Elmo Putney Posted September 20, 2002 Share Posted September 20, 2002 Hello people, first post on this site so be nice. I have a Friend who lives in France, and after a ride in my Westy he wants to build one. I spoke to Westfield and they were as helpful as a chocolate fire gaurd, (is it just me they treat like an idiot?) After exchanges of e-mails they came up with "he wont be able to do it" after enquiring why they came up with "its the aurthorities".....no s*it! So, does anyone know what prevents a kit from being built/registered in France, or know someone who has moved out there with there 7? This has improtant implications cos I was planning on moving over there next year, but if I cant have my car............ Any help or contacts much appreciated! I work for Ford and I still wouldnt buy one! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RiF Posted September 20, 2002 Share Posted September 20, 2002 Can't really help at the moment except to give you the following info. I am still trying to solve the problem for a new car. Caterham's can't be registered in France after Oct2003. Main agent will have to stop unless a law is changed. It is really for the big manufacturers but the French are saying all cars must conform. Caterham say a limited range will pass all tests except the crash tests and are continueing talking to the officials. France produce many cars that I doubt would conform but I think as they are French that is different! Of course!!! Registering an old model is possible with a certificate of conformity from the manufacturer. At what age or variation it stops I do not know. There is much talk in the press re the situation at the moment. One interesting factor is other EU countries accept Caterhams and I gather that if for instance it was German registered then the French will have to accept registering it! Send me your e-mail address and if I find a solution I will let you know. At present I have an English 7 with an yearly green card. Richard in france Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elmo Putney Posted September 20, 2002 Author Share Posted September 20, 2002 Thanks for the reply, it does seem a bit bizzare when you consider some of the heaps that drive on French roads what is it MOT every 3 years? I dont quite understand the "certificate of conformity ", is this a type approval cert or something. Do you think you can do the yearly green card indefinatley? If you find any solution let me know at dwitt4@ford.com. Cheers p.s. where abouts in France are you? I work for Ford and I still wouldnt buy one! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highlander Posted September 20, 2002 Share Posted September 20, 2002 A CoC (Cerificate of Conformance) is as you rightly suspect a declaration that the car meets European type approval. All mainstream cars have one, it's just that when you go down your Rover garage to buy a car you never see it. However if you import a new car from another EU country they give you it along with the temporary registration document. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elie boone Posted September 20, 2002 Share Posted September 20, 2002 I think that there is an EU law witch say that if a car has been registered in an EU country and exported ( second hand ) to another EU country they must register that car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodstead Posted September 20, 2002 Share Posted September 20, 2002 I'm about to move to SW France so I need to know! My research has shown that the easiest thing to have it on English plates! French don't seem to understand them. Mon voison has had a Volvo on engish plates for the last 6 years without a problem...... If the car has previously been registered in the UK & complies with the Controle Technique regs (French MOT) then they will reluctantly register the car. A lot depends on the jobsworth you encounter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highlander Posted September 20, 2002 Share Posted September 20, 2002 Technically, and I can only speak for the Netherlands as that's wher I used to live, if you had a foreign car in the country for more than 3 months you had to register it there, with all the customs and LHD light conversions etc that this implied, and of course giving them some cash! I managed to run my car there for 5 years without doing this or getting hastled from the Five O, but some of the other guys, those who'd registered withthe authorities ahem, got nabbed by Customs. Assume that the rules are similar in France. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RiF Posted September 23, 2002 Share Posted September 23, 2002 In theory you can keep a car on an anual green card if you live in France and keep your UK driving licience and if stopped just say you are still a UK resident as well as living in France. Legally you should register after so many months, but many don't. Hugh Dent registered his 7 car (some years old) and had many delays and difficulties. We registered a Saab and it was just formality and about 6 months, plus change the lights. Certificate of conformity was just a 2 page photo copy that cost £100 from Saab France. I am dealing with an unfair EC problem for working in Belgium at the moment and have found the right department for taking action and resolving the issue. I shall be discussing the se7en question with them soon as well. Next problem is also if the car is totally standard. I gather from Caterham that very few extras are passible in France. One other point is all new cars must have flaired wings so great news for the Clam shell club (I was first French member). Still want to find out if a UK registered car MUST be accepted by the French. We have found that different English have had more problems than others registering a car in France just because they are in a different department. Elmo ours is 49 near to Angers. Keep in touch Richard in France e-mail: sales@goodville-engineering.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fast Westie Posted September 23, 2002 Share Posted September 23, 2002 Elmo I am a Westfie1d owner who has lived in France (with my car). The easiest way is to keep it on UK plates with an annual green car (difficult to obtain). The only Westfie1ds that can be registered are the ZEis (130 and 220) due to the French burocracy . There are some cars illegally registered on Cortina and Escort documents, but the insurance would not be too clever when they came along looking for and Escort and found a 7 type car. I have heard rumours that you could go through an expensive process (approx £2k) where they did noise and brake efficiency tests and get a local certificate of conformity, but I decided not to go down that route. As Richard says, it will be interesting to find out exactly what the European law is wrt registering cars. I believe that the French are just doing their own thing 🙆🏻. The car in front is a Westfie1d Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elmo Putney Posted September 24, 2002 Author Share Posted September 24, 2002 Thanks everyone for your replies, it seems as though my friend will be better off with a Caterham, it seems a bit easier to get in France, plus I'm sure the Caterham factory will be more forth coming with help and advice than my Friends in Dudley. Meanwhile I need to work out what I'm going to do with my car if/when I decide to move out there, ideally I would have liked to sell it and get a left hooker built out there but by the sound of it I'd be best off building a left hooker registering it in the uk and taking it back over the channel. decisions decisions..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elie boone Posted September 25, 2002 Share Posted September 25, 2002 Elmo, beware LHD is an....................1000£ option! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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