My son is planning to spend 6 months or so - Feb2010 to Late Sept 2010 in France as a cyclist. He wants to take his UK car with him but is concerned that if he stays for 6 months he may need to register his car in France. He will return to UK during his stay for a couple of weeks in the Summer. Can anyone advise the best course of action for him to take?
My son is planning to spend 6 months or so - Feb2010 to Late Sept 2010 in France as a cyclist. He wants to take his UK car with him but is concerned that if he stays for 6 months he may need to register his car in France. He will return to UK during his stay for a couple of weeks in the Summer. Can anyone advise the best course of action for him to take?
6 months, fine (check UK insurance). 6 months plus 1 day, problem and he must reregister. Plus, it is "in any 12 month period", so if the total number of days in France in 12 months exceeds 6 months, etc etc.
Car must remain UK-legal (tax MOT, UK insurance, etc) and comply with French rules (beambenders, warning triangle, reflective jacket), for all of its time in France.
Assuming that he is British too, he must have an EU licence (Although unless you are very old, he is likely to already have one!!)
Assuming that he is British too, he must have an EU licence (Although unless you are very old, he is likely to already have one!!)
Don't know where you get that one from. Any valid UK licence is valid in France - period; and that includes old style paper ones.
Insurance is likely to be the major issue and assuming he doesn't qualify for a policy with Saga () he might need to get cover with someone like Stuart Collins Counting down to retirement update: A bright light now beckons
6 months, fine (check UK insurance). 6 months plus 1 day, problem and he must reregister. Plus, it is "in any 12 month period", so if the total number of days in France in 12 months exceeds 6 months, etc etc.
Car must remain UK-legal (tax MOT, UK insurance, etc) and comply with French rules (beambenders, warning triangle, reflective jacket), for all of its time in France.
Assuming that he is British too, he must have an EU licence (Although unless you are very old, he is likely to already have one!!)
From the goverment website:
Q. Un ressortissant d'un pays étranger devant
séjourner en France pour une période de plusieurs mois doit-il y faire
immatriculer son véhicule ?
A. L'immatriculation d'un véhicule dans un
département français ne s'impose à un ressortissant étranger qu'à
partir du moment où il y a déclaré son domicile.
You can bring what you like into France, getting it registered is a whole different matter though and I imagine an Australian vehicle could be somewhat problematical and on a par with say USA imports.
My advice, don't bother, the steering wheel is on the wrong side anyway
Counting down to retirement update: A bright light now beckons
Joined on 10/05/2009
Perth, Western Australia
Posts 8
Re: English Car in France
ErnieY wrote:
You can bring what you like into France, getting it registered is a whole different matter though and I imagine an Australian vehicle could be somewhat problematical and on a par with say USA imports.
Shouldn't be too much of a problem then, as Australian Vehicle Compliances are based on the strict European Emissions standards (since 1996).
My advice, don't bother, the steering wheel is on the wrong side anyway
So are UK Vehicles. We're the same country really, we're just better at Cricket
It's just my car is a very rare model of the Mazda 121, and I've had it for so long. I'd like to keep it as a second car, seeing as I'm planning on buying a Peugeot 407SW as my main car in France anyway. It's a sentimental thing.
Thanks for the info Ernie
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