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I think ultimately you're right but the cert supplied by Suzuki does not mention anything about bodywork. It say it conforms to all regulations with the exception to those mentioned. The only thing mentioned in the exceptions is Conduite a droite.

It's been chopped off behind the front doors and a pickup bed fabricated with roll bar. i.e. it hasn't had a Suzuki pickup bed bolted on. All done by a coach builder.

Thanks for the info but I'd already downloaded the form from the 'sticky' on importing cars. We'll compl;ete it once we've heard from Suzuki about getting our money back as we asked for a CoC not a partial one........we're not holdoing our breath though.

Another, Re you comment about a 1991 jeep being worth next to nothing.......you'd think so wouldn't you. Prior to buying in the UK we looked a a 1989 one with 100,000 Km and it was for sale for 3,000€, a 30 yearold ratty Land Cruiser was 5,000€ hence we bought in the UK for £1,100 + import costs if we get it through.

Another, I know RHD can't be the problem as we have other RHD cars. The magic word seems to be 'PARTIAL' and as the people at the Prefecture can't tick a box to say it's a full certificate - it fails their criteria. Owen88, It's a full proper Suzuki import into the UK. *********************************** I'm reluctant to take it to the DRIRE 'cos it's been converted from a van to a pick up although this can't be the problem yet!! But if I go to the DRIRE I'm sure this could be a big one. I have found a form, on this site, which it appears one completes with vehicle details, sends to the DRIRE and if they have details on record they will send a certificsate - long shot but it might work. IF all esle fails I'll just drive it on UK plates, it's only for local use (forest roads and in winter) so if the Gendames don't mind I'll be ok.

Hi, Has anyone out there tried importing a Japanes car from the UK? We are currently in the process of importing a 1991 Suzuki Jeep, we wrote to Suzuki and asked for a certificate of conformity. They releaved us of 135€ and sent us a certificate.....or so we thought. Our Prefectaire refused to import it as the certificate said it was a partial one as the car is RHD. Upon speaking to the Prefect they merely stated that they CAN NOT accept a certificate which says, for what ever reason, that it is partial. Even though there's nothing we can do to change to LHD and that RHD is NOT a bar to importing into France. Indeed we have imported 2 other RHD cars without any problem. Oh, the Suzuki has a Controle Technique. Any thoughts? Note: I am aware of the form available on this site which one sends to the DRIRE and this is my next action. FYI: Toyota also does not issue full Certificates of Conformity.

HI, We're just importing a 1991 Suzuki SJ413 4X4 and needed to change the lights, I fitted MGB lights. The complete kit (light mount, bowls) came to £100 as opposed to 287€ from Suzuki. Now if only I can get a Full Certificate Of Comformity from Suzuki!!!

Do you know where we can find the statement made by the French Health Minister? We are currently trying to join the CMU, we are non-working, resident from July 2007, In the tax system (but don't earn enough to pay any tax) and we live on the interest from our UK investments. If we can source a copy of the minister's statement we can return to the CPAM/CMU, no-one there seems clear on the position. Thanks in advance. Neil & Debbie. Post moved from another section by the moderators

Hi Does anyone know the rules associated with a group of expats forming a lottery sydicate (for the euro lottery) who will buy tickets in France. Does anyone have a copy of a suitable agreement form? Many Thanks

Does anyone out there in forum land know the French for rolling road? I assume there's a french phrase rather than a literal translation. Also if anyone can reccomend one in the Rhone Alp region. I have a 1975 MGB-GT which would benefit from a tune.

Thanks to all those who've responded to my post, I said I'd post a final note when I got it sorted out so here it is. As I said I'd installed a satellite finder in-line to the LNB (tete) and this wasn't lit/powered so the assumption was that the decoder wasn't supplying power to the LNB. I went to the orange/France Telecom shop who told me they couldn't do anything and I should ring the technical helpline on 3900. I did this, 3 times, but kept getting cut off. The last time by a very unhelpful man, but then again my French isn't good enough for the technicalities of discussing satellite set up. Anyway I googled "France Telecom English Helpline" and found 0800 364 775 (this is free from a France telecom land line) I spoke to a very helpful man (apparently I was the first caller) who checked the basic set up and then liased between me and the France Telecom conseilier who went through more set up options including frequency set up. The basic problem seems to have been that the boxes are shipped with the LNB power turned off, and this can only be switched on by France Telecom from their end..........how odd. So if you are having problems I suggest you ring the free phone helpline and seek their assistance. I haven't detailed my set-up/solution as yours may be different but if anyone wishes details of what I was told to do and how by decoader is set up I'm happy to document it.

It's hard to be sure but we plugged a secong decoader into the dish and can receive other channels from Hotbird. We know they're from Hotbird 13 as when one choses a channel the staellite is displayed for a few seconds. We'll be taking the Orange decoder back to the shop and asking them to test it shortly.

