France New & Used Vehicle Import Regulations :: Japanese Used Auto Auction

France New & Used Vehicle Import Regulations

Importing Vehicles (Cars and Motorcycles) to France

Importing vehicles can be complicated. You will need to go through several processes before you will be able to drive your car or motorcycle in France

Customs Clearing of Importing Vehicles

1.	You need to show that you are importing the vehicle for personal use and not financial gain otherwise you will be subject to higher importation taxes.
2.	This often means providing customs officials with proof that you have owned the vehicle for a certain period (normally 6 months) and making an official declaration that the vehicle is for personal use only.

Engineers Reports

Cars and motorcycles must comply with French regulations and standards, which involves a certificate and a detailed engineers report. Vehicles are also subject to a road worthiness test called a control technique (the frequency of this test will depend on the age and type of your vehicle)

Note : If your vehicle does not meet the French regulations you are obliged to make the necessary changes to the vehicle, this can be expensive. It is well worth the time and effort contacting your vehicle manufacturer for information on the types of changes you are likely to require for French regulations, they should be able to give you the details, especially if they manufacture for the French market.

Registration of Importing Vehicles

Once you have succesfully passed customs and enginerring regulations you will need to register your vehicle in France. This can only be achieved once you have a resident’s permit or carte de sejour.
Registration is carried out at the Prefecture de Police for your department and the document you will receive is called a ‘carte grise’. Once you have your carte grise you are required to attach French registration plates within a 48hour period.

Remember : The whole process may take several months as much depends on the speed of your resident’s permit application. Consider the options of leasing or buying cars and motorcycles before deciding to import your vehicle.

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