French reg' car - or buy Brit reg' car / and then reg' in FR
Discussion
It's not that much hassle particularly if the car is fairly recent. I bought my 2010 Merc ML in UK and had no bother re registering and saved a fortune by not buying the same car over here. Being right hand drive presents very little inconvenience either except with car park ticket machines and auto route toll booths.
Russwhitehouse said:
It's not that much hassle particularly if the car is fairly recent. I bought my 2010 Merc ML in UK and had no bother re registering and saved a fortune by not buying the same car over here. Being right hand drive presents very little inconvenience either except with car park ticket machines and auto route toll booths.
Thanks for replying. Yes, I was hell bent on buying a French reg car to avoid any hassle but... seeing the prices, I'm thinking twice !When you sell a French car you get book price,everyone checks Leboncoin and then gets the price from L'Argus. Dealers don't play silly games either like they do in UK.There are some good deals around at the moment,VW and Toyota spring to mind.
Another point to think about is how easy it is to sell a rhd and at what price.
Another point to think about is how easy it is to sell a rhd and at what price.
As as been said, selling a right hand drive in France would be difficult. I took my DB9 to a specialist dealer in UK when it came time to sell and let them sell it for me. Got a decent price and none of the hassle.
Odd how Brits have no problem driving a right hand drive over here or a left hand drive in UK, yet the French seem incredulous that anyone could possibly suggest such a thing to them.
Odd how Brits have no problem driving a right hand drive over here or a left hand drive in UK, yet the French seem incredulous that anyone could possibly suggest such a thing to them.
Edited by Russwhitehouse on Monday 16th November 08:44
For safety reasons, I would suggest it is always better to be sat where you have the best forward vision. A pillars are becoming enormous on new cars.
You have probably saved some money buying a house in France, why not fit-in and buy a French car? Now £Sterling has recovered the difference is not as great as it was in 2008, for everyday cars.
French tend to buy a car for life rather than trade it for the latest Reg. I think that the cost of insuring and servicing a car in France is a bit less than the UK and when you sell a well-maintained French car you will possibly get a slightly higher price. Overall, I doubt the overall running costs is very much different to the UK.
However, if you want something a bit special, then buying elsewhere on the continent can be advantageous, there are also plenty of specialist dealers bringing them in for resale.
You have probably saved some money buying a house in France, why not fit-in and buy a French car? Now £Sterling has recovered the difference is not as great as it was in 2008, for everyday cars.
French tend to buy a car for life rather than trade it for the latest Reg. I think that the cost of insuring and servicing a car in France is a bit less than the UK and when you sell a well-maintained French car you will possibly get a slightly higher price. Overall, I doubt the overall running costs is very much different to the UK.
However, if you want something a bit special, then buying elsewhere on the continent can be advantageous, there are also plenty of specialist dealers bringing them in for resale.
It's a cheap car we want; that can live there and be left garaged for when we go and for guests to use. We have no choice but to drive over every trip, as we have a dog... so we always have a car with us - but we just want a relatively old, small, 4x4 that can live over there. Even something like an X3 or an old Qashqai / Xtrail / Rav4 /etc seems a hell of a lot more money over there - and I was all set to buy a French car as I did not want the hassle of conversion... but I am thinking twice now. If I can save a few grand on a car I think suitable - then I suppose the hassle of conversion may be worth it... I see suitable cars here for around the 2k to 5k mark. I can't find anything at all for that amount, over there.
Depending on the marque and age of car.
You have to allow for a lhd set of headlights if the car you buy does not have changeable headlights.
A certificate of conformity
New log book. If the car is over 10 years old it's half the usual price.
Also that cost will depend on the fiscal horse power.
A new French mot (ct).
If you allow say a thousand euro on top you should be about right.
A better option may be to buy an already French registered rhd car from a site like Anglo info. They are still a bit cheaper than a lhd.
You have to allow for a lhd set of headlights if the car you buy does not have changeable headlights.
A certificate of conformity
New log book. If the car is over 10 years old it's half the usual price.
Also that cost will depend on the fiscal horse power.
A new French mot (ct).
If you allow say a thousand euro on top you should be about right.
A better option may be to buy an already French registered rhd car from a site like Anglo info. They are still a bit cheaper than a lhd.
I have to disagree on insurance cost rdjohn. I could insure any of my cars for a fraction of the price in the UK. Alas they are all French registered now and I have a French license and no UK address so am screwed. Example, the Healey costs 600 euros per year, same level of cover with a UK insurer, £250. Approx the same for the 911.
In fairness you are in the specialist / historic market.
