REGISTRATION IN FRANCE

[LISASTENSTROM]

Does anybody have any info about re-registering classic cars in France please?

I have recently moved to Normandy bringing by Morris Traveller with me and wish to re-register her soon. I've lots of British friends here who have been through the rigmarole of re-registering their modern cars in France but nobody seems to have a clue about registering a classic car. I gather I don't need a Certificate of Conformity but that's about all I know.

Any info would be more than welcome.

Cheers.

Lisa

[Gareth]

It can be made difficult if the cars were not sold in France, although with the Mog you should be Ok... It should be the same as your friends, but you'll probably need to get full manufacturers details of the car.

Now, if it were a Rover 200, you could nip to your local Rover dealer, but with the Mog, getting in touch with British Motor Heritage should do the trick. If you get hold of the forms first, that might give an indication of what is required.

Oh, and congrats on the move to France ~ I'm jealous!!

[LISASTENSTROM]

Gareth,
Thanks Gareth. I'll get in touch with the Heritage bods, I have their number here.

By the way, why do we name our Moggies? Mine's called Megan (cos I'm Welsh).

[Chris Morley]

I assume it's the exact reverse of the procedure bringing a classic French car to the UK. (visit their version of a vehicle licensing office, fill in a lot of forms, hand over the UK logbook, pay a fee, be given a French registration and accompanying docs).

[Alec]

Hello Lisa,
France has a similar sceme as the UK regarding older cars, they have either free or very much reduced taxation (not absolutely sure) I'm told that they don't even need Le MOT there. I also believe though that there is a restriction in you can only drive in your own and neighbouring Department.

Alec

[rayofleamington]

I've known a few people do this betwen here and Germany. It can be a bit of a hassle as to re-register in the UK when you come back you need a valid MOT, but someMOT stations are unhappy to do non UK registered cars. With a bit of pursuasion, they can be convinced to write the foreign reg and/or the VIN number in the 'Registration number' part of the certificate.
Other people have run their non-UK registered car in the UK for many years on end to avoid all the hassle. That's bending the rules a lot and one issue is insurance (most UK insurance companies would refuse to offer insurance for a car if it was used permanently abroad for more than a few months holiday). German insurance is subtely different as it gives a European wide third party cover (probably because they're not an island )

If it's a permanent move, not a year or two then there's no alternative to re-registering. If it's not completely permanent, it might be worth looking at how far the rules can be bent, but I would expect UK insurance would make it impossible.

Good luck.

[fran]

I might be able to add a bit of info. When I last looked into doing this you have to do a number of things
1) Get a Certificate from the tax office to prove no VAT is due
2)Get a certificate from the manufacturer for conformity
3) Get a French MOT
4) Take the car to a testing station (in Brittany called th DRIRE)
5) Take all the paperwork to the Prefecture and obtain a carte gris

Unfortunately there are fees at stages 2-5. I am trying to find out if the certificate of conformity is a general one, that can be photocopied, as last year I phoned MG Rover France and they wanted 113 Euros before they would do it.

Hope this helps

Fran

[vilebrequin]

The details for the French Mnor club are as follows:

AMICALE MORRIS MINOR FRANCE.
rue Paul Tourseiler,
46700 DURAVEL.

Tel: (0033) 5.65.24.66.46.

eMail: morrisminorfr@aol.com


Contacts: Chris & Mary HALL.

[kifemeuh]

I' m trying to bring a moggy in France and have it registered ,the process is the same described by "fran" in his ( or her) mail .
I just want to add some more precisons
First , you're english , and you bring your car with you in France , so the french administration will certainly be "cooler"

Second the step with the DRIRE is not mandatory , if your moggy is a 948CC , BINGO , you could have a complete conformity certificate from ABP

Third ,If it's a 1098 , you will only have a partial conformity certificate ,and it could be very difficult to have the car registered , but it's possible

Fourth , If you can not obtain a "CARTE GRISE NORMALE" , you could have a CARTE GRISE COLLECTION, very restrictive , but useful ...

The adress to obtain a certificate is : http://mgcf.free.fr/certif.htm

Good luck !