Registering a French car in the UK…any tips?

[AllHailKingVolvo]

My wife has been offered a tidy 1989 740 estate for a very good price, and, understandably, wants to buy it.

Just one hitch…the car belongs to a French chap who brought it into the UK when he moved here earlier in the year, drove it for the regulation period that you’re allowed to whilst moving his belongings from France to the UK, then parked it.

As such, it has all the relevant French registration documentation (Carte Grise etc) and is still on French plates.

From what I can deduce online, registering an already imported car for UK plates and V5C seems relatively straightforward, but does anyone know of any potential pitfalls or issues we should be aware of?

Obviously the car is LHD, but my wife is the sort of person to whom this kind of thing appeals, so is unfazed by that!

[volvo always]

Cant think of any major issues when I did similar in 2012.

Returned to UK from ROI.

I insured it on it's vin number, booked and passed a UK MOT. then register for a new V5 and in my case DVLA re-issued the cars original UK reg plate. Fit new plate and tax/insure in normal way.

From France to UK, buy new/used RHD headlamp glass.

James

[jasons]

you'll need to import it, so 10% duty, then 20% vat on the duty and vehicle price, and possibly shipping/ferry costs, unless its over 30 years old then a reduced rate.

tbh, you'd be better off buying a UK reg car in france because they are very cheap, once french registered they are of little value outside the EU because of export/import fees.

[jasons]

if its lhd it has a good value out here in france, to sell a french car it has to have a CT less than 6 months ago/old, but for export I guess just the GC, is it that cheap you want to do it?

Even a shed out here with a fresh CT is worth 1500euro

[Laird Scooby]

Sorry Phil, this is something i know little or nothing about - my first port of call would be as you've already done, look online but i'd probably also ring the DVLA as the car is already here and was parked after the regulation 6 months expired. You may find it needs an SVA test now because its original grace period expired or possibly just a new UK MoT. If he's officially imported it then he will have paid the taxes and presumably registered it.

Due to the lack of registration and the fact he simply parked it after 6 months, i'd smell a rat somewhere. You might be better off looking elsewhere for a LHD car that's had the donkey work of registering done if that's really your wifes thing. Chances are it wouldn't be much different in price..........

[AllHailKingVolvo]

Originally Posted by jasons

you'll need to import it, so 10% duty, then 20% vat on the duty and vehicle price, and possibly shipping/ferry costs, unless its over 30 years old then a reduced rate.

tbh, you'd be better off buying a UK reg car in france because they are very cheap, once french registered they are of little value outside the EU because of export/import fees.

Hi, I think you perhaps misunderstood my original post-we are in the UK and the car is already in the UK, and has been for several months, so I don’t need to import it-it’s being sold in the UK but still has French plates and registration, so if my wife was to buy it, she would need to re-register it with the DVLA and MOT it etc. It’s not something I know much about, other than the fact that the car is in the UK and due to it being 32yrs old it sidesteps the NOVA registration stuff and approval documentation.

[AllHailKingVolvo]

Originally Posted by Laird Scooby

Sorry Phil, this is something i know little or nothing about - my first port of call would be as you've already done, look online but i'd probably also ring the DVLA as the car is already here and was parked after the regulation 6 months expired. You may find it needs an SVA test now because its original grace period expired or possibly just a new UK MoT. If he's officially imported it then he will have paid the taxes and presumably registered it.

Due to the lack of registration and the fact he simply parked it after 6 months, i'd smell a rat somewhere. You might be better off looking elsewhere for a LHD car that's had the donkey work of registering done if that's really your wifes thing. Chances are it wouldn't be much different in price..........

Thanks Dave-I think ringing the DVLA is an excellent idea as first port of call. I’ll enquire in the morning and report back!

[jasons]

Originally Posted by AllHailKingVolvo

Hi, I think you perhaps misunderstood my original post-we are in the UK and the car is already in the UK, and has been for several months, so I don’t need to import it-it’s being sold in the UK but still has French plates and registration, so if my wife was to buy it, she would need to re-register it with the DVLA and MOT it etc. It’s not something I know much about, other than the fact that the car is in the UK and due to it being 32yrs old it sidesteps the NOVA registration stuff and approval documentation.

I've enough experiance of importing cars, but zero for anything that old, so I'm interested to know the correct method for customs clearance/nova because I have a 31 year old 480 coupe to bring in.

On a side note, a car can be in the UK for as long as you like prior to application for registration, I was told that by the DVLA in regards to japanese imports which I've done numerous of.

Because its over 10 years old you don't need an IVA test.
Just an MOT which they will do on the VIN number.

For the Jap imports form 384 was customs clearance although I always used the port agent but fr you I would email these guys who deal with customs clearance duties for imports because when you come to register it you will need the NOVA letter from these guys t prove that duty has been settled,

ecsm.nchcars@hmrc.gov.uk

Form 55-5 is what I'd use to register the imports, I'd send this off with the export certificate from Japan, although for you just the CG should be fine (when I register UK cars in France I need form 846a which is basically the equiv of the NOVA letter to prove duty has been settled, a CT/MOT and copy of V5/CG), CT/MOT & V5/CG, the french notify the DVLA that the car has been exported so I assume the DVLA will notify ANTS in a similar way.

There's lots of boxes on the first reg form, for you ignore anything relating to EU emmisions etc, you'll just need your name address VIN number CC amount of seats etc.

So my guess is it will be easy, MOT and a copy of customs clearance who you can email using email above.

I hope there may be something useful amidst my ramblings here lol

Please keep us updated as I have this old 480 to do similar with in a few weeks.

To add, there is no approval documentation needed because its over 10years old and therefore doesn't need an IVA.
I'm also hoping that over 30 years old sidesteps any duty, but I don't know if like tax exempt vehicles one still needs a letter from HMRC to send off that states they are happy with duty (even if zero) to register with 55-5

[Vintoni]

I'm doing the opposite and currently trying to register my UK 940 estate here in France and it's a bloody nightmare.

[jasons]

Originally Posted by Vintoni

I'm doing the opposite and currently trying to register my UK 940 estate here in France and it's a bloody nightmare.

Is it built/registered before or after 01/96?

I'm going to try for my 75euro 940, 97 P because its easy enough to get a coc for it, but I wouldn't like to try for a pre 96 model.

I've had no issue with modern stuff, 2 others so far but both had coc's available