Vinosity

It's a good thing I do have a registered French address then.

Thanks for the advice though, it confirms my own research (and I will be reregistering the car as soon as i get it to France).

dmu

Hi, surely, if you've been working in your Faugères winery for more than 6 months, you're considered a French resident?
P.S. I don't know which winery you're working in and it's none of my business, but our favourite rosé comes from a certain Domaine in Roquessels!

Vinosity

I'd be interested to know which winery that is.

My contract in Faugéres was only for 2 months. I've been based back in the UK since then, though working in various other countries.

dmu

OK, fair enough! It's Domaine Estève (Mods, this isn't an advert, I've no financial interest!)

Vinosity

That's where I worked! Hope the 2016 vintage lives up to your expectations.

dmu

We've never been disappointed over the years!
Back on topic now?

audio

Cyrian, I’m not sure but I seem to remember a law that is ‘ comme d’habitude’.
If you allow someone free access on your property, unless conditions are stated in writing, you cannot easily terminate this ‘verbal’ agreement, so if you have a falling out, you’re stuck with your kind gesture.

Chatter Static

Thats a song

Although as I recall that tends to apply more the allowing animals to graze on land repeatably.

Im_and_Er

You can say it as many times as you like but the fact of the matter is that technically you will be regarded as French resident from the moment you set foot in the country with the intention of staying and making it your home and the fact that you have a French address serves only to reinforce that.

In that case you will have to inform your UK insurer of the change in circumstances which in turn will almost certainly result in them withdrawing cover and as a de facto French resident you will have one month to re-register the car.

I echo that warning and for an object lesson in the potential pitfalls I can do no better than point you to this.

Paradoxically if you must buy a LHD car in UK to bring to France my advice would be to make it anything BUT French registered !

When you know what you're doing importing a car is a very straightforward process but if you don't it's very possible to end up with a car which you can neither drive nor sell !

Vinosity

I had already check with my UK insurance broker, and they said that I can be granted insurance from a UK based company (for a UK registered car) that will be valid for a short period abroad, that would enable me to take the car to France and then reregister it (and seek French insurance) within a month; without jeopardising my UK policy.

Regarding the paperwork, I really do appreciate all the advice. I'm known for being a stickler for process and due diligence. If anything is not in line, I would never proceed with a purchase.

I am not hard set on buying a car in the UK to take to France; it's just more favourable for my current financial situation. If it's not practicable, I can happily walk away. (Not drive... obviously...)

Again, I really do appreciate all the help and advice from the members of this forum.

EuroTrash

I believe this is also possible in the very short term for a French car bought in the UK, although a lot of mainstream UK insurers can't offer it. You need to find an insurer who will insure on the vehicle's VIN number. I believe Adrian Flux is one but there are others, and some specialise in temporary cover.
Leaves the technical problem that as a UK resident you shouldn't be driving a foreign registered car in the UK at all, but that's a separate issue.

Vinosity

Actually, there does not appear to be an issue here if the vehicle is classified as a temporary import, and you can prove intent for it, and yourself, to leave the UK (eg, have a Eurotunnel ticket).

In my case it would only be a matter of days between purchase and re-export.

EuroTrash

Sounds all good then
It's also good that you are a stickler for procedure because that's where most Brits who try this route, come to grief. Because it's so easy to do a change of ownership with DVLA they can't get their heads round the French system being so rigorous, and they kid themselves it won't matter if they are a bit sloppy, the préfecture will let it through with incomplete paperwork, or there will be a way round it ... WRONG It's more than the counter clerk's job's worth to risk processing a potentially dodgy change of ownership, they have no discretion and they tend to err on the side of caution.

bhamham

When we lived in the UK a few yrs ago, we would arrange for EU insurance on our campervan for 180 days (insurer: Stavely Head), and would get road hazard coverage with ADAC.

SeptimusFry

Your question interested me, as I have somewhat similar requirements, but not urgent.

I went to a site www.autoeurope.com which does international hire and includes the facility to enter one's requirements. I entered pickup in Bristol and return in Caen.

I received the following message:-

We're Sorry.

International one-ways are not permitted from United Kingdom to France. Please use the form on the left to try another search.

EDIT: I did a bit more crawling and there is this site that you may find useful:
https://www.vanrental.co.uk/vansabroad.php