Registering unusual cars
Discussion
Hi all,
I have just caught up with this group for the first time in years and have seen a few people with cars that I thought impossible to registerer!
We sold our XI earlier this year because we didn't think we'd ever be able to register it.
We heard rumours of people managing to register the Cobra reps and the like, but never saw any evidence of it.
Now I see we've got a G4 and a Cobra in this group, just in the top few posts!
Mel just finished the paperwork for the Elise, but we knew that would be ok as she's had it from new so all the paperwork was on hand. We'll be doing the X5 at some point, but as that's a mass produced car we know we can get the paperwork for it.
So - how do people do it?
Do you always need a certificate of conformity?
Can you do it with newer cars?
I know there's a lot of Caterhams around me (64) and they need IVA in the UK, but I also expect new Caterhams to meet EU CoC requirements.
So - any ideas how I can get a new(ish) Ginetta G4 or G40R registered?
Cheers,
Dave
I have just caught up with this group for the first time in years and have seen a few people with cars that I thought impossible to registerer!
We sold our XI earlier this year because we didn't think we'd ever be able to register it.
We heard rumours of people managing to register the Cobra reps and the like, but never saw any evidence of it.
Now I see we've got a G4 and a Cobra in this group, just in the top few posts!
Mel just finished the paperwork for the Elise, but we knew that would be ok as she's had it from new so all the paperwork was on hand. We'll be doing the X5 at some point, but as that's a mass produced car we know we can get the paperwork for it.
So - how do people do it?
Do you always need a certificate of conformity?
Can you do it with newer cars?
I know there's a lot of Caterhams around me (64) and they need IVA in the UK, but I also expect new Caterhams to meet EU CoC requirements.
So - any ideas how I can get a new(ish) Ginetta G4 or G40R registered?
Cheers,
Dave
Certificate of Conformity was introduced 1998 so not available for cars older than that.
In theory a CoC is needed but in practice not always, since the system was centralised if a car of the same specification (type number on chassis plate) has been registered then it is not needed. I've done lots of MG's and in the old days every one had to have a CoC which they just take off you and keep on file, however for at least 2 years I've not needed one.
Same with Lotus Elise.
Due to the cost of a CoC I'd apply without one first and if rejected then get one.
I'm assuming you know about the CT and Quitus Fiscal.
In theory a CoC is needed but in practice not always, since the system was centralised if a car of the same specification (type number on chassis plate) has been registered then it is not needed. I've done lots of MG's and in the old days every one had to have a CoC which they just take off you and keep on file, however for at least 2 years I've not needed one.
Same with Lotus Elise.
Due to the cost of a CoC I'd apply without one first and if rejected then get one.
I'm assuming you know about the CT and Quitus Fiscal.
Hi Terry,
Thanks for the reply.
Can you elaborate on why an older car is ok?
The old Elan was a 72 - would that have helped?
I was looking at a new(er) G4, so I expect that makes it tougher.
The new G40's are crazy safe and economical (comparatively) so I'd hope they were ok, but they are also produced in tiny numbers for the road so IVA'ing each one in the UK makes sense vs any kind of type approval (even national).
I think the X5 will be easy to sort out.
Thanks for the reply.
Can you elaborate on why an older car is ok?
The old Elan was a 72 - would that have helped?
I was looking at a new(er) G4, so I expect that makes it tougher.
The new G40's are crazy safe and economical (comparatively) so I'd hope they were ok, but they are also produced in tiny numbers for the road so IVA'ing each one in the UK makes sense vs any kind of type approval (even national).
I think the X5 will be easy to sort out.
Basically anything 30 or depending on the date 29 years old is fine, as you can register under a Carte Gris Collection via the FFVE. They produce a certificate that basically is in lieu of the certificate of conformity at the prefecture.
Anything younger has to either have a cert of conformity or go for virtual full individual type approval.(Cost approx €3000 + any mods)
There has been another way suggested that if its a true replica that the local FFVE inspector may (????) sign it off somehow???? But the car would still have to have a registration document. I looked at a G4 racer a few months back but it would have been too hard.
