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Christoffer
Original Poster
465 posts
66 months
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Hi,
I've read a lot about how thrilling 7s are to drive and I'm thinking of joining the 7 fun.
Does anybody know the procedure of importing a used (or new) rhd Caterham into France?
I've registered cars before here, but they were all 'normal' cars, all I needed was the documents for the cars and perhaps a coc document, can't remember that one.
I wouldn't want to buy a car that would be rejected into France...
Thank you and I hope you can help :-)
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ewenm
24,434 posts
114 months
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You can do it for used cars and Caterham themselves do sell (new) cars in France: http://life.caterham.co.uk/internationalI'd start by giving Caterham a phonecall and asking them about French registration requirements for 7s.
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mickrick
2,462 posts
42 months
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If you buy new, Caterham will build you a LHD car, or they would in 2005. It was an extra £1000 back then. My LHD R300 which I bought new in 2005, and brought over to Mallorca, is now in France. Good luck! 
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Christoffer
Original Poster
465 posts
66 months
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Thank you In regards to new cars, at least here in France they are much more expensive than in the UK. I'm not sure you can buy new lhd cars in the UK? I've sent Caterham an email asking them about importing to France anyway. Would be great if I can do the same as you did when you bought new for Spain, and good to know an '05 is in France, thank you. Why did you sell it? Seems the perfect sunny weather car no?
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mickrick
2,462 posts
42 months
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Christoffer said: Thank you In regards to new cars, at least here in France they are much more expensive than in the UK. I'm not sure you can buy new lhd cars in the UK? I've sent Caterham an email asking them about importing to France anyway. Would be great if I can do the same as you did when you bought new for Spain, and good to know an '05 is in France, thank you. Why did you sell it? Seems the perfect sunny weather car no? I sold it as I fancied building one myself, so I bought a LHD chassis, which I'll IVA and register in U.K. then attempt to bring it into Spain as a personal import. I also found the S3 chassis a bit small, so I have an SV now, albeit unfinished....
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Christoffer
Original Poster
465 posts
66 months
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Sounds exciting building your own car - do you find it to be as much fun as you envisaged?
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mickrick
2,462 posts
42 months
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I enjoy messing around in the garage as much as driving the car. I also like projects, so lots of bespoke stuff. It's a long project, been at it since 2007......... Let us know what response you get from Caterham about supplying a LHD car. I've just found the website of the Guy who has my old car, he may be able to help you. http://superlightr300.canalblog.com/Good luck with it.
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Tom_C76
614 posts
57 months
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Some Caterhams can be imported but not all, and you'll need the support of the official importer to get the paperwork.
Generally, the car has to be quite old or of a type officially imported by Caterham, and no engine modifications are allowed as far as I can recall. There are a few people in the Lotus 7 club that have managed to get cars registered in France, but also a few who had to keep their cars on GB plates as they weren't allowed in.
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Christoffer
Original Poster
465 posts
66 months
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Thank you very much so a car that is currently being produced would probably be okay since they are also sold in France now?
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mickrick
2,462 posts
42 months
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The eu compliant ones yes. The 175 roadsport, and R300 have the same engine, and I believe they are.
Also the CSR 200.
I'm sure there's more... I think the R400? Caterham should be able to advise.
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emss
29 posts
17 months
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Hi, Nope, cars sold in UK are different from these sold in EEC, you'll have to apply for a RTI (SVA, with the joys of dealing with representatives of the French administration). Sevener.fr has an extensive topic on 7 registering, it's available here (french language) : http://sevener.fr/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=419Eric Masson
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mickrick
2,462 posts
42 months
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I think you mean the paperwork is different? Apart from the steering wheel being on the LH side, and light lenses etc. The engines are the same.
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Christoffer
Original Poster
465 posts
66 months
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Thank you Gonna try to read that thread... Thank you for the link! Edit: what an unbelievable amount of info they require... It's just a car! Not trying to build a road through the Arc de Triumphe for chrissakes...
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emss
29 posts
17 months
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Hi,
@mickrick : Caterham Cars says that UK and EEC cars are different. Maybe these differences are quite subtle, I don't really know, but a UK car can't be registered in France without RTI (SVA), at least until 2014 (Transcription date of a EEC directive into French law that relaxes the rules for registration of a used vehicle previously registered in another member country).
Kind Regards
Éric Masson
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mickrick
2,462 posts
42 months
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Hi Eric, thank you for that. Yes they are subtle differences, that's probably what CC mean as different. But as I say, little things like light lenses etc. Another one I believe is the 4 point harnesses. (Or it used to be, as in the case of my old R300 when it went to Belgium, before going to France)
Same goes here in Spain, but it's nothing you couldn't change yourself.
As long as the engine is EU compliant, and the car has a CoC, I don't think it's a big deal. (CC will only issue a CoC for factory built cars) Apart from the paper chase of course, which will be time consuming, and if anything like Spain, frustrating!
That's why there's a such a price difference between U.K. and EU cars. After all the dealer has to make a living! I doubt CC will give the dealers much of a margin.
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sfaulds
441 posts
147 months
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mickrick said: Hi Eric, thank you for that. Yes they are subtle differences, that's probably what CC mean as different. But as I say, little things like light lenses etc. Subtle little differences like completely different exhaust systems and engine management.
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mickrick
2,462 posts
42 months
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Rear exit? Online parts...
What is different in the engine managagment? The emmissions are EU compliant or they aren't.
Don't forget, if you bring a U.K. registered car over as a personal import, they are obliged to put it onto the countries plates, as long as the car has a CoC.
It's not the same as Caterham putting the car compliance through as a manufacturer.
It would be a personal import.
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downsman
291 posts
25 months
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sfaulds said: Subtle little differences like completely different exhaust systems and engine management. Yes, the European version of my Sigma car has the catalyst in the engine bay and an exhaust that exits at the back of the car. I also understand that it has a drive by wire throttle, and a German owner who I met at Goodwood told me that he isn't even allowed to fit a side exit silencer under the regulations in his country. When I took my car into Caterham for its first service, a bloke came in asking about buying a LH drive kit that he could build in the UK, as he was expecting to be in France a lot for the next few years. They told him they don't sell LH drive kits, because all of the countries they export to who drive on the right do not allow kit built cars and the UK versions aren't legal in those countries either.
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mickrick
2,462 posts
42 months
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Strange that. My Kit. 
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BBL-Sean
187 posts
45 months
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downsman said: When I took my car into Caterham for its first service, a bloke came in asking about buying a LH drive kit that he could build in the UK, as he was expecting to be in France a lot for the next few years. They told him they don't sell LH drive kits, because all of the countries they export to who drive on the right do not allow kit built cars and the UK versions aren't legal in those countries either. Everything Caterham sends to the U.S.A. are kits (otherwise not allowed in) and if they are not all LH drive, it's got to be >98% of them.
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