What amazes me more than the French license plates, is that many of them are attached to cars that aren't available anywhere else in North America. They haven't sold Peugeots, Citroens, or Renaults in Canada or the US in decades.
Definitely! Most cars are imported directly from France (domestically!) - though I did spot a Ford dealership. It's interesting how economic and geographical barriers can completely change the feel (and look) of a place!
I'm heading there in June '25. Riding my motorcycle from SW Pennsylvania so have to plan way ahead because of limited time. The ferry website doesn't show the schedule more than a month or two ahead but seems to show the ferry only running on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. I messaged the ferry company for more info but hadn't heard back yet. wasn't sure if the 3 day a week schedule was for the off season or if that's year round. What did you see as far as days of operation?
I'm 100% sure that there is daily ferry service over the summer months (June to September), so you should be fine. This is a major lifeline connecting France to Canada and hugely popular when both islands are at their summer best. There is also a ferry to Miquelon direct from Fortune during the summer. But yes, service is reduced over the winter months. I hope you have a great time!!
Make sure your insurance will cover your bike being on French dirt. Many Canadians don't check first about their insurances & the ferry service won't let the cars on due to no insurance coverage on French soil. So ensure your insurance company will cover your bike in France & have them send a letter which you should print out & keep in a safe dry place. Canadians have to leave their cars in Fortune NL & then board because their insurance company won't cover them because they haven't paid extra for it or signed for it.
That's a really good point! I didn't bring a car, so it didn't affect me. I did see some insurance agencies advertising "visitor's insurance" so that may be an option (much like Mexico), where you buy the liability insurance locally rather than going through your Canadian or American broker. Thanks for pointing this out!
@@janceldelara It depends on your passport! The rules are generally the same for EU admission - if you can visit France without a visa, you’re good to go. However, it’s not part of the Schengen zone, meaning if another EU country admits you (eg. Spain) you cannot visit unless you have a visa allowing you to visit France, as you’ll need to enter non-EU France. Check with the Saint Pierre & Miquelon tourism board for specifics!
I checked into it, and if you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident you can use your Canadian-issued driver's license to enter SPM if you are arriving from Canada. If you're a foreign citizen without a Canadian-issued driver's license or permanent resident card, you'll need to use your passport to enter as you would anywhere else in the French republic.
Yes, you can fly - though it's pretty expensive unless you're just going to St. John's. I took a shared taxi & ferry there, and flew back to St. John's as taking the ferry would have involved an overnight stay in Fortune on the way back, and it doesn't save a ton of money compared to the ease of the 45 minute flight. You can also fly direct from Paris during the summer months.
It's VERY expensive (about $1000 round trip). Definitely cheaper to do the journey via Newfoundland. You can also fly direct from Halifax, St. John's, and Quebec's Magdalen Islands in addition to Montreal. And seasonal direct flights to Paris as well.
@@markthomasson5077 I took a shared taxi to the Fortune border (ferry terminal) and then the ferry ride to St. Pierre harbour, and then chauffeured car to the hotel. If you’re asking if I drove my own car, no, I live 6000 km from Newfoundland (and renting a car didn’t make much sense, as they’re not allowed to enter France and would have had to been left in Fortune)
@ just commented that your strap line was incorrect. I knew about the islands, but was curious to know where on the mainland Canada and France had a border…they don’t.
You took 'driving' quite literally then! I use it colloquially whenever travelling primarily by car, ferries included - I'd say most Albertans would agree with this vernacular (eg. "driving to Victoria/Vancouver Island this weekend"). And no, there's no land border ✌
You should! It's much easier to get to (and much cheaper) than I had thought. Check out my next video for a full tour of what to expect when you get there.
What amazes me more than the French license plates, is that many of them are attached to cars that aren't available anywhere else in North America. They haven't sold Peugeots, Citroens, or Renaults in Canada or the US in decades.
Definitely! Most cars are imported directly from France (domestically!) - though I did spot a Ford dealership. It's interesting how economic and geographical barriers can completely change the feel (and look) of a place!
Does that mean you can buy cars such as Peugeot or Citroen and import it from Saint Pierre to Canada?
I believe you can, as long as you go through the import process. There would likely be import tariffs, duties, etc. especially if buying new.
