Insuring my British car to stay in France - RE-REGISTER?
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Insuring my British car to stay in France - RE-REGISTER?
Hi everyone,
I'd like your advice, from your experiences of insuring a British car to leave in France. WHY?? I'll explain.
We've had our house for 8 years, near Perpignan, staying there for school holidays as I WAS a teacher. We decided August '16, that 'Our year in France' would begin Jan '17 I would resign my post, we would commute back and forth each month (Jon needs to be in UK for 1-2 weeks a month at mo) then we could have half the month living at our house in France. That way we would be closer to experiencing ALL that the way of life had to offer. I am hoping to find work teaching English, as well as Estate Agency (which through here I found an advertisement with Beaux Villages and have begun talking to the local coordinator - Who also was a teacher!)
We drove my car here - and left it at the airport when we flew back. I had begun discussions with Agence Generali - who said they would insure my car IF I began registration within 3 months. It seems TRES EXPENSIF!! at nearly 900E. We will fly back and forth, leaving the car in France!
Any advice, recommendations would be greatly welcome. JUST had quote from AXA expats special!!!!!! 1235E !!!
I'd like your advice, from your experiences of insuring a British car to leave in France. WHY?? I'll explain.
We've had our house for 8 years, near Perpignan, staying there for school holidays as I WAS a teacher. We decided August '16, that 'Our year in France' would begin Jan '17 I would resign my post, we would commute back and forth each month (Jon needs to be in UK for 1-2 weeks a month at mo) then we could have half the month living at our house in France. That way we would be closer to experiencing ALL that the way of life had to offer. I am hoping to find work teaching English, as well as Estate Agency (which through here I found an advertisement with Beaux Villages and have begun talking to the local coordinator - Who also was a teacher!)
We drove my car here - and left it at the airport when we flew back. I had begun discussions with Agence Generali - who said they would insure my car IF I began registration within 3 months. It seems TRES EXPENSIF!! at nearly 900E. We will fly back and forth, leaving the car in France!
Any advice, recommendations would be greatly welcome. JUST had quote from AXA expats special!!!!!! 1235E !!!
Teresa Howe /Penn
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This doesn't seem to compute: do you mean LHD? If it is LHD, and you re-register, you might get cheaper rates from an online provider: you can do some research e.g. hereTeresa wrote:Thanks Florence,
Yes it is a right hand drive, because I bought it in Britain with the idea of taking it to France, it's a lovely convertible! (
https://www.lelynx.fr
They are mostly entirely kosher affiliates of mainstream insurers. But a lovely convertible is never going to be cheap.
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Your little convertible seems to have brought us the nearest thing we've had to winter over the last couple of years. I've just got a beanie and a pair of woolly gloves from M and S, so I'm relying on an early spring - and it's not looking too bad over the next few days.Teresa wrote:Thanks Martin and Tia,
Yes it is a RHD but as you say I will need to re-register it in France. Thanks for the link, I have done some research with internet sites.
Just have to accept my little convertible will be an expensive treat for our year in France
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Try Stuart Collins (https://www.stuartcollins.com), they will insure UK registered cars with unlimited EU use, L or RHD. Also worth keeping in mind that as a UK resident you can not drive a car with French license plates back to the UK.Teresa wrote:Thanks Martin and Tia,
Yes it is a RHD but as you say I will need to re-register it in France. Thanks for the link, I have done some research with internet sites.
Just have to accept my little convertible will be an expensive treat for our year in France
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Hi Martyn,
Very astute of you Hahaha!!!
We've owned the house for 8 years and it really is 'home'. I struggle with calling UK house 'Home' and then French house 'Home'. So, 'When are we going to go home? can be very confusing!
It's definitely more than 'our year' and then go home. But because of the very REAL need for Jon to work (too complicated to explain - 'building his company') we really can't just up sticks.
Over the year it is hoped that 'work' situations will allow us to be more in France than in the UK. So as far as my little car is concerned it's highly likely that it will become a French citizen, never to return to these shores again!