The other alternatives depend on how much you can drive about without worrying that your paperwork will be checked! I thought about this but decided it wasn't for me. Also issues if you sell the car?
PM me if you want any further info
Terry
Anything younger has to either have a cert of conformity or go for virtual full individual type approval.(Cost approx €3000 + any mods)
There has been another way suggested that if its a true replica that the local FFVE inspector may (????) sign it off somehow???? But the car would still have to have a registration document. I looked at a G4 racer a few months back but it would have been too hard.
The other alternatives depend on how much you can drive about without worrying that your paperwork will be checked! I thought about this but decided it wasn't for me. Also issues if you sell the car?
PM me if you want any further info
Terry
Thanks again Terry!
Didn't know there was an age related way to go about it - maybe another Elan is the way to do it
Looking at the newer stuff has uncovered some interesting things for me.
I made contact with the French equivalent of MIRA / Milbrook who have given me some more contact details to follow up with, along with a bunch of new acronyms.
It seems that the system for importing cars on a personal level from non-EU countries is the best course of action (at the moment) - there is an equivalent of an IVA for these and they are similar to the ones in the UK, but are not made to allow small scale manufacturers to get around type approval.
With some more research, I'm hopeful I can find a way to get the cars in - just a matter of how much in the end - it could well prove not to be worth it, but as we're really South West, it's a hell of a long haul to take the car for its MOT in the UK every year if its not possible.
Didn't know there was an age related way to go about it - maybe another Elan is the way to do it
Looking at the newer stuff has uncovered some interesting things for me.
I made contact with the French equivalent of MIRA / Milbrook who have given me some more contact details to follow up with, along with a bunch of new acronyms.
It seems that the system for importing cars on a personal level from non-EU countries is the best course of action (at the moment) - there is an equivalent of an IVA for these and they are similar to the ones in the UK, but are not made to allow small scale manufacturers to get around type approval.
With some more research, I'm hopeful I can find a way to get the cars in - just a matter of how much in the end - it could well prove not to be worth it, but as we're really South West, it's a hell of a long haul to take the car for its MOT in the UK every year if its not possible.
Something else to be aware of. A couple of years ago I was on the point of buying a very early Westfield twin cam that had never been finished. It was 28 years old and I thought I would speak to our local FFVE man just to make sure I hadn't missed anything. He told me categorically that the car could not under any circumstances be imported until it was 30 years old so, after several conversations, I reluctantly abandoned the project. A couple of months later I rang the vendor to see how he had got on and he was pleased to tell me that he had in the end sold the car - to another FFVE official who had been primed by the chap I spoke to, and he had had no trouble importing and registering it, surprise, surprise.....................
Until recently any replica was a nono in France, or was until they adopted the UNESCO principle of anything over 30 yrs old being collectable. I've talked to the FFVE representative and he said he'd help me with the paperwork which is not that easy to understand, even though I speak good french. Having said no replicas, there is a Martin Cobra replica which uses a Mondeo V6 engine and that is homologated. I've seen Lynx cars on french plates and a few others I thought would never get a carte grise too. It's who you know and not what you know I guess.
lowdrag said:
Until recently any replica was a nono in France, or was until they adopted the UNESCO principle of anything over 30 yrs old being collectable. I've talked to the FFVE representative and he said he'd help me with the paperwork which is not that easy to understand, even though I speak good french. Having said no replicas, there is a Martin Cobra replica which uses a Mondeo V6 engine and that is homologated. I've seen Lynx cars on french plates and a few others I thought would never get a carte grise too. It's who you know and not what you know I guess.
As usual here, but it also depends which side of bed they get out of!The 30 year rule has made it much easier to register a lot of vehicles, but for 'replicas' and 'kit-cars' it still depends on the age of the kit/conversion and NOT the age of the donor vehicle.
I know of a number of cars that have been rejected, as although the donor was over 30 years, the kit was not available until later, so NOT accepted.
..........of course. if the FFVE rep that you deal with got out the right side of bed..........
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