Morris Minor in France, no MOT!

[old sea horse]

My Morris is just to have its MOT expire, and I need to get a French Controle technique before bringing it back, up to the end of last year it was just a matter of presenting the car for test with the vehicle logbook, rules have changed and I now need a 'certificate of proof of European manufacture', who and how do I aquire this? easy enough with a modern vehicle, but sadly, cannot write to Morris, Cowley for this! Any ideas how to proceed? I renewed my membership with MMOC about 10 days ago but still no communication, bit slow isnt it? Are they usually so slow? Sam. Picture is of the actual car, it attracts a great deal of attention in France and opens up a lot of conversations! Lovely to drive on empty roads too, something I would highly recommend! Sam[frame][/frame]

[jagnut66]

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q= ... apbBpEim5g

Hi,
Would a UK car heritage certificate do the job? See the above link. Hope this helps.
Best wishes,
Mike.

[LouiseM]

Probably best to contact the French Morris Minor Club for advice as they may already have, or know someone who has, a copy of the documentation required. Contact Chris & Mary Hall: morrisminorfr (at) aol.com

I think that's the current email address but alternatively try sending a personal message to woodiesenfrance as they visit the messageboard from time to time.

I renewed my membership with MMOC about 10 days ago but still no communication, bit slow isnt it? Are they usually so slow?

Have you re-joined after a break or are you just renewing your existing membership? New members are asked to allow 21 working days to receive details via post but it will possibly take a bit longer to arrive if you are in France. If you are just renewing your existing membership you'll be sent a new membership card but your membership will remain valid even if you don't actually receive the card for a couple of weeks.

[badvock]

Hi, at £40 a throw for a glossy A4 sheet, seems a bit steep, add an extra £5 if you want it on paper! Not the proof of European manufacture that is needed, sounds like a bit a creative paper work is needed, I dont suppose that the testing boys at the local controle technique will ever have come across a Euro certificate for a Morris Minor, never mind a moggy in for test-bet they dont know what to look for either! Mute point if a French MOT is legal on a UK registered car if the car is actually being driven in the UK, ok for France though.

[bmcecosse]

The Heritage certificate is the document you require - and I agree it is not great value for money - but there is no other way, unless the original Dealer supply document came to you with the car.... Just show the V5c document from DVLA - should do the trick. If you have a file of past documents - take that along too! I thought the car had to be French registered if staying in France for any significant time. Otherwise - take it to Dover, get it an MOT, and then take it back home again!

[morrisminorbzh]

Difficult to know how to answer your question from over here in France - are you full time resident in France or are you still resident officially in the UK ? Your permanent address is important.

If you are still resident in the UK and wish to return to the UK with your Minor a French MOT is of no use - if you live permanently in France (see bmcecosse posting) your Minor should be registered over here.

Louise suggested getting in touch the French Morris Minor Club which is a good idea - if you don't have any luck with them contact me via a PM - I registered my Traveller in France within 3 weeks of its arrival, I can give you the run down.

Otherwise, as bmc said, take it to the nearest MOT tester on arrival in the UK

[old sea horse]

Hi, thanks very much for all the usefull advice, I live permanently in the UK but spend months in France, which is where the car is at the present time, I do not want to register it as French at the moment as I will lose its id! You can keep vehicles for up to 6 months without a problem, and from personal experience I have kept them in a barn for years without anyone particularly interested in where they are! Not comfortable driving 400 miles through France to the UK without a valid MOT, and messing about trying to get an MOT in the Dover area after a long journey isnt sensible either. I am sure that driving in the UK for a short period with a French mot is the best of a bad job. The heritage certificate is extortionate nonesense and its not the way I intend to go, I have already imported a UK vehicle into France so know the ropes, but even obtaining a European certificate of manufacture for my old Renault was expensive (150 Euros) - and it was obviously manufactured in France! No one in my area will have seen a suitable document no doubt (Badvock!), so unless the MMOC has an answer i.e. letter of comfirmation that the vehicle was outputted at Cowley on the date shown in the log book, then will have to find my own solution. On the other point, wait 21 days for a membership? Thats outragous! I thought it was 2012? We all join a club for particular reasons, and one of the many reasons for me was a discount with suppliers, but without a membership number I am stuffed.

[LouiseM]

If you need to know your membership number in a hurry just call the club office and they'll let you know what it is: 01332 291675.

[old sea horse]

Thanks Louise!

[morrisminorbzh]

I have no idea concerning the validity of a French MOT on a UK registered car returning to the UK - It would be worth you checking up with the DVLA, and your insurance, concerning this to be on the safe side. Quite understand why you don't want to lose Sam's ID.
Let us know how you get on.

Bon courage.

[old sea horse]

Oh, just a thought, if you are thinking of doing this yourself i.e. controle technique in France, be aware you will need left hand drive headlamps, I purchased a pair off eBay a few years ago at a reasonable price but not sure now where to get them, Lucas UK used to have offices/shops all over the UK but they seem to have disappeared now, this is the only modification you need to do. Has the French Morris Minor Club a web presence? Tried googling it but if they exist might be under another name - in French of course! Do not be afraid to drive your Morris abroad, long distances! They were made for such activities and as long as its running well before you start you should have no problems (famous last words), I always carry a halfshaft in the boot, it is possible to change one by the side of the road - I know, I've done it, and yes, in France, its the one weakness/achilles heel (well, besides the auful location of the master cylinder) of the Morris, and I've driven hundreds of miles with one cylinder down and many miles without water in the radiator, try doing that with a modern car!

[morrisminorbzh]

The "Amicale Morris Minor France" does not as far as I know have a web site.
Their email is: morrisminorfrance(at)neuf(dot)fr

My Traveller has been changed to LHD (more convenient) and has LHD headlights - ESM do them. Now looking for a speedo in kilometres.[frame][/frame]