I also have an ailing mum, a 3 year old grandson (who only stays with his Dad - my son - on weekends) School holidays haven't factored in yet! So the situation is not straightforward.
The year is a compromise and a way to prove to ourselves that YES - France is where we want to be.
SO where are we 'resident' ? Good question - my answer Planet Earth - Oh that it were that simple.
Any advice/comment re WHAT we SHOULD be doing would be gratefully received.
Bonne journee
Very astute of you Hahaha!!!
We've owned the house for 8 years and it really is 'home'. I struggle with calling UK house 'Home' and then French house 'Home'. So, 'When are we going to go home? can be very confusing!
It's definitely more than 'our year' and then go home. But because of the very REAL need for Jon to work (too complicated to explain - 'building his company') we really can't just up sticks.
Over the year it is hoped that 'work' situations will allow us to be more in France than in the UK. So as far as my little car is concerned it's highly likely that it will become a French citizen, never to return to these shores again!
I also have an ailing mum, a 3 year old grandson (who only stays with his Dad - my son - on weekends) School holidays haven't factored in yet! So the situation is not straightforward.
The year is a compromise and a way to prove to ourselves that YES - France is where we want to be.
SO where are we 'resident' ? Good question - my answer Planet Earth - Oh that it were that simple.
Any advice/comment re WHAT we SHOULD be doing would be gratefully received.
Bonne journee
Teresa Howe /Penn
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Car insurance
Thanks for the advice Kate, I have a few quotes although not face to face. They vary greatly! I'm awaiting 2 more and then Jon and I will make a decision. BTW I love your site. I learn so much about our area and French phrases. Thank you
Teresa Howe /Penn
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I think the biggest issue is not insurance but where the car is registered. If you keep it in France for more than 6 months in a year then by law you must register it in France. If you subsequently take it back to England you will have to re-register it there.
Plenty of people don't register cars when they should and get away with it but you risk running foul of the law and if you have an accident you might well find your insurance invalidated.
I have read suggestions that you could simply drive into Spain every 6 months but they are nonsense as the restriction is more than 6 months out of any 12 and not just a continuous period.
Have you considered simply selling it in the UK and then buying a car here?
Plenty of people don't register cars when they should and get away with it but you risk running foul of the law and if you have an accident you might well find your insurance invalidated.
I have read suggestions that you could simply drive into Spain every 6 months but they are nonsense as the restriction is more than 6 months out of any 12 and not just a continuous period.
Have you considered simply selling it in the UK and then buying a car here?
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Re registering car
Thanks Allan,
I'm now under no illusion that I will need to re-register thanks to everyone's advice and info from SOME but not all insurance companies I've spoken to!!
As to selling her and buying over here - unfortunately I just don't have the time or money to do that - AND I'm very attached to her now We drove her over at the beginning of the month.
I'm now under no illusion that I will need to re-register thanks to everyone's advice and info from SOME but not all insurance companies I've spoken to!!
As to selling her and buying over here - unfortunately I just don't have the time or money to do that - AND I'm very attached to her now We drove her over at the beginning of the month.
Teresa Howe /Penn
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Unlimited EU cover
Special message for Sus who sent the link for stuartcollins.com.
Thank you I have already had a quote and dialogue about insuring the car.
This site (the members in particular) has proved invaluable AND so welcoming whenever I have used it.
Gives you that 'WARM' feeling
Thank you I have already had a quote and dialogue about insuring the car.
This site (the members in particular) has proved invaluable AND so welcoming whenever I have used it.
Gives you that 'WARM' feeling
Teresa Howe /Penn
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I would definitely check residency for yourself and family and then check back tax implications. We are in a similar situation as we spent considerable time in France but not enough to be resident here, so still resident in the UK, hence our car is also UK registered as we need to be able to drive it in both countries. It definitely pays to work through tax implications, can be an unpleasant (or pleasant surprise). Good luck with it all, it is an exciting move!Teresa wrote:Thanks Martyn, I may well be starting some work as a self employed property consultant in the next month but have had an exchange of messages with An accountant recommended on this or a similar site
Really appreciate the dialogue exchange and your advice.