MotorHomeFun forum thread refers. https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/threads/lpg-availability-in-france.288989/#:~:text=recent forecourt accident-,OK to fill a car but not LPG for cooking,%2C and not for propulsion.. To the best of my knowledge, there has never been any LEGAL prohibition in France regarding filling leisure-vehicle gas tanks when the gas is to be used for 'domestic' purposes rather than as fuel for the vehicle's motor. Quite a few years ago, following a couple of serious accidents at French service-stations involving motorhomes filling up with autogas, there was strong lobbying in France to restrict sale of autogas to 'engine fuel use' only. Such a restriction was never legalised though and, although French service-stations may prohibit leisure-vehicles from using autogas pumps, this will be due to a commercial decision not a legal one. This December 2023 Wild Camping forum thread also discussed the issue https://wildcamping.co.uk/threads/lpg-side-filling-in-france-and-italy.96665/ and there's further relevant advice about autogas in France, Italy (and other countries) here https://www.mylpg.eu/installers/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onecal Posted April 12 Share Posted April 12 (edited) Well it must be as they are still allowing it . Total filling stations did ban it (for so called safety reasons) but I am told from Club members in France at the moment they filled their large underslung gas tank with out issue. Some of the gas stations will only allow fill if the tank is within the motorhome and not allow bottles to be filled outside So the outside filling fitting on the motorhome usually works and allows gas filling without any issues for the moment anyway. Their taxation system on the gas for domestic use may be another issue They filled in E,Leclerc just north of Tours (Zac les Fourgreolles la Ville Aux Dames) for €0.91 Regards Edited April 12 by onecal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted April 13 Share Posted April 13 16 hours ago, onecal said: ... Some of the gas stations will only allow fill if the tank is within the motorhome and not allow bottles to be filled outside... There's no doubt whatsoever that DIY filling of 'exchange' gas bottles with autogas on the forecourt of French service-stations is legally forbidden, and there's every chance that attempting to take a user-refillable gas bottle (eg. a Gaslow or Safefill canister) to a French LPG pump to refill the bottle invites confrontation with a service-station attendant. Advice from the FFCC (FÉDÉRATION FRANÇAISE DE CAMPING ET DE CARAVANING) https://ffcc.fr/actualite/remplir-sa-bouteille-de-gaz/ (translated) reads as follows: We take this opportunity to remind you that it is strictly prohibited by French regulations to fill a propane or butane bottle in a service station with LPG fuel. Such a practice is very dangerous in several ways. The decree of August 30, 2010 applicable to installations for filling or distributing liquefied flammable gases requires service stations to clearly display in legible characters or in the form of a pictogram the ban on filling of mobile tanks and bottles. French regulations also require compliance with the ADR (European Agreement relating to the international transport of dangerous goods by road) in the decrees of May 3, 2004 as amended and May 29, 2009 as amended. This agreement requires that the filling of mobile pressure bottles is only carried out by specially equipped centres, with appropriate procedures, and by qualified personnel. Unless a French service-station has a 'blanket' ban on motorhomes using autogas pumps, there should be no problems refilling a 'non-mobile' gas container - ie. refilling a fixed gas tank or refilling a user-refillable gas bottle via an external filling-point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onecal Posted April 13 Share Posted April 13 Hi I agree Derek, but you still see it going on in some filling stations in France (some turn a blind eye). Yes its very important to have a fixed external filling point on your motorhome and usually (not always) their should be no confrontation in filling same. Make sure you carry the French adapter to fit your filling point. Regards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witzend Posted Friday at 20:26 Share Posted Friday at 20:26 the gumtree ad for spanish bottle an adaptor has been sold hope someone on here got it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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