Can you keep a uk registered car in france?
Discussion
We're thinking of moving to France, but had a couple of questions regarding our car...
Can we keep it on UK plates if we live in France, or do we HAVE to register it in France and have it on French Plates. I saw a lot of British cars with UK plates sitting in drives when we traveled around The Dordogne recently, so wondered how that worked.
Also, if we can keep it on UK plates, how does it work if and when it comes time for an MOT, and we want to use it to come back to England to visit family etc?
Do we have to get an MOT a soon as we arrive back, and same goes for car Tax.
Thanks very much in advance for an answers
Can we keep it on UK plates if we live in France, or do we HAVE to register it in France and have it on French Plates. I saw a lot of British cars with UK plates sitting in drives when we traveled around The Dordogne recently, so wondered how that worked.
Also, if we can keep it on UK plates, how does it work if and when it comes time for an MOT, and we want to use it to come back to England to visit family etc?
Do we have to get an MOT a soon as we arrive back, and same goes for car Tax.
Thanks very much in advance for an answers
tr7v8 said:
Watched a Police Camera Action type prog the other day & they impounded a tidy clio where the family had it insured in France, no MOT & TAX . They reckoned the french insurance was invalid in the UK & flatbedded it away leaving the family stranded in the Essex M25 services.
UK plated ?tr7v8 said:
Watched a Police Camera Action type prog the other day & they impounded a tidy clio where the family had it insured in France, no MOT & TAX . They reckoned the french insurance was invalid in the UK & flatbedded it away leaving the family stranded in the Essex M25 services.
To be honest what did they expect, driving a UK car, in the Uk, mostly likely on a UK license why would you think you wouldn't need MOT/TAX, regardless where it's insured?I was going to take a UK car across, but was going to keep the car taxed/MOT'd and with UK insurance that covered for long term european use.
Edited by tonto1 on Wednesday 18th May 16:03
rdjohn said:
I think that the answer to the initial question that you pose is YES, but not legally.
If you intend enjoying the benefits of living in France, why not just comply with its rules and regulations?
I'm not quite sure of the rules and regulations. So it does have to be registered in France and have French plates on it?If you intend enjoying the benefits of living in France, why not just comply with its rules and regulations?
sinizter said:
In the UK, you can keep a EU plate car for 6 months before needing to be registered here (or something like that) provided it is legal and fully insured etc in its home country.
France probably has something similar going on.
+1France probably has something similar going on.
UK is six months in any 12 months and I believe the French system is the same. If you are in the same location, i.e. your house, for over 12 months your local plod may take an interest, I know of people who do this but eventually it gets too much trouble.
Cost of registering UK car in France (depends on cost of headlamps) range £200 - £500. Cost of returning to UK for MOT each year ? Remember no RFL in France and MOT every 2 years.
Don't forget that you should also change your driving licence and if you have moved you will not have a fixed address for the V5>
It all starts to get messy.
Is it worth it in the long run?
leyorkie said:
Remember no RFL in France and MOT every 2 years.
One of the very good things about the French MOT (controle technnique) is that it is done independently of the repair service, thus guaranteeing impartiality. I can't believe that a company as 'well respected' as Kwik Fit (say) are allowed to do MOT's!Gord2 said:
I'm not quite sure of the rules and regulations. So it does have to be registered in France and have French plates on it?
Registering a UK car in France is one of the less onerous tasks you will have to undertake if you intend emigrating to France. If you no longer have a UK address it will become a lot of hassle to tax and MoT the car each year and it will be illegal. The 6-month rule is paramount.It will also demonstrate to your neighbours that you are not integrating into their community. Think of the flack that immigrants into the UK get when they do not integrate. You have a car that is likely to stand out and be different from your neighbours – wealth tax is not yet fully abolished, I think.
Having said all that, if you intend travelling back and forth to the UK and have a UK address, then you have a very reasonable excuse for the gendarmes if you are stopped. i.e This is my car that normally resides at my address in the UK. This address must match the one shown on your driving license.
Although you can buy UK insurance that covers long periods abroad, one of their stipulations is likely to be that you are normally resident in the UK.
Your post says 'moving to France'. Whilst many do keep UK regd cars in France, it is fraught with potential problems.
The French and Spanish authorities are cracking down on incorrectly registered vehicles being kept/used in their countries (according to articles I've read in their media). Insurance becomes more difficult and many UK policies insist the car is regd in UK and your main residence is in UK, irrespective of how many days you spend in France. You can insure a UK-regd car in France, but the experience of friends of mine is that they start asking questions about why it isn't French registered. They had a French bought/registered car and took their old UK car over. After a couple of years they gave up with it, returned it to the UK and sold it.
I've seen adverts for seized UK-regd cars being auctioned.
If you are moving out there full time, the best option IMHO (but not necessarily cheapest) is to buy something over there. Saves a lot of potential difficulties down the line, especially if you'd prefer not to take on the system.
The French and Spanish authorities are cracking down on incorrectly registered vehicles being kept/used in their countries (according to articles I've read in their media). Insurance becomes more difficult and many UK policies insist the car is regd in UK and your main residence is in UK, irrespective of how many days you spend in France. You can insure a UK-regd car in France, but the experience of friends of mine is that they start asking questions about why it isn't French registered. They had a French bought/registered car and took their old UK car over. After a couple of years they gave up with it, returned it to the UK and sold it.
