Van Hire UK to France
#16
Forum Regular
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 44
Re: Van Hire UK to France
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).
#17
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Apr 2008
Location: Hérault (34)
Posts: 8,890
Re: Van Hire UK to France
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!
#18
Forum Regular
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 44
Re: Van Hire UK to France
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.
#19
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Apr 2008
Location: Hérault (34)
Posts: 8,890
Re: Van Hire UK to France
OK, fair enough! It's Domaine Estève (Mods, this isn't an advert, I've no financial interest!)
#22
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2010
Location: 1.2 East
Posts: 762
Re: Van Hire UK to France
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.
#23
Re: Van Hire UK to France
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.
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.
Thats a song
Although as I recall that tends to apply more the allowing animals to graze on land repeatably.
#24
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2008
Location: SE Dordogne France
Posts: 982
Re: Van Hire UK to France
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.
if you do buy a French registered car in the UK, make very sure that you have all the correct paperwork, including a certificat de cession signed by the previous registered owner. Otherwise the prefecture will send you away and you'll have problems. The carte grise on its own is not sufficient, plenty of people have fallen into that trap.
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 !
#25
Forum Regular
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 44
Re: Van Hire UK to France
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 !
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 !
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.
#26
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2012
Location: Dépt 61
Posts: 5,254
Re: Van Hire UK to France
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.
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.
#27
Forum Regular
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 44
Re: Van Hire UK to France
In my case it would only be a matter of days between purchase and re-export.
Last edited by Vinosity; Apr 4th 2017 at 8:29 am.
#28
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2012
Location: Dépt 61
Posts: 5,254
Re: Van Hire UK to France
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.
#29
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2017
Location: Austin, TX, USA
Posts: 34
Re: Van Hire UK to France
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.
#30
Just Joined
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 4
One-way Van Hire
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
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
Last edited by SeptimusFry; Apr 4th 2017 at 3:59 pm. Reason: Adding extra info.