Good morning all.

I’m not too far off retiring. Should have done it years ago, but still..

I’ve pretty much made the decision to move to France. The UK holds nothing for me any longer.
The thing is, and I know this is sad, but I can’t imagine life without the FL2.

I’ve looked into buying a LHD over there but the prices are double what we pay here, so I’m thinking about taking my car with me. I really do like it. It’s reliable hasn’t cost the earth to run, (still got both arms, legs and kidneys), and I trust it. If I did buy another in France I’d be starting all over again with a motor I don’t know.

I’ve done some research into it and I know that it’s a very bureaucratic process, especially as they’re French over there And I know it can be costly if you don’t know all the wrinkles in advance.

I was just wondering if anybody here had any experience of this situation and could pass on any tips.

Thanks all.

If you are moving to France permanently, there are no import charges for your own private vehicles, if you have owned them for over 6 months. The process of registration is pretty straightforward, and can be completed by yourself or by a professional. You will need a certificate of conformity from Land rover, which is currently free. You can continue to drive your imported car during this process for up to one month, although my insurers have extended that period up to 3 months if the registration process is ongoing. You will need to budget for headlight replacement or adaptation depending which headlights you have. You will have to pay a registration fee, which will differ depending on which department you live but will be around the €400 mark. You will need a form 846a from the Douanes ( customs) to say there are no import charges to pay. Depending on the age of your car, you may have to pay a one off pollution charge. I have imported many cars to France over the years, including my present Freelander 2. Give me a shout if you get stuck. People will have you believe it's difficult to import a car in to France, but it is not. I had far more difficulty 're-importing a previously UK registered car back in to the UK from France. As a UK resident you are not allowed by law to drive a foreign registered car which you own, until it has gone through the UK registration process, which starts with the tax office. Good luck,

Thanks for this Grimdog.

Very encouraging.

Cheers