I've seen adverts for seized UK-regd cars being auctioned.
If you are moving out there full time, the best option IMHO (but not necessarily cheapest) is to buy something over there. Saves a lot of potential difficulties down the line, especially if you'd prefer not to take on the system.
tonys said:
Your post says 'moving to France'. Whilst many do keep UK regd cars in France, it is fraught with potential problems.
The French and Spanish authorities are cracking down on incorrectly registered vehicles being kept/used in their countries (according to articles I've read in their media). Insurance becomes more difficult and many UK policies insist the car is regd in UK and your main residence is in UK, irrespective of how many days you spend in France. You can insure a UK-regd car in France, but the experience of friends of mine is that they start asking questions about why it isn't French registered. They had a French bought/registered car and took their old UK car over. After a couple of years they gave up with it, returned it to the UK and sold it.
I've seen adverts for seized UK-regd cars being auctioned.
If you are moving out there full time, the best option IMHO (but not necessarily cheapest) is to buy something over there. Saves a lot of potential difficulties down the line, especially if you'd prefer not to take on the system.
The French and Spanish authorities are cracking down on incorrectly registered vehicles being kept/used in their countries (according to articles I've read in their media). Insurance becomes more difficult and many UK policies insist the car is regd in UK and your main residence is in UK, irrespective of how many days you spend in France. You can insure a UK-regd car in France, but the experience of friends of mine is that they start asking questions about why it isn't French registered. They had a French bought/registered car and took their old UK car over. After a couple of years they gave up with it, returned it to the UK and sold it.
I've seen adverts for seized UK-regd cars being auctioned.
If you are moving out there full time, the best option IMHO (but not necessarily cheapest) is to buy something over there. Saves a lot of potential difficulties down the line, especially if you'd prefer not to take on the system.
and it helps to blend in as well....My Uncle and Aunt have a few cars in france on english plates, from what I remmeber they have it something like this.....
Daily hack 1, insured in france and 'control technique' done every 2 years but still on uk plates.
Daily hack 2, not sure but its on UK plates.
Fun car 1, New so no need for MOT yet, insured in uk, on uk plates.
All are declared Sorn in UK as far as I know.
They dont have the problem of needing to use them when they come back to the UK as they have a UK car stored at the airport for use when they are back here.
(they have another car which they originally bought abroad and imported to the UK so they have registered that in france etc)
Daily hack 1, insured in france and 'control technique' done every 2 years but still on uk plates.
Daily hack 2, not sure but its on UK plates.
Fun car 1, New so no need for MOT yet, insured in uk, on uk plates.
All are declared Sorn in UK as far as I know.
They dont have the problem of needing to use them when they come back to the UK as they have a UK car stored at the airport for use when they are back here.
(they have another car which they originally bought abroad and imported to the UK so they have registered that in france etc)
Pet Troll said:
My Uncle and Aunt have a few cars in france on english plates, from what I remmeber they have it something like this.....
Fun car 1, New so no need for MOT yet, insured in uk, on uk plates.
All are declared Sorn in UK as far as I know.
I hope they don't have an accident with this car!! If the insurance company find it is not taxed they may not pay out as it should be laid up!!Fun car 1, New so no need for MOT yet, insured in uk, on uk plates.
All are declared Sorn in UK as far as I know.
Really anoys me how people cherry pick the regulations.
The new continuous insurance regulations for Uk registered cars may catch some out!!
At a trackday yesterday, I spoke with a French guy with a UK plated Ariel Atom on UK plates. He keeps it registered and insured from a UK friend's address and, being less than 12 months old, it does not need an MoT.
He did not explain why he had not registered it in France, it was LHD.
He did not explain why he had not registered it in France, it was LHD.
What is legal is the following:
You live in France but you have another place in the UK, your car is insured by a UK insurance company etc...
You live in France and are planning on registering your car in that country, you have 4 months before driving on the road becomes illegal (The 4 months start when you go to the 'mairie' and get a 'quitus fiscal').
You live in France but you have another place in the UK, your car is insured by a UK insurance company etc...
You live in France and are planning on registering your car in that country, you have 4 months before driving on the road becomes illegal (The 4 months start when you go to the 'mairie' and get a 'quitus fiscal').
Pet Troll said:
My Uncle and Aunt have a few cars in france on english plates, from what I remmeber they have it something like this.....
Daily hack 1, insured in france and 'control technique' done every 2 years but still on uk plates.
Daily hack 2, not sure but its on UK plates.
Fun car 1, New so no need for MOT yet, insured in uk, on uk plates.
All are declared Sorn in UK as far as I know.
They dont have the problem of needing to use them when they come back to the UK as they have a UK car stored at the airport for use when they are back here.
(they have another car which they originally bought abroad and imported to the UK so they have registered that in france etc)
They might want to read their insurance policies (in particular the 'fun car') and all the small print very carefully Daily hack 1, insured in france and 'control technique' done every 2 years but still on uk plates.
Daily hack 2, not sure but its on UK plates.
Fun car 1, New so no need for MOT yet, insured in uk, on uk plates.
All are declared Sorn in UK as far as I know.
They dont have the problem of needing to use them when they come back to the UK as they have a UK car stored at the airport for use when they are back here.
(they have another car which they originally bought abroad and imported to the UK so they have registered that in france etc)
Edited by tonys on Friday 3rd June 22:32
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