Possibility of a 7 for France?
Discussion
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 :-)
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 :-)
You can do it for used cars and Caterham themselves do sell (new) cars in France: http://life.caterham.co.uk/international
I'd start by giving Caterham a phonecall and asking them about French registration requirements for 7s.
I'd start by giving Caterham a phonecall and asking them about French registration requirements for 7s.
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?
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?
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. 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 also found the S3 chassis a bit small, so I have an SV now, albeit unfinished....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.
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.
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.
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.
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=419
Eric Masson
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=419
Eric Masson
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
@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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.Gassing Station | Caterham | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff