Taking car to France - and leaving it there !
Discussion
Hi All,
I am considering purchasing a property on the French south coast and wondering if anyone can advise me of my dilemma ! I bought a Cayman during lockdown on online auction which was originally from Qatar - thus LHD. Its 2015 model with 29k miles on it in good condition. So, if my plans go ahead the car would be left in the garage at the property and just used for a few months each year. Would it need to be French registered or would it be ok kept UK registered. Not sure how insurance would work? It seems since Brexit life is now complicated on this? I believe cars are more expensive in France but not any evidence !
many thanks!
I am considering purchasing a property on the French south coast and wondering if anyone can advise me of my dilemma ! I bought a Cayman during lockdown on online auction which was originally from Qatar - thus LHD. Its 2015 model with 29k miles on it in good condition. So, if my plans go ahead the car would be left in the garage at the property and just used for a few months each year. Would it need to be French registered or would it be ok kept UK registered. Not sure how insurance would work? It seems since Brexit life is now complicated on this? I believe cars are more expensive in France but not any evidence !
many thanks!
2Hooky said:
Hi All,
I am considering purchasing a property on the French south coast and wondering if anyone can advise me of my dilemma ! I bought a Cayman during lockdown on online auction which was originally from Qatar - thus LHD. Its 2015 model with 29k miles on it in good condition. So, if my plans go ahead the car would be left in the garage at the property and just used for a few months each year. Would it need to be French registered or would it be ok kept UK registered. Not sure how insurance would work? It seems since Brexit life is now complicated on this? I believe cars are more expensive in France but not any evidence !
many thanks!
We have a place in Marbella and we considered taking a lhd Uk car out there at first, wasn’t worth the hassle. If it stayed on Uk plates it would have needed to come back yearly once the MOT was due. Cars do seem to be a little more expensive in Europe, but not enough to put anyone off. We bought locally in Spain in the end to make life easier. I am considering purchasing a property on the French south coast and wondering if anyone can advise me of my dilemma ! I bought a Cayman during lockdown on online auction which was originally from Qatar - thus LHD. Its 2015 model with 29k miles on it in good condition. So, if my plans go ahead the car would be left in the garage at the property and just used for a few months each year. Would it need to be French registered or would it be ok kept UK registered. Not sure how insurance would work? It seems since Brexit life is now complicated on this? I believe cars are more expensive in France but not any evidence !
many thanks!
If you have a French address and pay local taxes you can apply for a Carte Gris and have a car registered in your name.
You will have to pay import duty based on the value of the car when you bought it and to be registered, it will need a valid Controle Technique (French MOT).
There is a helpful English language step by step guide on the French Govt website.
It's not complex but quite time consuming
You will have to pay import duty based on the value of the car when you bought it and to be registered, it will need a valid Controle Technique (French MOT).
There is a helpful English language step by step guide on the French Govt website.
It's not complex but quite time consuming
I keep a UK RHD 992 and Polo GTi in France, where I actually do most of my annual mileage (not a big fan of driving in the UK these days).
Each car comes back to the UK occasionally for servicing etc.
Strictly speaking I think they probably should be French registered, but I kind of review that each year.
If I went down that route, I’d buy LHD in Europe.
Ironically, I’ve kept a LHD 911 in the UK for many years.
Which side I sit on doesn’t really bother me, same in a/c.
Each car comes back to the UK occasionally for servicing etc.
Strictly speaking I think they probably should be French registered, but I kind of review that each year.
If I went down that route, I’d buy LHD in Europe.
Ironically, I’ve kept a LHD 911 in the UK for many years.
Which side I sit on doesn’t really bother me, same in a/c.
ClaphamGT3 said:
If you have a French address and pay local taxes you can apply for a Carte Gris and have a car registered in your name.
You will have to pay import duty based on the value of the car when you bought it and to be registered, it will need a valid Controle Technique (French MOT).
There is a helpful English language step by step guide on the French Govt website.
It's not complex but quite time consuming
This.You will have to pay import duty based on the value of the car when you bought it and to be registered, it will need a valid Controle Technique (French MOT).
There is a helpful English language step by step guide on the French Govt website.
It's not complex but quite time consuming
Geneve said:
I keep a UK RHD 992 and Polo GTi in France, where I actually do most of my annual mileage (not a big fan of driving in the UK these days).
Each car comes back to the UK occasionally for servicing etc.
Strictly speaking I think they probably should be French registered, but I kind of review that each year.
If I went down that route, I’d buy LHD in Europe.
Ironically, I’ve kept a LHD 911 in the UK for many years.
Which side I sit on doesn’t really bother me, same in a/c.
Just interested in if your cars are insured by a French company or are there deals to be done with an English company, as usually one is restricted to a total of 90 days a year with a caveat that a single trip being no longer than 30 days.Each car comes back to the UK occasionally for servicing etc.
Strictly speaking I think they probably should be French registered, but I kind of review that each year.
If I went down that route, I’d buy LHD in Europe.
Ironically, I’ve kept a LHD 911 in the UK for many years.
Which side I sit on doesn’t really bother me, same in a/c.
I may consider doing the same thing as I don't want to get rid of my current car
Insurance is available that will cover you 12 months a it’s (I used to have it), but it’s 3xthe price. You’ll still need a MOT if not a new car though once every 12months.
But more to the point you won’t actually be legal in France . From memory if you are living there after 3months you have to register the car and swap your license to a French one.
But…. You can probably get away with it unless you live in a small village/town there.
But more to the point you won’t actually be legal in France . From memory if you are living there after 3months you have to register the car and swap your license to a French one.
But…. You can probably get away with it unless you live in a small village/town there.
It's doable, but would be easier just to buy something in France or at least the EU.
You can keep the car in France on British plates. As you are not French resident this is the only legal way to do it. However it must be legal in the UK, which means Road tax, MoTs and valid insurance. It may be difficult finding an insurer to give you anything other than 30 days cover for driving in France, but if it's not being driven and not on the road then your 30 days can be when you are actually there.
You can register it in France legally only if you are a French resident.
Being non-resident would make it illegal to drive on French plates, and being resident would make it illegal to drive on British plates. (This means all of us residents who imported a car here were breaking the law for a while as we waited for the French registration to arrive.)
You will need to import it properly, pay French import duties and VAT at the douanes. Then you can register it. Being a non-EU car you will probably also need to get an EU Certificate of Conformity from Porsche proving it meets EU laws. You'll also need to change the headlights back to right hand traffic (and the rear fog needs to be on the correct side) and get a CT. You can do the latter on UK plates.
Gone are the days of popping to the prefecture with some paper. You have to have an ANTS account with full privileges, which only come with a French social security number, which only comes with working here, running a business here, or on an S1 via residency.
With all that being said there are hundreds of resident Brits driving about France in untaxed uninsured British registered cars, and hundreds of non-resident Brits driving French registered ones. There are ways.
Without an ANTS account is to pay a friendly garagiste to register it for you. You provide the proofs of "residency" (utility bills, etc), proof that you have paid the French their import duties and VAT and pay the registration fee. Job done. The fee will be very high but it will be the last tax you ever pay on the car.
You can keep the car in France on British plates. As you are not French resident this is the only legal way to do it. However it must be legal in the UK, which means Road tax, MoTs and valid insurance. It may be difficult finding an insurer to give you anything other than 30 days cover for driving in France, but if it's not being driven and not on the road then your 30 days can be when you are actually there.
You can register it in France legally only if you are a French resident.
Being non-resident would make it illegal to drive on French plates, and being resident would make it illegal to drive on British plates. (This means all of us residents who imported a car here were breaking the law for a while as we waited for the French registration to arrive.)
You will need to import it properly, pay French import duties and VAT at the douanes. Then you can register it. Being a non-EU car you will probably also need to get an EU Certificate of Conformity from Porsche proving it meets EU laws. You'll also need to change the headlights back to right hand traffic (and the rear fog needs to be on the correct side) and get a CT. You can do the latter on UK plates.
Gone are the days of popping to the prefecture with some paper. You have to have an ANTS account with full privileges, which only come with a French social security number, which only comes with working here, running a business here, or on an S1 via residency.
With all that being said there are hundreds of resident Brits driving about France in untaxed uninsured British registered cars, and hundreds of non-resident Brits driving French registered ones. There are ways.
Without an ANTS account is to pay a friendly garagiste to register it for you. You provide the proofs of "residency" (utility bills, etc), proof that you have paid the French their import duties and VAT and pay the registration fee. Job done. The fee will be very high but it will be the last tax you ever pay on the car.
ClaphamGT3 said:
If you have a French address and pay local taxes you can apply for a Carte Gris and have a car registered in your name.
You will have to pay import duty based on the value of the car when you bought it and to be registered, it will need a valid Controle Technique (French MOT).
There is a helpful English language step by step guide on the French Govt website.
It's not complex but quite time consuming
You can't do it fully legally, but you can usually get away with it.You will have to pay import duty based on the value of the car when you bought it and to be registered, it will need a valid Controle Technique (French MOT).
There is a helpful English language step by step guide on the French Govt website.
It's not complex but quite time consuming
As with lots of things legal, it's fine until it isn't.
In order to be able to register a car in France the actual law says that it must be registered to your primary address.
Many Brits seem to interpret it as your primary residence in France but that a is not what the French law actually says.
It refers to a French residents' primary residence.
French Law is codified, so if it isn't in the law, you can't do it, as opposed to UK common law which if it isn't forbidden, it's usually OK.
Some of the groups I am a member of back in France are now flagging up ANTS asking for a copy of the owners Carte de Sejour / Passport with visa in order to complete the registration.
INsurance is the big issue and if you are happyt o pay 2x or 3x the annual premium to getan extended green card/EU cover.
Also the car needs to meet UK regs - MOT and Tax
Also the EU rules state a UK registered vehicle can only spend 90 days max in a 6 month period. Yes it is doable if the car is garaged but to bring back every year for an MOt, insurance against buying a EU regd car
Also the car needs to meet UK regs - MOT and Tax
Also the EU rules state a UK registered vehicle can only spend 90 days max in a 6 month period. Yes it is doable if the car is garaged but to bring back every year for an MOt, insurance against buying a EU regd car
garypotter said:
INsurance is the big issue and if you are happyt o pay 2x or 3x the annual premium to getan extended green card/EU cover.
Also the car needs to meet UK regs - MOT and Tax
Also the EU rules state a UK registered vehicle can only spend 90 days max in a 6 month period. Yes it is doable if the car is garaged but to bring back every year for an MOt, insurance against buying a EU regd car
Please reproduce said EU laws as having lived in said EU for quite some time, I'm aware that all traffic regulation is decided by each sovereign country in isolation, so what is good in, say Germany, won't necessarily work for Greece or Spain. Also the car needs to meet UK regs - MOT and Tax
Also the EU rules state a UK registered vehicle can only spend 90 days max in a 6 month period. Yes it is doable if the car is garaged but to bring back every year for an MOt, insurance against buying a EU regd car
For both France and Spain, if you take a foreign registered vehicle into those countries as a resident, then you are required to commence the transfer of the vehicle onto a local registration within one month. If however, you are. merely a visitor or second home owner, then, for example, a UK registered vehicle, can remain in country for up to 6 months before it must leave whilst remaining fully legal in it's country of origin for the duration.
Your 90 days in 6 months comment may be a confusion with the rules for third country nationals being allowed to remain within the Schengen region for a maximum of 90 in 180 days without holding the requisite visa or residence certificate.
garypotter said:
INsurance is the big issue and if you are happyt o pay 2x or 3x the annual premium to getan extended green card/EU cover.
Also the car needs to meet UK regs - MOT and Tax
Also the EU rules state a UK registered vehicle can only spend 90 days max in a 6 month period. Yes it is doable if the car is garaged but to bring back every year for an MOt, insurance against buying a EU regd car
Please reproduce said EU laws as having lived in said EU for quite some time, to my knowledge all traffic legislation and regulation is decided by each sovereign country in isolation, so what is good in, say Germany, won't necessarily work for Greece or Italy. Also the car needs to meet UK regs - MOT and Tax
Also the EU rules state a UK registered vehicle can only spend 90 days max in a 6 month period. Yes it is doable if the car is garaged but to bring back every year for an MOt, insurance against buying a EU regd car
There is harmonisation to a degree, but not all countries have the same rules.
Ages for drivers differ, requirements to obtain a licence differ, speed limits differ, annual / biennial or even 5-yearly testing for vehicle roadworthiness differs.
For both France and Spain as an example, if you take a foreign registered vehicle into those countries as a resident, then you are required to commence the transfer of the vehicle onto a local registration within one month. If however, you are a visitor or second home owner, then, for example, a UK registered vehicle, can remain in country for up to 6 months before it must leave whilst remaining fully legal in it's country of origin for the duration.
Your 90 days in 6 months comment may be a confusion with the rules for third country nationals being allowed to remain within the Schengen region for a maximum of 90 in 180 days without holding the requisite visa or residence certificate.
ClaphamGT3 said:
If you have a French address and pay local taxes you can apply for a Carte Gris and have a car registered in your name.
You will have to pay import duty based on the value of the car when you bought it and to be registered, it will need a valid Controle Technique (French MOT).
There is a helpful English language step by step guide on the French Govt website.
It's not complex but quite time consuming
This. You will have to pay import duty based on the value of the car when you bought it and to be registered, it will need a valid Controle Technique (French MOT).
There is a helpful English language step by step guide on the French Govt website.
It's not complex but quite time consuming
Chap I know was just stopped in Germany for taking his 911 over for 6 months while working over there and because of this they wanted money off him to temp import the car or they would seize it. Same goes anywhere in Europe now sadly.
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