Another import question non EU car non EU location
Discussion
So I have an immaculate 2008 s2000 that I've owned from new in Dubai and want to import it to France when we move there in semi retirement, the question is has anyone imported a non EU car from a non EU location?
I've looked at the paperwork online and it appears to be possible but no-one that I have known or talked to has done the non EU non EU double.
The car is not modified and I should be able to get a certificate de conformité from Honda FR but they never imported the S2000 as far as I know and this car has never been to the EU, it is a Gulf spec though that really only means larger radiator and better aircon.
All tricky anyone have any experience of importing a Japanese car from Japan or the US ?
thanks
I've looked at the paperwork online and it appears to be possible but no-one that I have known or talked to has done the non EU non EU double.
The car is not modified and I should be able to get a certificate de conformité from Honda FR but they never imported the S2000 as far as I know and this car has never been to the EU, it is a Gulf spec though that really only means larger radiator and better aircon.
All tricky anyone have any experience of importing a Japanese car from Japan or the US ?
thanks
The CoC has to be a european one. There should be a number (Numero de reception) on the CoC which the french authorities (prefecure) will recognise (or their computer will) if it has ever been validated in Europe.
It's likely you'll have to pay €€ for the CoC, so if you just want to enquire, they may be able to give you a CoC without your chassis number/reg printed on it, so it's useless for registration purposes, but you could take it to the prefecture and ask if they recognise the number.
If the answer is yes, pay Honda FR for the full CoC, if no, you'll have to go through the process of homolgating the car as a one off (be prepared for a long wait, thousands of euros and a non-guaranteed result).
I presume you will also have to pay import duty on the car, don't know how much.
There are a few on sale, so it must be possible: http://www.lacentrale.fr/occasion-voiture-modele-h...
Note on gulf spec, besides the changes to air con and cooling, the glass/lights/etc... may not be EU approved, all depends on what safety requirements Dubai puts on the cars.
Which side of the road do you drive on in Dubai ? Likely plan on new headlights unless driving on the right unless you can switch them with a lever (some cars do).
Good luck
It's likely you'll have to pay €€ for the CoC, so if you just want to enquire, they may be able to give you a CoC without your chassis number/reg printed on it, so it's useless for registration purposes, but you could take it to the prefecture and ask if they recognise the number.
If the answer is yes, pay Honda FR for the full CoC, if no, you'll have to go through the process of homolgating the car as a one off (be prepared for a long wait, thousands of euros and a non-guaranteed result).
I presume you will also have to pay import duty on the car, don't know how much.
There are a few on sale, so it must be possible: http://www.lacentrale.fr/occasion-voiture-modele-h...
Note on gulf spec, besides the changes to air con and cooling, the glass/lights/etc... may not be EU approved, all depends on what safety requirements Dubai puts on the cars.
Which side of the road do you drive on in Dubai ? Likely plan on new headlights unless driving on the right unless you can switch them with a lever (some cars do).
Good luck
Edited by thefrog on Sunday 5th July 23:05
Have not imported from outside EU if there is a choice you would just avoid it.
I do know that to pass examination all light lenses have to have an E mark and seat belts glass etc.
there are some Suzuki Cappuccinos in France most from UK but some from Japan. There is a set of lights that gets loaned out for the inspection and then swapped back after registration.
My advice would be to sell yours and buy one of European origin to register in France. 😕
I do know that to pass examination all light lenses have to have an E mark and seat belts glass etc.
there are some Suzuki Cappuccinos in France most from UK but some from Japan. There is a set of lights that gets loaned out for the inspection and then swapped back after registration.
My advice would be to sell yours and buy one of European origin to register in France. 😕
thefrog said:
The CoC has to be a european one. There should be a number (Numero de reception) on the CoC which the french authorities (prefecure) will recognise (or their computer will) if it has ever been validated in Europe.
It's likely you'll have to pay €€ for the CoC, so if you just want to enquire, they may be able to give you a CoC without your chassis number/reg printed on it, so it's useless for registration purposes, but you could take it to the prefecture and ask if they recognise the number.
If the answer is yes, pay Honda FR for the full CoC, if no, you'll have to go through the process of homolgating the car as a one off (be prepared for a long wait, thousands of euros and a non-guaranteed result).