Why would you want to mate they are garbage
I'm heading there in June '25. Riding my motorcycle from SW Pennsylvania so have to plan way ahead because of limited time. The ferry website doesn't show the schedule more than a month or two ahead but seems to show the ferry only running on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. I messaged the ferry company for more info but hadn't heard back yet. wasn't sure if the 3 day a week schedule was for the off season or if that's year round. What did you see as far as days of operation?
I'm 100% sure that there is daily ferry service over the summer months (June to September), so you should be fine. This is a major lifeline connecting France to Canada and hugely popular when both islands are at their summer best. There is also a ferry to Miquelon direct from Fortune during the summer. But yes, service is reduced over the winter months. I hope you have a great time!!
Make sure your insurance will cover your bike being on French dirt. Many Canadians don't check first about their insurances & the ferry service won't let the cars on due to no insurance coverage on French soil. So ensure your insurance company will cover your bike in France & have them send a letter which you should print out & keep in a safe dry place. Canadians have to leave their cars in Fortune NL & then board because their insurance company won't cover them because they haven't paid extra for it or signed for it.
That's a really good point! I didn't bring a car, so it didn't affect me. I did see some insurance agencies advertising "visitor's insurance" so that may be an option (much like Mexico), where you buy the liability insurance locally rather than going through your Canadian or American broker. Thanks for pointing this out!
do you need a visa to go there for a visit? Currently here in St. John’s,NL under open work permit.
holding a foreign passport.
Thank you
@@janceldelara It depends on your passport! The rules are generally the same for EU admission - if you can visit France without a visa, you’re good to go. However, it’s not part of the Schengen zone, meaning if another EU country admits you (eg. Spain) you cannot visit unless you have a visa allowing you to visit France, as you’ll need to enter non-EU France. Check with the Saint Pierre & Miquelon tourism board for specifics!
Thank you for this Video Please Can I Visit without Mine passport And just Mine Drivers License Only Please Reply
I checked into it, and if you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident you can use your Canadian-issued driver's license to enter SPM if you are arriving from Canada. If you're a foreign citizen without a Canadian-issued driver's license or permanent resident card, you'll need to use your passport to enter as you would anywhere else in the French republic.
can't you fly?? to there? or somewhere near
Yes, you can fly - though it's pretty expensive unless you're just going to St. John's. I took a shared taxi & ferry there, and flew back to St. John's as taking the ferry would have involved an overnight stay in Fortune on the way back, and it doesn't save a ton of money compared to the ease of the 45 minute flight. You can also fly direct from Paris during the summer months.
@@DrifterDave You can also fly from Montreal, but I'm not sure if it's seasonal.
It's VERY expensive (about $1000 round trip). Definitely cheaper to do the journey via Newfoundland. You can also fly direct from Halifax, St. John's, and Quebec's Magdalen Islands in addition to Montreal. And seasonal direct flights to Paris as well.
The question we all want to know is, do you get a passport stamp? 😁
YES! It looks exactly like a usual France entry stamp, but instead of FR it is marked as SPM.
can you find a job as a driver .heavy or light vehicles .male .Sri lankan.🙏Thank you see.
I have no idea what the economy is like on SPM. You can definitely get those jobs in Canada - not sure about this tiny archipelago, though.
Just stay Canada is full
So you went by ferry….not driving!
@@markthomasson5077 I took a shared taxi to the Fortune border (ferry terminal) and then the ferry ride to St. Pierre harbour, and then chauffeured car to the hotel. If you’re asking if I drove my own car, no, I live 6000 km from Newfoundland (and renting a car didn’t make much sense, as they’re not allowed to enter France and would have had to been left in Fortune)
@ just commented that your strap line was incorrect. I knew about the islands, but was curious to know where on the mainland Canada and France had a border…they don’t.
You took 'driving' quite literally then! I use it colloquially whenever travelling primarily by car, ferries included - I'd say most Albertans would agree with this vernacular (eg. "driving to Victoria/Vancouver Island this weekend"). And no, there's no land border ✌
wanna go so bad
You should! It's much easier to get to (and much cheaper) than I had thought. Check out my next video for a full tour of what to expect when you get there.