We touched on this subject in our Relocation & On-site Help article a few months ago; however, we only just skimmed the surface. Importing a car into France from an EU country is relatively straight-forward. Unfortunately, importing it from outside the EU can be rather expensive and paperwork somewhat complicated and time-consuming.-

That said, there may be a few of you willing and able to undertake such a venture and this section of the article is therefore written for you.

Bear in mind that right-hand drive cars are a little less practical especially when it comes to over-taking, so do consider all your options carefully when thinking of bringing your own car across, if coming from the UK.

Simply put, you can bring a car into France and drive with foreign number plates for up to four months in any one year without the need to complete customs formalities. After four months, and if you plan to stay, your car will need French number plates. (As a reminder, for tax and customs purposes, foreigners are considered to be resident in France if they spend more than 185 days here per year.)

Furthermore, no duty is payable on a used car if it’s imported for personal use - provided that the VAT has been paid in the EU country where it was bought. If the VAT has not been paid you will be eligible to pay VAT in France. Be aware that Customs Duty will be payable if you decide to sell your car under two years after entry into France.

The car should also belong to you (i.e. you are the registered owner) for over six months or 6,000km prior to its entry into France.

Now let’s take a deeper look at what needs to be done.

First of all you will have to register your car. To do this you must visit the main Préfecture in Nice, or the Sous-Préfecture in Grasse and ask for a demande d’immatriculation. This will start the process of registration.

Secondly, the following documents should be brought with you:

For Used Cars:

• Certificate of acquisition with tax receipt;
• Certificate 846A (obtained from customs);
• Registration document;
• Confirmation issued by the manufacturer, the manufacturer’s agent in France or the D.R.I.R.E. (Direction Régionale de l’Industrie, de la Recherche et de l’Environment) that the vehicle complies either with the national standards, or standards in the European Community;
• Application to register the vehicle in France;
• Proof of identity and address (Residence card or visa, proof of address in the name of the interested party dating from within the last three months: leasing contract, invoice from EDF of France Télécom);
• A Contrôle technique (equivalent of an MOT certificate) if the car is over 4 years old.

For New Cars:

• Proof of acquisition issued by the tax authority of origin;
• Invoice and sales certificate;
• Provisional registration number;
• Confirmation issued by the manufacturer, the manufacturer’s agent in France or the D.R.I.R.E., that the vehicle complies with either national standards, or standards in the European Community;
• Application to register the vehicle in France;
• Proof of identify and address;
• A stamp of the required value (bought from the Préfecture)

Importing a Car From Outside The EU

Importing a car from inside and outside the EU are very different issues. If you’re thinking of importing a vehicle from outside the community (eg USA or Canada), it’s worth considering how much you really want it, as the procedures are difficult and convoluted.

A few years ago we met an American who wanted very much to bring his Chevrolet over from the USA. He made all the shipping and insurance arrangements and had the car sent over. Transportation costs were incredibly high but he was so adamant in wanting his car over that he paid all the costs himself (he was an intra- company transfer). The big day dawned and the car duly arrived - which is when he discovered it didn’t meet French safety standards (seat belts, headlights, and a host of other issues).

The car stayed in a lock-up garage during the whole of his three year contract and was never driven. Moral of the story? Check things out very carefully before importing your car.

The following is the list of required documentation. We also suggest you start the process at least a good few months prior to departure. Be prepared to put a dent in your bank account too.

• A document issued by the D.R.I.R.E.;
• Certificate 846A (obtained from customs);
• Certificate of purchase ore receipt;
• Registration document or official confirmation that the registration document has been taken by the authorities in your country of origin;
• Request for registration certificate in France;
• Proof of identity and address;
• A Contrôle technique if the car is over 4 years old.