Buying Foreign car in UK to take to France
Discussion
I am emigrating to France later this year(October) and trying to work out the most efficient way of selling my UK RHD and buying a LHD (either here or there).
Ideally I would just sell my RHD car here, catch the train over, and buy a LHD there. Unfortunately I can't just catch the train as at some point I have to drive over to take the dogs across (anyway thats a different part of the puzzle). Neither French Used car prices or UK LHD prices are particularly great so its rare that I find a car that ticks all the boxes and is well priced in either country.
However.... I have found that car..... it is a Dutch registered LHD car for sale in the UK.
Am I right in thinking:
a) I have to register the vehicle in the UK. Getting it MOT'd, taxed & insured in the process.
b) Only then can I drive it to France.
c) I would then have to re-register it in the French system(CT etc).
I assume the only way to skip (a) would be to get it transported to France?
Ideally I would just sell my RHD car here, catch the train over, and buy a LHD there. Unfortunately I can't just catch the train as at some point I have to drive over to take the dogs across (anyway thats a different part of the puzzle). Neither French Used car prices or UK LHD prices are particularly great so its rare that I find a car that ticks all the boxes and is well priced in either country.
However.... I have found that car..... it is a Dutch registered LHD car for sale in the UK.
Am I right in thinking:
a) I have to register the vehicle in the UK. Getting it MOT'd, taxed & insured in the process.
b) Only then can I drive it to France.
c) I would then have to re-register it in the French system(CT etc).
I assume the only way to skip (a) would be to get it transported to France?
I take it by the responses the a/b/c above is correct, but I'd be mad to do it?
As for registering foreign car in France, I hear its difficult for RHD cars or Asian/US models. I'm not that bothered about the French admin, it was more the annoying UK registration just to get the thing out of the country.
Either to try and line up the sale of my RHD before leaving, let the buyer know the vehicle is not available until a set date a couple days after I move (and have an extra few hundred miles on the clock).
That way I will take dogs to France, then drive back to UK, complete the sale of the car and hop on a train/plane back to France. I can then buy a LHD in my own time.
Or... if i can'y get a sale of my RHD before leaving, I take it with me and worry about it once I'm there.
As for registering foreign car in France, I hear its difficult for RHD cars or Asian/US models. I'm not that bothered about the French admin, it was more the annoying UK registration just to get the thing out of the country.
andy-xr said:
Push the car thing back 6 months, use what you got for a bit, then when you fancy it, change over to a French car. A buddy of mine has done the same thing, but in Spain
That is close to my primary plan.Either to try and line up the sale of my RHD before leaving, let the buyer know the vehicle is not available until a set date a couple days after I move (and have an extra few hundred miles on the clock).
That way I will take dogs to France, then drive back to UK, complete the sale of the car and hop on a train/plane back to France. I can then buy a LHD in my own time.
Or... if i can'y get a sale of my RHD before leaving, I take it with me and worry about it once I'm there.
Wilmslowboy said:
My friend is moving back from Switzerland, he has a LHD x5 (2002/3) that he he trying to work out what to do with
Sounds like an opportunity for a bit of swap shop ????
X5 - not my preferred choice as its a bit big for my needs. I might still be interested pending the price they are after.Sounds like an opportunity for a bit of swap shop ????
My RHD is a Mercedes C200 Estate (2006). I would PM but I'm new member so blocked for 24hrs.
Ahhh, this is what I did... bought a LHD UK reg car and exported it. Dutch reg'd car, you'd have to get a V5 and everything and then export it properly. Bit of a pain, but not impossible. You'll have to change lights, depending on the model/age.
US and JDM stuff is nigh on impossible, as is anything never sold in France, which sadly includes TVRs
Best bet is to keep your current ride for 6 months, advertise, drive back and sell, train/fly back to France and get something LHD and on french plates already (unless the dutch regd one is some super rare beasty you just HAVE to have?)
US and JDM stuff is nigh on impossible, as is anything never sold in France, which sadly includes TVRs
Best bet is to keep your current ride for 6 months, advertise, drive back and sell, train/fly back to France and get something LHD and on french plates already (unless the dutch regd one is some super rare beasty you just HAVE to have?)
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff