Hi GOM, just a few updates to help others going through the process: 1. Registering ownership of a vehicle. ALL DONE ONLINE NOW. When you buy a second hand car from a private seller they will have deregistered it in their name and pre-registered it in yours. So all you need from the owner is the "CERTIFICAT D'Immatriculation" also known as the Carte Grise, a PIN code comprising numbers and letters, and the "Controle Technique" (french mot) which MUST be less than 6 months old. 2. It used to be that you would have small windscreen stickers for insurance and CT - this has changed and you no longer need to having anything stuck on the screen, the Gendarmes check everything by numberplate recognition. However most ins companies will give you an attestation to keep in the glovebox 'just in case' if you ask for one.
Good to know thank you Dave. It's strange, because everyone still has them, and I've seen the gendarmes walking round the car park checking the windscreens - but I guess if they find one without they then check online. Thanks for your update!
It was the insurance card that was a legal requirement before April 2024 now it's not required on the windscreen The CT card/paper has never been a legal requirement just recommended, the only legal requirement in regards to the CT ref having proof is the sticker on the Carte grise which you should carry at all times, Also its recommended that should the vehicle leave France that making a copy of your insurance and carrying it with you could help with the police in each country you visit, plus should you have an accident it has all the details to fill the forms in.
@@GrumpyOldManRamblings I still see cars in the UK with old tax discs and that was changed 10 years ago. I'm guessing the same will be the case in France, The CT slip will be longer as most people have better things to think about and probably don't know if they should have it in the windscreen or not so will keep it there just in case, especially as the CT guys makes a point of putting in the car for you.
Loved your video. Wasn’t expecting to. Infact , I stereotyped you as a know it all Brit , who has lived in France ( or has a house in France) pays all their taxes in the UK and can’t speak a word of French after 25 years. So I apologise. You are a really nice guy. Don’t know what your French is like, but it’s clear that you want to integrate. True what you say about the French and not caring for their cars. In general. There are still a lot of nice BMW and Mercedes etc that are still well looked after. I have lived (and worked ) here permanently for nearly four years. So I have kept my Mercedes AMG estate (got a big Malamute) and as in the UK, I park it well away from other cars. God gave me legs for a reason. Touch wood all good. And due to the ridiculous price of cars here , Mercedes and BMW’s are even more prestigious. But I am a petrol head and I like cars. My carte gris cost me 850 euros as a result! But still well worth it. I also did look at a kangoo as a second car to take my dog out in the Forest Troncais when it’s wet and muddy, but the prices were ridiculous. So I clean my car and bought a motorbike instead. You made a great choice with the kangoo though. My French friend uses his like a camper when he go’s climbing in the Pyrenees and Alps. Awesome. I have probably insulted a lot of people who read this because of m stereotyping. But learning French (I am completely fluent …..completely) in 3.5 years, opens up a completely different life here. As well as working here, I play in two different (French) Rock Groups and ALL my friends are French. Enjoy France . 🇫🇷 🎉
Hi Johnycat, completely agree with you about the neccesité to learn french. It's not a choice thing it's essential if you want to have a full and successful life in France. Been here 22 yrs and love it to bits.
Hi there, if you are talking about buying a French registered vehicle in France, and the vendeur knows and accepts the process, it's very easy to register it in your name. More details are available when you are ready.
Good report grumpy,, I did the same some years back for the same reasons plus as you approach getting time expired ,70+, its harder to even hire a car. Got a non stand out old Fiat Punto, the Grande version. Diesel of course in EU In Spain the same dents and scratches syndrome and i have the same nonchalent acceptance to getting more scratches and dings. But, registering it in my name took 3 trips to 3 different gov deps over a two week period. 2hr return trip each time. So your French method sounds a doddle. Useful info thanks.
Great video. You forgot to say that the registration document is not free of charge - the cost is based on the horsepower rating of the car. But half price if the car is over ten years old, which of course all cars should be 😜
I very rarely buy anything off a French person unless it's new from a shop with a guarantee or I'm going to eat it, because as you say they know when to get rid of stuff just before it falls apart. I imported my car to France (where I live) the same car in France is twice as much and 5 times more mileage. and on the plus side been right hand drive the police tend to avoid you because they hate speaking English 🙂 Nothing is now required to affix to the inside of the windscreen of a a French car, the CT has never been required by law it's a myth and the insurance was stopped from last April 2024.
Thanks for the update. Yes, I've been pulled over in my English car (with a whole batch of cars) and as soon as they see me on the wrong side of the car they just wave me off!
@@GrumpyOldManRamblings I also noticed when our left hand drive camper (brought in Belgium btw)was on British plates we were beeped at from time to time, not very often, yet when we changed to French plates it's never happened again, maybe they just did that for thier own safety ? As we drive on the left etc, I understand about not wanting a right hand drive car, but it can mean you are from Ireland, Malta or Cyprus I guess, Apart from the cost of cars here in France my wife just feels happy to drive with a right hand drive car. One thing I do like is not paying road tax and the MOT every two years. I service my own vehicles so once every two years works out fine as I'm checking them most of the time anyway.
@@SlimTortoise Your information is spot on regarding stickers in the window etc. No yearly car tax and CT /MOT just every two years is good. But I am surprised that no one has mentioned the Fee for matriculation based on engine size/performance. Registering my Mercedes , 3.5 litre 6 Cylinder this April was 800 euros! But of course it is just a one off tax at the point of registering the vehicle. My motorbike was 250 euros. You are spot on regarding the ridiculous prices of second hand cars in France. I did a comparison like for like on my Mercedes AMG and the closest that I could get was 15000 euros more, so selling mine in the Uk and buying French wasn’t an option. Also to mention since Brexit is import Duty and VAT which often is still worth while. Me and my car arrived before Brexit and I could prove it so didn’t have to pay anything. I have been working here in the French system paying all taxes since I arrived and they never gave me a hard time for registering 3 years late ! In fact they were amazingly helpful. One thing about right hand side car.. I do believe that you need a car with decent power to overtake safely on single roads. You need to hang back and look well, so your overtakes are longer . That’s why I like my car, it has the power so overtaking is safe. Also I am content to just relax and enjoy the scenery if I get behind a slow car, but obviously tractors and the like you have to go. I have never felt the slightest urge to buy a leftie. And I was stopped by police in a control check and all they did was compliment me on my French and waved me on 😂
@@johnycat7373 Thanks for your comment, Yes you are correct about the registration fees both my vehicles (Car and motorhome) had to pay this one off charge but they were over 10 years old so they both had a 50% discount so both were around 250 Euros give of take a 10 Euros (less than a years road tax in the UK so pays for its self in my case very quickly). I imported after Brexit and found the process just as easy as before the only difference been that you had to go to customs rather than your local tax office, There were zero import free's to pay on both, this is because France let's you import your goods duty free if you are moving to France from most if not all countries from around the world. I'm the same in regards to over taking, although the wife helps most of the time, but as I am retired I really don't care about going above the speed limit any more, The camping car has always been left hand drive so it's really where it should be now, which when I brought her from Belgium was something I knew I would end up ie France and at the time due to the exchange rate back in 2003 made the vehicle 8000 Euro cheaper than the uk so it was no brainier.
@@johnycat7373 Also another interesting point is that there has been big changes to the fee's they now charging to register the vehicle in your name or import adding lower pollution allowances and a weight of the vehicle charge to mention a few. I entered the same details for my car on the govenment web site but put 2024 and the charge came out to 7500 Euro's. In fact a friend of mine was going to buy a new Land-rover only to be told the fee's to register it in his name would be 50,000 Euro's due to weight and emissions. Your 3.5 litre and my 2.4 and 2.7 litre vehicles will become rare as hens teeth very soon I think.
Strange, my mercedes only a once only cost around 180euros. But it's only an E class 2.2 diesel. Insurance, 3rd party. Fire, theft, breakdown insurance for year, 193euros.
@@thomasmyers4089 How old was it? After 10 years it is 50% cheaper. The cost is mainly assessed due to HP/kw. It is Mercedes AmG 375 bhp. Of course I double checked it and the price paid is actually on the Carte Gris. You did well . My motorbike (vfr 800) was 250 euros . My insurance is fully comprehensive with Pacifica. (Crédit agricole ) 89 euros a month -Okm breakdown cover….And I am 62… But not dissimilar to what I paid in the UK. My motorbike for similar insurance is just 34 euros a month.
I got my Mercedes and motorcycle, 750 Moto guzzi MMS gave me a deal of 300euros a year, for them both. I just sold my 1400 intruder, that was around 200euros a year.
Hi GOM, just a few updates to help others going through the process:
1. Registering ownership of a vehicle. ALL DONE ONLINE NOW. When you buy a second hand car from a private seller they will have deregistered it in their name and pre-registered it in yours. So all you need from the owner is the "CERTIFICAT D'Immatriculation" also known as the Carte Grise, a PIN code comprising numbers and letters, and the "Controle Technique" (french mot) which MUST be less than 6 months old.
2. It used to be that you would have small windscreen stickers for insurance and CT - this has changed and you no longer need to having anything stuck on the screen, the Gendarmes check everything by numberplate recognition. However most ins companies will give you an attestation to keep in the glovebox 'just in case' if you ask for one.
Good to know thank you Dave. It's strange, because everyone still has them, and I've seen the gendarmes walking round the car park checking the windscreens - but I guess if they find one without they then check online. Thanks for your update!
It was the insurance card that was a legal requirement before April 2024 now it's not required on the windscreen The CT card/paper has never been a legal requirement just recommended, the only legal requirement in regards to the CT ref having proof is the sticker on the Carte grise which you should carry at all times, Also its recommended that should the vehicle leave France that making a copy of your insurance and carrying it with you could help with the police in each country you visit, plus should you have an accident it has all the details to fill the forms in.
@@GrumpyOldManRamblings I still see cars in the UK with old tax discs and that was changed 10 years ago. I'm guessing the same will be the case in France, The CT slip will be longer as most people have better things to think about and probably don't know if they should have it in the windscreen or not so will keep it there just in case, especially as the CT guys makes a point of putting in the car for you.
Loved your video. Wasn’t expecting to. Infact , I stereotyped you as a know it all Brit , who has lived in France ( or has a house in France) pays all their taxes in the UK and can’t speak a word of French after 25 years. So I apologise. You are a really nice guy. Don’t know what your French is like, but it’s clear that you want to integrate. True what you say about the French and not caring for their cars. In general. There are still a lot of nice BMW and Mercedes etc that are still well looked after. I have lived (and worked ) here permanently for nearly four years. So I have kept my Mercedes AMG estate (got a big Malamute) and as in the UK, I park it well away from other cars. God gave me legs for a reason. Touch wood all good. And due to the ridiculous price of cars here , Mercedes and BMW’s are even more prestigious. But I am a petrol head and I like cars. My carte gris cost me 850 euros as a result! But still well worth it. I also did look at a kangoo as a second car to take my dog out in the Forest Troncais when it’s wet and muddy, but the prices were ridiculous. So I clean my car and bought a motorbike instead. You made a great choice with the kangoo though. My French friend uses his like a camper when he go’s climbing in the Pyrenees and Alps. Awesome. I have probably insulted a lot of people who read this because of m stereotyping. But learning French (I am completely fluent …..completely) in 3.5 years, opens up a completely different life here. As well as working here, I play in two different (French) Rock Groups and ALL my friends are French. Enjoy France . 🇫🇷 🎉
Hi Johnycat, completely agree with you about the neccesité to learn french. It's not a choice thing it's essential if you want to have a full and successful life in France. Been here 22 yrs and love it to bits.
@@Dave-in-France Awesome Dave. Speaking French opens so many closed doors. Passe une bonne journée 😎🇫🇷🏴
Good to see you back, pal! And from one beater guy to another, Viva La $h1t Beater!
Great timing, I need to buy a French car in the coming months. I may well revert with questions 🙂
Hi there, if you are talking about buying a French registered vehicle in France, and the vendeur knows and accepts the process, it's very easy to register it in your name. More details are available when you are ready.
@Dave-in-France thanks for that Dave, I'm not a permanent French resident, will that be an issue?
I am in the process of purchasing a 2nd home in Ariege, I'm currently a Spanish resident on an EU Passport...
You're doing great job!🎉
Good report grumpy,,
I did the same some years back for the same reasons plus as you approach getting time expired ,70+, its harder to even hire a car.
Got a non stand out old Fiat Punto, the Grande version.
Diesel of course in EU
In Spain the same dents and scratches syndrome and i have the same nonchalent acceptance to getting more scratches and dings.
But, registering it in my name took 3 trips to 3 different gov deps over a two week period. 2hr return trip each time.
So your French method sounds a doddle.
Useful info thanks.
Great video. You forgot to say that the registration document is not free of charge - the cost is based on the horsepower rating of the car. But half price if the car is over ten years old, which of course all cars should be 😜
You are right which is why my Mercedes cost me 850 Euros 😢
I very rarely buy anything off a French person unless it's new from a shop with a guarantee or I'm going to eat it, because as you say they know when to get rid of stuff just before it falls apart. I imported my car to France (where I live) the same car in France is twice as much and 5 times more mileage. and on the plus side been right hand drive the police tend to avoid you because they hate speaking English 🙂
Nothing is now required to affix to the inside of the windscreen of a a French car, the CT has never been required by law it's a myth and the insurance was stopped from last April 2024.
Thanks for the update. Yes, I've been pulled over in my English car (with a whole batch of cars) and as soon as they see me on the wrong side of the car they just wave me off!
@@GrumpyOldManRamblings I also noticed when our left hand drive camper (brought in Belgium btw)was on British plates we were beeped at from time to time, not very often, yet when we changed to French plates it's never happened again, maybe they just did that for thier own safety ? As we drive on the left etc, I understand about not wanting a right hand drive car, but it can mean you are from Ireland, Malta or Cyprus I guess, Apart from the cost of cars here in France my wife just feels happy to drive with a right hand drive car.
One thing I do like is not paying road tax and the MOT every two years. I service my own vehicles so once every two years works out fine as I'm checking them most of the time anyway.
@@SlimTortoise Your information is spot on regarding stickers in the window etc. No yearly car tax and CT /MOT just every two years is good. But I am surprised that no one has mentioned the Fee for matriculation based on engine size/performance. Registering my Mercedes , 3.5 litre 6 Cylinder this April was 800 euros! But of course it is just a one off tax at the point of registering the vehicle. My motorbike was 250 euros. You are spot on regarding the ridiculous prices of second hand cars in France. I did a comparison like for like on my Mercedes AMG and the closest that I could get was 15000 euros more, so selling mine in the Uk and buying French wasn’t an option. Also to mention since Brexit is import Duty and VAT which often is still worth while. Me and my car arrived before Brexit and I could prove it so didn’t have to pay anything. I have been working here in the French system paying all taxes since I arrived and they never gave me a hard time for registering 3 years late ! In fact they were amazingly helpful. One thing about right hand side car.. I do believe that you need a car with decent power to overtake safely on single roads. You need to hang back and look well, so your overtakes are longer . That’s why I like my car, it has the power so overtaking is safe. Also I am content to just relax and enjoy the scenery if I get behind a slow car, but obviously tractors and the like you have to go. I have never felt the slightest urge to buy a leftie. And I was stopped by police in a control check and all they did was compliment me on my French and waved me on 😂
@@johnycat7373 Thanks for your comment, Yes you are correct about the registration fees both my vehicles (Car and motorhome) had to pay this one off charge but they were over 10 years old so they both had a 50% discount so both were around 250 Euros give of take a 10 Euros (less than a years road tax in the UK so pays for its self in my case very quickly).
I imported after Brexit and found the process just as easy as before the only difference been that you had to go to customs rather than your local tax office, There were zero import free's to pay on both, this is because France let's you import your goods duty free if you are moving to France from most if not all countries from around the world.
I'm the same in regards to over taking, although the wife helps most of the time, but as I am retired I really don't care about going above the speed limit any more, The camping car has always been left hand drive so it's really where it should be now, which when I brought her from Belgium was something I knew I would end up ie France and at the time due to the exchange rate back in 2003 made the vehicle 8000 Euro cheaper than the uk so it was no brainier.
@@johnycat7373 Also another interesting point is that there has been big changes to the fee's they now charging to register the vehicle in your name or import adding lower pollution allowances and a weight of the vehicle charge to mention a few.
I entered the same details for my car on the govenment web site but put 2024 and the charge came out to 7500 Euro's. In fact a friend of mine was going to buy a new Land-rover only to be told the fee's to register it in his name would be 50,000 Euro's due to weight and emissions.
Your 3.5 litre and my 2.4 and 2.7 litre vehicles will become rare as hens teeth very soon I think.
Sticking with you, enjoyed watching your s...t car video. 🚙🚙🚙
🎉😇
Great Content stay strong and healthy man🫡🫡
If you are looking to blend in with motorists, stop using your indicators.
I drive a BMW in the UK. What's an indicator?! :-)
😂😂😂😂
Waiting for the next video
Yes, coming soon! It's been such a busy time (moving house, daughter's wedding, etc!) Just working on next video now! Thanks for following!
@GrumpyOldManRamblings pleasure man
I randomly thought and prayed for you today
Keep the good work and expecting more interesting videos
Thank you so much! The message came through! I suddenly thought "I really must get back onto UA-cam"!
❤❤🎉🎉
You forgot to mention, no car tax in France.
Good point - well made! Yes, I forgot to mention that!
You pay the tax when you get your Carte Gris. It’s a one off but my Mercedes cost me 850 euros! But I don’t care because I love my car
Strange, my mercedes only a once only cost around 180euros. But it's only an E class 2.2 diesel.
Insurance, 3rd party. Fire, theft, breakdown insurance for year, 193euros.
@@thomasmyers4089 How old was it? After 10 years it is 50% cheaper. The cost is mainly assessed due to HP/kw. It is Mercedes AmG 375 bhp. Of course I double checked it and the price paid is actually on the Carte Gris.
You did well . My motorbike (vfr 800) was 250 euros . My insurance is fully comprehensive with Pacifica. (Crédit agricole ) 89 euros a month -Okm breakdown cover….And I am 62…
But not dissimilar to what I paid in the UK. My motorbike for similar insurance is just 34 euros a month.
I got my Mercedes and motorcycle, 750 Moto guzzi MMS gave me a deal of 300euros a year, for them both.
I just sold my 1400 intruder, that was around 200euros a year.