We've re-installed the box ensuring all steps were followed exactly as per the instructions. We have gone through the stage where the box searches for channels and a time is displayed on the front of the box. We are currently showing the message "Aucun signal trouve" we are being advised to re-check the connections or try another search. I've tested the power to the LNB from the box and there isn't any (I also checked the sky box to ensure I was measuring correctly - 18v). I think the box is defective.

The full name of the package we got, according to the box, is la TV d'Orange adsl avec satellite, all the instructions show a dish being used. If it helps a pictoral representation of the set up can be found here --> http://assistance.orange.fr/3072.php?dub=2& I've just done a broadband test and we're at 313dl and 260 up which is, apparently, good eneough for 100Mb in 43mins. As I said the satellite finder has no power so I'm wondering if the box is faulty. I have another decoder currently pointing to Hotbird 13 and it's quite happy.

We have broadband & phone supplied via Orange and everything works well. We recently bought the new TV d'Orange box (the 49€ € one) and have connected it up to a 60cm dish but we can't get a signal. The satellite finder we have doesn't work one this dish (it works on our sky dish) so I think the box we have is defective in that it's not supplying power to the LNB. Now I know that when the Orange Live box was first released there were alot of problems with them, does anyone know it the same is true of the TV box or has anyone experieced similar problems and what dod they do to fix it? Sorry if this has been covered in other posts, I did searches but found nothing.

So, just to confirm, I can legally drive a car on Civil Responsibility, granted it is absolute minimum cover and I wouldn't be covered for fire, theft but others would be covered in the event of an accident. BTW: SD how do you know all this stuff? Whenever I've posted you're first with a reply.

Dave - How true, If Joe Public did half of what they've done we'd all be in gaol. Will - It's not my principal my Mum lives in the house rent free all the time, I own it with my sister, we've owned it for 3 years. My Mum transferred the house into our names 3 years ago. Hope this helps.

I have a number of old cars which I do not wish to insure all the time, I have heard that in France one is not allowed to own a road worthy car without insurance (one can make the car un-road worthy to get around this). Vehicule du collection assurance companies often quote their minimum price as Responsibilite Ciivile. Can anyone tell me what this covers, is it the same as UK 3rd party? I would like to have the option of using the cars but do not want to fall foul of the law and end up in court for insufficient insurance cover on the road but I can accept no payout for fire, theft, acts of God etc. Also if anyone know of assurance companies in France which do multicar policies. Thanks in advance.

I am a UK citizen who now lives permanently in France. We are registered with the french tax authorities and pay (or not pay because we are below the thresholds) french tax. Our primary residence is in France. However I own a 1/2 share of a house in the UK, WE have spoken to the lady who prepares our french tax submission and she advises, that when we come to sell the UK house the french tax authorities will not be interested in this sale in terms of capital gains tax. However I do not know whether I will be subject to capital gains tax in the UK as we are non resident there and do not pay taxes in the UK, Does anyone have any experience of this please, and is there anything more I can do to avoid or minimise the amount of capital gains tax payable in the UK?

Crikey!! It's not cheap is it. I think I'll carry on looking, maybe buy a French version.

I didn't want to start a new debate I merely point out there are advantages to not exchaning, obviously if the Gendames do tell you to exchange in order to have points deducted you will have to. Anyway it might be a moot point because as far as I know, in theory at least, there exists a system of having points added/deducted to/from your license accross boarders.

Just a thought if you exchange your UK license for a French one that means you will have points taken should you be caught speeding - I know if you get caught speeding you are supposed to exchange anyway but I was flashed a while ago, I paid the fine but the Gendames never cam calling. I discussed this with an ex municiple policeman who said it's a perk of being foriegn. Of course if you speed lots then I'm sure you will get a knock. P.S. I'm not advocating speeding at all but there are advantaged to not exchanging and you are not legally obliged to do so IMHO

Does anyone know if it's possible to get the Code de la Route in English? Either book or download would be fine. I've Googled it but I onlt seem to get the Canadien version.

I need to change my UK licence to a French one due to a speeding offence (98 in a 90).  I know how to do this but as I have points on my UK licence does anyone know how this will translate onto my French licence? Also I received the notification of the fine, which I've paid, but what happens next?  I'm not in the French system so as points cannot be automatically deducted can I expect a 2nd letter asking for my licence or a visit from the Gendarmes.  

Many thanks for all the replies, I have now been to AXA to ask about these letters as I got nowhere sending E_Mails.  It seems that Club14, the AXA subsiduary who insure old cars & bikes, sent out thousands of these letters by mistake and now my account is locked.  I am very dissapointed in the agent, AXA and Club14 as I have received no appology or letters confirming my policies are still in effect.  As my account is locked I cannot get renewal quotes so I don't even know the cost for the next year and the 2 month cancelation deadline is on 1st February. I love France but customer service, at least in this case, leavessomething to be desired.