Importing car into France
#1
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2007
Location: Saint-Louis, Haut-Rhin
Posts: 8
Importing car into France
Hi all
I've just joined the forums having moved to Alsace and I'm wondering if anyone knows what's best for the following situation.
I've brought over my UK car with the intention of registering it here. I've already bought LHD headlights. The imminent problem is that my MOT is about to expire and my insurance not long after.
Am I correct in thinking that the best option is to get French plates on the car ASAP (rather than try to get it insured short term on UK plates)? I am assuming that the contrôle technique won't be valid for UK insurance but I don't want to take the car back to the UK for an MOT.
If registering here, in which order do I need to get the carte grise, contrôle technique etc? I read on one garage website that they needed the carte grise before they'll do a CT, but I also think that I need a CT before I can get the carte grise. Or do I need to see the sous-préfecture twice (before and after the CT)?
I read one document that said the sous-préfecture needs to see a certificate from the seller of the car - is this correct given that I bought the car privately nearly a year ago? I do have a certificate of conformity already. How long is the process likely to take? Unfortunately the sous-préfecture is not in my town so it's not so easy to pop in.
Many thanks for any ideas.
I've just joined the forums having moved to Alsace and I'm wondering if anyone knows what's best for the following situation.
I've brought over my UK car with the intention of registering it here. I've already bought LHD headlights. The imminent problem is that my MOT is about to expire and my insurance not long after.
Am I correct in thinking that the best option is to get French plates on the car ASAP (rather than try to get it insured short term on UK plates)? I am assuming that the contrôle technique won't be valid for UK insurance but I don't want to take the car back to the UK for an MOT.
If registering here, in which order do I need to get the carte grise, contrôle technique etc? I read on one garage website that they needed the carte grise before they'll do a CT, but I also think that I need a CT before I can get the carte grise. Or do I need to see the sous-préfecture twice (before and after the CT)?
I read one document that said the sous-préfecture needs to see a certificate from the seller of the car - is this correct given that I bought the car privately nearly a year ago? I do have a certificate of conformity already. How long is the process likely to take? Unfortunately the sous-préfecture is not in my town so it's not so easy to pop in.
Many thanks for any ideas.
#2
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 987
Re: Importing car into France
Firstly, yes a contrôle technique would be useless with UK insurance if you were to have to claim.
As it seems you do not wish to go back to the UK to get an MOT done then as you're aware you have one choice and that is to register it within France, this process is called 'immatriculation'
For this process you will need the following ;
The immatriculation process ;
They then send the documents off and within 2-6 weeks you should have everything back at your Préfecture or Sous-Préfecture waiting for collection.
Notes; The bill of sale can be an issue for a lot of people, some times they don't need it. I've heard people just make a new receipt up for themselves as obviously you will know who the previous owner was and the price your purchased and the date.
Rear Foglight ; The foglight by law should be on the correct side or the middle, a lot of the time in France this is overlooked so it's up to you if you want to risk it, the worst that will happen is you will have to get it done and have a retest of your contrôle technique again.
Hope this has helped, it really isn't a complex thing to do so try not to worry!
As it seems you do not wish to go back to the UK to get an MOT done then as you're aware you have one choice and that is to register it within France, this process is called 'immatriculation'
For this process you will need the following ;
The immatriculation process ;
- First you will need to gain tax clearance for the vehicle, if the vehicle is more than six months old AND has more than 6000kms then you will not be liable for any tax duty on the vehicle. Take your UK V5 document and your bill of receipt to the Centre des Impots, you will then be issued with a fiscal certificate to say there is no tax payable or that it has been paid.
- Now you will need a contrôle technique if the vehicle is more than 4 years old, you do not need a carte grise document to gain one and if anyone asks for one show them your UK V5 and explain to them that this is needed for the immatriculation process.
- Lastly, go to your local Préfecture or Sous-Préfecture for your registration process, you request a demande d'immatriculation form, fill this in and then supply them with; proof of residency & identity, UK V5 document, your tax clearance form & bill of receipt, Côntrole technique (if required)
They then send the documents off and within 2-6 weeks you should have everything back at your Préfecture or Sous-Préfecture waiting for collection.
Notes; The bill of sale can be an issue for a lot of people, some times they don't need it. I've heard people just make a new receipt up for themselves as obviously you will know who the previous owner was and the price your purchased and the date.
Rear Foglight ; The foglight by law should be on the correct side or the middle, a lot of the time in France this is overlooked so it's up to you if you want to risk it, the worst that will happen is you will have to get it done and have a retest of your contrôle technique again.
Hope this has helped, it really isn't a complex thing to do so try not to worry!
Last edited by zel; Feb 21st 2007 at 9:22 am.
#3
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 987
Re: Importing car into France
Oh and always take colour photocopies of *everything* and offer those instead of the originals.
If they want the original at least you have good colour copies just in case the paperwork goes missing somewhere.
If they want the original at least you have good colour copies just in case the paperwork goes missing somewhere.
#4
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2007
Location: Saint-Louis, Haut-Rhin
Posts: 8
Re: Importing car into France
Thank you zel, that makes the process a lot clearer. The extra info about the bill of sale and the rear fog light may come in very useful too.
Cheers again.
Cheers again.