Importing a french car in the UK
Discussion
I am going to have a look at a nice 993 turbo in France.
I have 2 options if I buy the car:
-Drive the car in the UK with UK number plates: What is the process in converting a car from french number plates into UK number plates? How costly is it?
-Drive the car in the UK with French number plates and have it insurred in France.
Any thoughts?
I have 2 options if I buy the car:
-Drive the car in the UK with UK number plates: What is the process in converting a car from french number plates into UK number plates? How costly is it?
-Drive the car in the UK with French number plates and have it insurred in France.
Any thoughts?
Smilyduck,
I would say depends what nationality you are.
Do you have a home in France?
Do you often go to France?
i have a car on french plates in the uk with me, but 1/ i have garage, so no need for resident permit etc... 2/ my parents live in france where i often go and the car never stays more than 6 months at a time in the uk. 3/ i am french. 4/ only use the car at the weekends and for holidays, not for commuting.
If you are going to use the car often and you are not french and do not have a home in france, then do the uk thing.
Go to the DVLA website, download a form. There is a bit of paper work to do and you will have to bring the car there and get a MOT done, meaning swap your lights to RHD... i am sure there are a few other things to do, but these are the ones on top of my head.
hth, Eric.
I would say depends what nationality you are.
Do you have a home in France?
Do you often go to France?
i have a car on french plates in the uk with me, but 1/ i have garage, so no need for resident permit etc... 2/ my parents live in france where i often go and the car never stays more than 6 months at a time in the uk. 3/ i am french. 4/ only use the car at the weekends and for holidays, not for commuting.
If you are going to use the car often and you are not french and do not have a home in france, then do the uk thing.
Go to the DVLA website, download a form. There is a bit of paper work to do and you will have to bring the car there and get a MOT done, meaning swap your lights to RHD... i am sure there are a few other things to do, but these are the ones on top of my head.
hth, Eric.
There are international agreements which provide for the temporary use of a vehicle in a foreign country for a limited time, usually six months in a 12 month period. A visitor to the UK may use a vehicle displaying foreign plates, provided that all taxes (including vehicle excise duty) are paid in their country of origin.
It is the responsibility for the driver to prove how long the vehicle has been in the country. This can be achieved by producing ferry tickets. Used or unregistered vehicles brought into the UK will be allowed to circulate freely for six months in any 12 month period without the need to register. Certain vehicles will be required to display a temporary 'Q' plate. Temporary visitor status is not appropriate to these vehicles.
It is the responsibility for the driver to prove how long the vehicle has been in the country. This can be achieved by producing ferry tickets. Used or unregistered vehicles brought into the UK will be allowed to circulate freely for six months in any 12 month period without the need to register. Certain vehicles will be required to display a temporary 'Q' plate. Temporary visitor status is not appropriate to these vehicles.
Hi Eric,
I am french too, That would be a weekend car only and that car will be sitting next to my 993 4s as I refuse to sell it until I have made up my mind (NA vs turbo)!!!
I will have a look at the DVLA web site thanks.
When buying a car in France the seller has the obligation to tell if the car was involded in an accident? I don't remember...
I am not sure we have the same concept as HPI checks have we?
Thanks
I am french too, That would be a weekend car only and that car will be sitting next to my 993 4s as I refuse to sell it until I have made up my mind (NA vs turbo)!!!
I will have a look at the DVLA web site thanks.
When buying a car in France the seller has the obligation to tell if the car was involded in an accident? I don't remember...
I am not sure we have the same concept as HPI checks have we?
Thanks
its simpler if anything to register a vehicle over 10 years old as you only need a mot, if its under 10 years old you either need to complete a SVA or have a certificate of conformity and all the items changed in the list (speedo needs to read mph, rear fog lights, rear seat belts, headlights converted, and the other item that i can not remember)
the exact details are on the direct.gov.uk website.
the exact details are on the direct.gov.uk website.
