Change ahead for French number plates

I REMEMBER when I was driving my old Renault back through the Channel tunnel the attendant asking me where I'd come from as I had a 24 on my number plate.

When I said the Dordogne he said that was quite a distance, especially in a car that was more than 20 years old, but such chatter will soon be a thing of the past.

New rules are set to come into force in 2009 that will mean cars have a registration number that applies to it throughout its life, and brings an end to the process of getting new plates if your car was from a different département.

Comments

[c.hamblin]

i am moving to france next week, how easy is it to get french plates and what docs will i need

[Craig Mcginty]

Hi there

Difficult to know if you are planning to register a car from the UK in France, if so please see:

Importing an English car into France
http://www.thisfrenchlife.com/thisfrenchlife/2007/02/importing_an_en.html

If you buy a car from a dealer or garage then much of the paperwork will be overseen by them.

Other articles on the site that might prove useful are:
Registering for a carte grise
http://www.thisfrenchlife.com/thisfrenchlife/2003/12/on_track_to_a_c.html

Advice on car registration
http://www.thisfrenchlife.com/thisfrenchlife/2004/02/repat_advice_fo.html

Hope this helps
Craig

[Beverley]

This is a baffling one for you,
My father registered a english car in France in his name as he lives there.He since given the car to me and guess what I live in Spain, I need to know how to change the plates and ownership without bringing the car 1000 km,back to France,if he inform france that he has sold it change the paper work name then I can itv (mot)here thanks

[Craig McGinty]

Hi Beverley, I think you will have to start with the Spanish authorities. I can't see it being too problematic as their is plenty of cross-border trade over the Pyrenees.
All the best, Craig