I presume you will also have to pay import duty on the car, don't know how much.
There are a few on sale, so it must be possible: http://www.lacentrale.fr/occasion-voiture-modele-h...
Note on gulf spec, besides the changes to air con and cooling, the glass/lights/etc... may not be EU approved, all depends on what safety requirements Dubai puts on the cars.
Which side of the road do you drive on in Dubai ? Likely plan on new headlights unless driving on the right unless you can switch them with a lever (some cars do).
Good luck
Ok thanks for the very comprehensive replyIt's likely you'll have to pay €€ for the CoC, so if you just want to enquire, they may be able to give you a CoC without your chassis number/reg printed on it, so it's useless for registration purposes, but you could take it to the prefecture and ask if they recognise the number.
If the answer is yes, pay Honda FR for the full CoC, if no, you'll have to go through the process of homolgating the car as a one off (be prepared for a long wait, thousands of euros and a non-guaranteed result).
I presume you will also have to pay import duty on the car, don't know how much.
There are a few on sale, so it must be possible: http://www.lacentrale.fr/occasion-voiture-modele-h...
Note on gulf spec, besides the changes to air con and cooling, the glass/lights/etc... may not be EU approved, all depends on what safety requirements Dubai puts on the cars.
Which side of the road do you drive on in Dubai ? Likely plan on new headlights unless driving on the right unless you can switch them with a lever (some cars do).
Good luck
I guess I'm a little in the dark as to how exactly the COC works, I thought it certified the car was as to EU spec rather than one that had started its life in the EU, or am I still not getting it ? (likely). Does it depend on the chassis number being a EU spec number, probably a lost cause if this is the case.
I will take a look at the lights and seatbelts and see, I know they were imported to Belgium I believe, which is likely the source of most in France since Honda certainly never brought them in officially.
Shame as they are lovely and this one is a cracker,I really fancied blatting around the south west of france in it.
It's LHD
If you can get a European cofc then there won't be an inspection of lights, belts etc, as the cofc warrants that it is all to European standards, and as such it will have dip to right, self levelling headlights, so there's no problem that will arise in the first CT test (MOT).
At least they have been imported here, I know a Nissan service manager who wants to import a Figaro, but so far has been unable to do so; it must be possible though because I've seen one registered here. He rants on about the regulations and wishes he lived in the UK where such things are so much easier (he says).
Steve
At least they have been imported here, I know a Nissan service manager who wants to import a Figaro, but so far has been unable to do so; it must be possible though because I've seen one registered here. He rants on about the regulations and wishes he lived in the UK where such things are so much easier (he says).
Steve
The CoC is a piece of paper which specifies a number of details about the car (Name, type, body type, commercial name to name but a few), the key one is the type approval number.
If your car has a type approval number which is recognised by the French authorities, you're laughing, it could however have an approval number which they don't recognise which means you'd have to go through RTI which is like SVA in the UK, but more stringent. This would apply for example to cars which are only destined for the UK/Japanese/US/etc... market which were never taken through the EU approval process since the manufacturer deemed there wasn't a market for it outside of its home country.
As for the lights, my uk Range Rover sport has EU Type approval, however the light units dip the wrong way (RHD) despite EU type approval.
In my case, there is a "tourist lever" in the headlight which flattens the beam and passes the french MOT so all good. It would be better to swap the headlights to LHD units for a better spread of light though. I'm told some cars can be adjusted to the proper pattern (not just flat) without changing the headlights so mileage will vary depending on the car.
HTH
If your car has a type approval number which is recognised by the French authorities, you're laughing, it could however have an approval number which they don't recognise which means you'd have to go through RTI which is like SVA in the UK, but more stringent. This would apply for example to cars which are only destined for the UK/Japanese/US/etc... market which were never taken through the EU approval process since the manufacturer deemed there wasn't a market for it outside of its home country.
As for the lights, my uk Range Rover sport has EU Type approval, however the light units dip the wrong way (RHD) despite EU type approval.
In my case, there is a "tourist lever" in the headlight which flattens the beam and passes the french MOT so all good. It would be better to swap the headlights to LHD units for a better spread of light though. I'm told some cars can be adjusted to the proper pattern (not just flat) without changing the headlights so mileage will vary depending on the car.
HTH
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