French registered car at 2nd home in France?
Discussion
We want to leave a car over in France as we could always do with an extra one when we're over there. As I see it we have 2 options.
Option one is to take a car over from the UK, insure it TPO for any driver and bring it back once a year for an MoT test. I know UK insurance companies don't like you doing this but my understanding is that EU law requires them to offer the minimum level of cover legally required in any EU member state. However, this isn't ideal as the car has to come back for an MoT to be legal.
Option 2 is to have a French car, but I have no idea about how you would insure one when the owner has a UK licence and everything about them is registered in the UK. Can you get insurance for anyone over a certain age to drive a car on France? Is it worth buying a cheap LHD car in the UK then register it in France or is this massively expensive (home is in Manche - 50 if that makes a difference). I don't much fancy the 180k KM 1993 Citroen ZX 1.8D for sale at €1,600 opposite our house there is very good value so the UK car option is looking cheaper!
What is the cheapest option?!
Option one is to take a car over from the UK, insure it TPO for any driver and bring it back once a year for an MoT test. I know UK insurance companies don't like you doing this but my understanding is that EU law requires them to offer the minimum level of cover legally required in any EU member state. However, this isn't ideal as the car has to come back for an MoT to be legal.
Option 2 is to have a French car, but I have no idea about how you would insure one when the owner has a UK licence and everything about them is registered in the UK. Can you get insurance for anyone over a certain age to drive a car on France? Is it worth buying a cheap LHD car in the UK then register it in France or is this massively expensive (home is in Manche - 50 if that makes a difference). I don't much fancy the 180k KM 1993 Citroen ZX 1.8D for sale at €1,600 opposite our house there is very good value so the UK car option is looking cheaper!
What is the cheapest option?!
Hi Jamie
We have several UK registered and a couple of french registered vehicles now in France.
If you are not too concerned with drivng a aRHD car in France, then I would buy what you want in the UK where cars are signifcantly cheaper. Get a new MOT before taking to France and take out TPO insurance for any driver. If the car is in good condition and worth taking back, then drive it back for thre MOT after one year. It's not car from Manche comkpared to the Midi Pyreness where we are. If you want to register in france then only do that if you find what you want at a good price but LHD. I have a UK policy on two classic Porsches and a MK1 Golf GTi (all LHD) that is fully comp, and allows the cars out of the UK for 364 days per year. So a classic, might be a good option. Oh and if you want to sell then the value of classics in France is higher than the UK.
That's my 2 cents. BobT
We have several UK registered and a couple of french registered vehicles now in France.
If you are not too concerned with drivng a aRHD car in France, then I would buy what you want in the UK where cars are signifcantly cheaper. Get a new MOT before taking to France and take out TPO insurance for any driver. If the car is in good condition and worth taking back, then drive it back for thre MOT after one year. It's not car from Manche comkpared to the Midi Pyreness where we are. If you want to register in france then only do that if you find what you want at a good price but LHD. I have a UK policy on two classic Porsches and a MK1 Golf GTi (all LHD) that is fully comp, and allows the cars out of the UK for 364 days per year. So a classic, might be a good option. Oh and if you want to sell then the value of classics in France is higher than the UK.
That's my 2 cents. BobT
I bought a LHD Smart in England for a runabout in France, changing the registration over was easy as long as you have a French address (utility bills to prove it)Insurance covers the car and as I understand it any driver but I have not confirmed any age limits as I don't have any young drivers around. Benefits - no road tax and MOT (CT) every 2 years costing 52 euros. Any trip back to the UK just for MOT must cost £200 or so.
Plenty of LHD cars in the UK to choose from where prices are cheaper than here
Plenty of LHD cars in the UK to choose from where prices are cheaper than here
Agreed, buying LHD cars in the UK is even cheaper than buying RHD ones.
As the house was still being built, I had an address here, but no utillities, but had no problem insuring it here, once I had exported it and registered it here. I did insure it through my bank though.
I would definately go for that option again, in similar circumstances.
As the house was still being built, I had an address here, but no utillities, but had no problem insuring it here, once I had exported it and registered it here. I did insure it through my bank though.
I would definately go for that option again, in similar circumstances.
So buying an LHD car in the UK and registering it in France may be worth doing then?
Can anyone confirm the insurance situation over there and if it does cover anyone to drive the car or if it's like the UK in terms of drivers covered. Is there a French version of confused.com or similar to look at insurance? We have an address and utility (electric and water) bills so that's not a problem, but all likely drivers have UK licences - me and my OH, and my parents.
Thanks for the help so far
Can anyone confirm the insurance situation over there and if it does cover anyone to drive the car or if it's like the UK in terms of drivers covered. Is there a French version of confused.com or similar to look at insurance? We have an address and utility (electric and water) bills so that's not a problem, but all likely drivers have UK licences - me and my OH, and my parents.
Thanks for the help so far
I am fairly sure you can only have named drivers and the UK provision of driving your mate's car with third party cover from your insurance does not exist either.
I think most financial services are a completely closed shop here. Direct Line is the biggest insurer in Spain, but do not even exist here. Also, once you have signed-up with one insurer, then moving to another insurer is fraught with specifically timed periods (only a few days) are allowed to provide the opportunity to switch insurer. So lots of legwork / phone calls are required.
Buying and insuring your car in the UK affords you months to get all of these things sorted, before you register the car in France.
Having said all that, they do pay out promptly, provided you have a Police report etc.
I think most financial services are a completely closed shop here. Direct Line is the biggest insurer in Spain, but do not even exist here. Also, once you have signed-up with one insurer, then moving to another insurer is fraught with specifically timed periods (only a few days) are allowed to provide the opportunity to switch insurer. So lots of legwork / phone calls are required.
Buying and insuring your car in the UK affords you months to get all of these things sorted, before you register the car in France.
Having said all that, they do pay out promptly, provided you have a Police report etc.
Two cars insured and no restriction on drivers with AGF it's the car that is insured with the owner named on the policy.
Who do you have your house insured with? thats the first place to try.
True changing is not like the UK but then the market is not as competative as UK, the TV is not full of ads tempting you with deals but to be honest the annual premium is more stable than UK insurers. I think you have to change each year in UK as once they have you with the "bait" premium they then put it up hoping you will not change. The French system is more one of long term partnerships you pay the premium and they pay up with good grace when the time comes.
Try your house insurer they will cover a UK reg car, friend has car from England in January still not registered here but no problems on insurance.
Who do you have your house insured with? thats the first place to try.
True changing is not like the UK but then the market is not as competative as UK, the TV is not full of ads tempting you with deals but to be honest the annual premium is more stable than UK insurers. I think you have to change each year in UK as once they have you with the "bait" premium they then put it up hoping you will not change. The French system is more one of long term partnerships you pay the premium and they pay up with good grace when the time comes.
Try your house insurer they will cover a UK reg car, friend has car from England in January still not registered here but no problems on insurance.
Edited by leyorkie on Saturday 26th September 17:59
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