Advice needed

Author
Discussion

SFM

Original Poster:

123 posts

221 months

Friday 4th January 2008
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Hi all,
We are moving to France in a couple of months, and I don`t know what to do about our cars, eventually I will register them in France, but for now I am looking for acompany that will insure them fully comp for at least 6 months, how did you guys that took cars with you when you moved manage?

ludoZ3

126 posts

204 months

Friday 4th January 2008
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you should be able to get insurance in france without too much hassle. just say that you are in the process of registering the cars wink

rdjohn

6,369 posts

202 months

Friday 1st February 2008
quotequote all
I am not sure if that is right. Registering the car was easy, but the first question from the insurance company was "what was the registration number?". Like most UK companies, they then have access to the database that tells them the make, model and colour of your car.

Car insurance in France is cheeper than the UK and includes breakdown cover.

Unless you emotionally attached to a car, then driving a RHD car in France and elswhere in Europe can beome a fag. Buying a LHD everyday car makes good sense if you are committing to a new life in a new country.

chateaucharly

49 posts

264 months

Saturday 2nd February 2008
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Care insurance in France is cheaper! is it? We pay more here than we did in the uk.
Who do you recommend?

rdjohn

6,369 posts

202 months

Saturday 2nd February 2008
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We use Pacifica through Credit Agricole, though other quotes we had did not to seem very much different.

We are in Spain at the moment and the power steering belt broke on our Alfa. We phoned Mondial assist in France and were recovered from the AutoPista on a Sunday in less than 90mins - very impressive for an inclusive service. They also saw the problem through to the car being repaired and collected the following day.

penryar

311 posts

234 months

Saturday 2nd February 2008
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I used Axa (still do) for the Alfa. They insured it on UK plates for 2 years without a problem. The Alfa (LHD) was cheaper than in the UK, the RR (RHD) about the same price.

And interestingly there was an article in one of the English language papers a few months back about how according to the French ministry for transport (DIRE?) it is perfectly acceptable to get your CT and insurance in France, but keep the car on UK plates.
Might be ok in France, but how on earth would it work if you took the car back to the UK for a visit? Anyway its pointless in my mind, if you have the CT etc you may as well pop down to the sous-prefecture and get French plates.

ludoZ3

126 posts

204 months

Monday 4th February 2008
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try MMA for insurance.


justin-banks

193 posts

247 months

Tuesday 5th February 2008
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Hi Guys,
I had trouble with car insurance with UK plates etc, I found Generali who are cheap and flexible!

I personally would not register a RHD here in France as when you come to sell the French wont buy it and nor will the English! I used my RHD here for a year, then sent it back to the UK to be flogged and bought a LHD here. Every hour spent in the Prefecture takes a year off my total I reckon.
Cheers!
Justin

rdjohn

6,369 posts

202 months

Tuesday 5th February 2008
quotequote all
I totally agree with this point and just like RHD have less value in France, LHD are cheaper to buy in the UK; if you can find the car you want of course.

chateaucharly

49 posts

264 months

Tuesday 5th February 2008
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Totally agree, every type of vehicle seems to be more expensive in France compared to the UK. My car is worth 2k more here than the equivalent in the uk and its only a crappy old discovery.

justin-banks

193 posts

247 months

Tuesday 5th February 2008
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It is crazy really, you see 15 year old Renault Clios and such like for £1,500 here and in the UK they would be near worthless £100 cars. I got so frustrated trying to find a cheap,reliable banger I ended up buying a brand new Jeep over in Italy just because it was good value!

Also, I have noticed in the last five years many independant UK based LHD only car dealers selling Left Hookers in the UK at a premium, taking advantage of all the holiday homers I guess.

Cars are dearer here but another little thing, I just sold my Range Rover Sport LHD, French Registered and looking at La Centrale, the prices are 20% higher than in the UK, great I thought, but could I shift it in France? Not a chance, I actually wonder if anyone ever sells their cars in France at these inflated prices?
Cheers!
Justin

penryar

311 posts

234 months

Wednesday 6th February 2008
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Totally agree with you on the price of cars, my daily driver is a Range Rover Classic, if I were to flog that back in the UK and buy one out here in LHD at the same/similar age/spec I would be out of pocket by at least €3-4000 . The car is pretty worthless back in the UK, but out here they still fetch a decent price. Its all registered up, and I don't have a problem with the steering wheel on the wrong side, (I drove LHD cars in the UK) so it makes sense to keep it.