Importing a modified car?
Discussion
Depends what you consider an issue.
If it's just the control technique, which will be required for registration, the exhaust could be a problem for the noise and pollution tests. The springs should be ok provided the tyres don't rub the arches at any extremity of travel throughout the turning circle.
If you mean les flics, they'll ignore the springs and probably the exhaust too. In theory they could stick a dB meter in your pipe, and if the level exceeds whatever's written on the carte grise they can order you to get it changed. In practice that's unlikely to happen, unless it's a real thundering fart-cannon, or you've been pulled for something else and given them sufficient reason to be annoyed with you.
If we're talking strict letter of the law, "any notable modification" (which is French for "we're not sure about your Magic Tree, so we'll let the courts decide") is supposed to be subject to a Reception à Titre Isolé (individual vehicle approval), with all the glacial slowness, prodigious expense and Schrödingen uncertainty of result that implies. Insurance law states that the insured must declare any and all modifications to the insurer, and that insurers have grounds to refuse indemnity if undeclared modifications are discovered in the event of an accident. When declaring modifications, the insurer may or may not require that the car pass an RTI test, at their discretion.
Can't speak from experience, but I'd imagine you could find an insurer that would accept your relatively minor mods without the RTI palaver. And if not, at least your car won't be too hard to revert to stock.
Alternatively, do as everyone else seems to do - declare nothing and hope to <deity> you don't crash into anyone
'punt
If it's just the control technique, which will be required for registration, the exhaust could be a problem for the noise and pollution tests. The springs should be ok provided the tyres don't rub the arches at any extremity of travel throughout the turning circle.
If you mean les flics, they'll ignore the springs and probably the exhaust too. In theory they could stick a dB meter in your pipe, and if the level exceeds whatever's written on the carte grise they can order you to get it changed. In practice that's unlikely to happen, unless it's a real thundering fart-cannon, or you've been pulled for something else and given them sufficient reason to be annoyed with you.
If we're talking strict letter of the law, "any notable modification" (which is French for "we're not sure about your Magic Tree, so we'll let the courts decide") is supposed to be subject to a Reception à Titre Isolé (individual vehicle approval), with all the glacial slowness, prodigious expense and Schrödingen uncertainty of result that implies. Insurance law states that the insured must declare any and all modifications to the insurer, and that insurers have grounds to refuse indemnity if undeclared modifications are discovered in the event of an accident. When declaring modifications, the insurer may or may not require that the car pass an RTI test, at their discretion.
Can't speak from experience, but I'd imagine you could find an insurer that would accept your relatively minor mods without the RTI palaver. And if not, at least your car won't be too hard to revert to stock.
Alternatively, do as everyone else seems to do - declare nothing and hope to <deity> you don't crash into anyone
'punt
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