If someone is running a typical Eurohatch and not living in either London, or Paris, I do not think that the cost difference is even significant. I am an old git with a clean license. Full NCD was taken into account as was a second car. The quote from Credit Agricole is so reasonable for a Boxster and new VOLVO C30, I have never bothered shopping around.
The duty on fiscal horsepower also is significantly higher for an imported car where I live in Dept 49. Somehow EU rules get ignored because you import from country to department.
If someone is running a typical Eurohatch and not living in either London, or Paris, I do not think that the cost difference is even significant. I am an old git with a clean license. Full NCD was taken into account as was a second car. The quote from Credit Agricole is so reasonable for a Boxster and new VOLVO C30, I have never bothered shopping around.
The duty on fiscal horsepower also is significantly higher for an imported car where I live in Dept 49. Somehow EU rules get ignored because you import from country to department.
Only 25% of French people have a passport, so very few would ever bring their LHD car to England to sell. Why would they?
http://www.leboncoin.fr/voitures/883057147.htm?ca=...
I am sure if you search LeBonCoin you will find something that will work for you. Driving the length of France is probably easier than exporting from the UK and you will be able to sell it, unlike a RHD car in France.
http://www.leboncoin.fr/voitures/883057147.htm?ca=...
I am sure if you search LeBonCoin you will find something that will work for you. Driving the length of France is probably easier than exporting from the UK and you will be able to sell it, unlike a RHD car in France.
Fatt McMissile said:
Unfortunately another couple of K will be required to replace the seized fish......must have belonged to a water bailiff 
Steve
Oops!! SteveIt does pay to read the advert rather than just look at the price. When I looked nationally, there were other X3s around that price, but perhaps seized fish is a common problem with them.
I'll shut-up now.
q
magooagain said:
Depending on the marque and age of car.
You have to allow for a lhd set of headlights if the car you buy does not have changeable headlights.
A certificate of conformity
New log book. If the car is over 10 years old it's half the usual price.
Also that cost will depend on the fiscal horse power.
A new French mot (ct).
If you allow say a thousand euro on top you should be about right.
A better option may be to buy an already French registered rhd car from a site like Anglo info. They are still a bit cheaper than a lhd.
Good post. Cost of matriculation (registration/carte Gris) can be quite high if the car is new-ish or powerful....You have to allow for a lhd set of headlights if the car you buy does not have changeable headlights.
A certificate of conformity
New log book. If the car is over 10 years old it's half the usual price.
Also that cost will depend on the fiscal horse power.
A new French mot (ct).
If you allow say a thousand euro on top you should be about right.
A better option may be to buy an already French registered rhd car from a site like Anglo info. They are still a bit cheaper than a lhd.
LDN
I'm constantly thinking this one through... and I found a niche that might work for you. In general, petrol cars are less desirable to the French.. especially big 6 or 8 cylinder engines.... so if you do a search on le Bon Coin (essence only) (toute la france) one can find some nice gear, especially some reliable classics.
Personally I'd prefer just to blend in.. and whilst I have had RHD cars in France, it can be a pain when you are driving solo and you want to overtake that slow apple/grape/corn/goose/bean tractor and trailer..
Have a look...
Cheers
A
I'm constantly thinking this one through... and I found a niche that might work for you. In general, petrol cars are less desirable to the French.. especially big 6 or 8 cylinder engines.... so if you do a search on le Bon Coin (essence only) (toute la france) one can find some nice gear, especially some reliable classics.
Personally I'd prefer just to blend in.. and whilst I have had RHD cars in France, it can be a pain when you are driving solo and you want to overtake that slow apple/grape/corn/goose/bean tractor and trailer..
Have a look...
Cheers
A
Thanks Andrew; and everyone for feedback. I am in France now and still looking... we are 1.5 hours from Geneva and someone has suggested we look at cars there as the Swiss 2nd hand market is more like our own and there are some deals to be had. I am looking but need to research more. If I bought a Swiss car that will live in France, used on a British license; would I be able to use a UK insurer; I guess not as they would need access to the records regarding MOT or its equivalent.
A UK MOT station over here n France would make an absolute killing! We have an old Jeep that would be perfect here but having to drive it back once a year purely for an MOT, would be a nightmare.
A UK MOT station over here n France would make an absolute killing! We have an old Jeep that would be perfect here but having to drive it back once a year purely for an MOT, would be a nightmare.
LDN said:
.
We have an old Jeep that would be perfect here but having to drive it back once a year purely for an MOT, would be a nightmare.
Easier to register it in France, straightforward if over 30 years old as you apply to the FFVE (google it) and get a certificate instead of a certificate of conformity...We have an old Jeep that would be perfect here but having to drive it back once a year purely for an MOT, would be a nightmare.
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