A couple of threads with useful info:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
High Octane said:
Sorry just realised it's a 993, what year? I don't think you can register anything over 10 years old.
Sorry just not true.I import 30+yr old cars from abroad.
It's really easy to do, get the car back, you will need the import doc from customs to show you have paid duty etc.
Get car MOT'd on a chassis number.
Insured on chassis number.
Trip to DVLA give them import docs, french docs, mot and insurance and the import pack they sent you all filled in.
Pay reg fee (is it £38?) Job done.
I think where most people find it difficult is on under 10 years old cars if the car is LHD that is fine just SVA it although that may only be necessary if it is not a uk model not 100% sure, but the government won't let you bring in sub 10yr old cars that are RHD unless they are type approved (crash tested etc) or unless you are prepared to submit an identical car for type approval (very expensive). Basically it was brought in to stop the big jap stuff being brought over.
The french equivalent of HPI is certificat de non-gage which is compulsory for any transaction.
It would tell you if the car was destroyed and later put back on the road as someone rebuilt it. (Same as cat-D) in the UK.
HOWEVER, no one is forced to tell you if the car had a normal crash and rebuilt. Be carefull when you buy porsche in France!
It is pretty much the same as everywhere obviously, but make sure you get a specialist to go and see the car with you and make sure that the mileage ties up with the service history etc...
993' s have the highest rate (compared to any other cars) of false mileage reading in France. at least 50% of the 2nd hand cars have covered more than what is actually shown on the speedo!
PM me your mobile number if you want to chat, I have been buying cars in france, uk and germany for a long time and driving them in the UK. So i have an idea or two as to how it works.... are you in London?
It would tell you if the car was destroyed and later put back on the road as someone rebuilt it. (Same as cat-D) in the UK.
HOWEVER, no one is forced to tell you if the car had a normal crash and rebuilt. Be carefull when you buy porsche in France!
It is pretty much the same as everywhere obviously, but make sure you get a specialist to go and see the car with you and make sure that the mileage ties up with the service history etc...
993' s have the highest rate (compared to any other cars) of false mileage reading in France. at least 50% of the 2nd hand cars have covered more than what is actually shown on the speedo!
PM me your mobile number if you want to chat, I have been buying cars in france, uk and germany for a long time and driving them in the UK. So i have an idea or two as to how it works.... are you in London?
phelix said:
to update that threadgot the car on German export plates but had it insured on the chassis number when in the UK (the german plates incl international insurance)
got the car registered on it's 10th birthday as it was a Swiss Import so avoided the type approval inspection - as your car is registered within EU there should be no problems in that resepct
MOT'd and pop to the DVLA and it will be registered there and then (once they give you an appointment)
HTH
erics said:
Smilyduck,
I would say depends what nationality you are.
Do you have a home in France?
Do you often go to France?
i have a car on french plates in the uk with me, but 1/ i have garage, so no need for resident permit etc... 2/ my parents live in france where i often go and the car never stays more than 6 months at a time in the uk. 3/ i am french. 4/ only use the car at the weekends and for holidays, not for commuting.
If you are going to use the car often and you are not french and do not have a home in france, then do the uk thing.
Go to the DVLA website, download a form. There is a bit of paper work to do and you will have to bring the car there and get a MOT done, meaning swap your lights to RHD... i am sure there are a few other things to do, but these are the ones on top of my head.
hth, Eric.
I would say depends what nationality you are.
Do you have a home in France?
Do you often go to France?
i have a car on french plates in the uk with me, but 1/ i have garage, so no need for resident permit etc... 2/ my parents live in france where i often go and the car never stays more than 6 months at a time in the uk. 3/ i am french. 4/ only use the car at the weekends and for holidays, not for commuting.
If you are going to use the car often and you are not french and do not have a home in france, then do the uk thing.
Go to the DVLA website, download a form. There is a bit of paper work to do and you will have to bring the car there and get a MOT done, meaning swap your lights to RHD... i am sure there are a few other things to do, but these are the ones on top of my head.
hth, Eric.
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