How do costs of owning a car pan out in France?

[Kate]

Could someone give an idea of the approx costs of owning a car in France?  I've tracked down some info on this site and now know there is no Road Fund tax, hooray! But I'd love some concrete info about the actual costs: for example, if I bought a 1400cc car, would that automatically cost X Euros, or would it also depend on the make and model - would a Peugeot cost the same as a Renault? How can one find out before laying out money for a car? Is insurance cheaper than in UK or about the same? Are secondhand car dealers reliable (they've improved hugely in the UK) or does one buy from a garage, not a dealer, anyway? Ta.

[Will]

There may be no road tax on private cars, but you pay instead when registering the car. Cost varies regionally and with age but an average figure seems to be around 30€ per CV (fiscal horsepower rating). So if you have a newish 8CV car and change it every couple of years you will pay the equivalent of about 120€ per year. Insurance, like other countries, varies, and most French policies include breakdown cover. As most British seem to live in the country in France then insurance is reckoned to be a bit less, particularly if you previously lived in a town and paid separately for AA or similar cover. Fuel - there's not much in it for petrol (gasoline) compared with Britain, but diesel is cheaper in France. For anybody coming from somewhere like the USA though fuel costs will seem horrific.

Look at www.argusauto.com for actual vehicle prices. There is not the same distinction between dealers, agents and garages in France, and a Renault dealer, for example, will sell and maintain Peugeots or Citroens. If you choose a make that's not so common in France you will probably be tied to a main dealer. Garages vary, but most local ones seem very reliable. They want your business after all. I find hourly labour rates for repairs and servicing are quite a bit less in France, surprisingly perhaps in view of the high costs of employing staff.

Hope this helps.

 

[Val_2]

Watch out for private sales as the prices can be rather inflated. I've just seen a vehicle advertised for sale on another french forum which is older than our version of the same make and model,its done many more km's than ours and yet they are asking over 1000€ more than its worth and we know the value after having it repaired from a bad accident and what it was worth beforehand. Buying from a garage whether its a large dealer or small village one, you get a guarantee and a contrôle technique it its over four years old. Cannot comment on running costs as we have been here to long now and have five different vehicles to insure and run but I feel its cheaper than what we were paying when we lived there and of course, no road tax and MOT is every two years except on commercials where you have to have a yearly pollution test.

[Cassis]

For running costs don't forget the diesel v. petrol fuel price differential is wider here than in the UK.

[Benjamin]

Assuming you are in UK you could pick up a copy of What Car magazine. This obviously will not give you running costs in France but does list the running costs per mile for every car sold in the UK.

This will start to give you an idea of which cars are expensive to run (fuel, servicing, depreciation etc.) I always use it whenever we're changing the car.

Someone may know of a similar publication in France, although the comparative running costs should not differ greatly.

[Kate]

Thanks, everyone. Er... what's fiscal horsepower?

[Benjamin]

Fiscal horsepower? The technical team will be along shortly to explain it but just as an example our 1.6 litre turbo diesel engined Ford Focus is rated as 6CV.

[Bugsy]

It's called the Puissance Number and every vehicle has one. We got caught out when we moved here a few years ago and imported my Jeep Cherokee. Being 4 litre petrol the puissance number is 21. You multiply this number by 25 euros, and thats the amount to be paid. We were hit for 525 euro's, ouch. It gets worse though, as the current rate is 35 euro's for big vehicles. I've think today my bill would be closer to 735 euro's. If you look at new vehicles for sale the Puissance Number is usually displayed with the vehicle details.

A new 'normal' car is typically around 6 to 8.

Hope this helps.

[Anton Redman]

Broadly it depends where you are moving from in the UK and how much effort you are prepared to put into cheaper motoring :

Supermarkets and 'Halfords' equivalents on large centre commercial stock a better range of replacement parts. Brake Discs, Cam Belts, Filters etc. than UK. Items which you would normally have to go to  'German French Swedish' you can just pick up.

 Peugeot, Citreon and Renault are well catered for by both dealers at good prices and 'real' garages many of whom are ex franchisees and have all the computer kit. Broadly I pay 1/3 of London serving costs and 1/2 of Sittingbourne Kent for the same jobs on my Peugeot 306. I also speak to the owner of the business rather than somebody whose job description seems to be placate customers in London. and if I either drop the car in at 8 am and pick up at noon ot 2 pm and pick up at 6 pm.

What I have not found locally, Gironde, are the Mercedes Benz, BMW, VW or Audis  non francised specialists. Loads of ageing Glfs still on the road so must be available. If you looking at cheap motoring and 1400 ccs buy a French car.

[Kate]

Thanks to all; I now have an idea of what the CV is, though it seems I can't apply it to a given model until I see the advert. My cunning plan is definitely to buy a French car - possibly a Peugeot, something with a 1400cc engine though I don't know how to identify one - maybe that'll be clear when I see some adverts...

Thanks for the info about cam belts, etc., too. I'm not a DIYer when it comes to cars - just do the normal oil-water-tyre pressure checks and leave the technical stuff to the garage. Interesting to see how much cheaper servicing costs are, though - I don't know how South Wales compares; bet it's cheaper than London, but no idea how it would compare with France. My neighbour used to look after my car, but has now given up doing cars, so I'm about to join the ranks of those who depend on garages... gulp!

[Anton Redman]

One important calculation is the higher purchase price of a diesel car verus lower running costs. Gas Oil is currently 99 Euros a litre versus 1.15 for  unleaded

[BobDee]

Having read all through this and other threads, I still remain somewhat confused about the Puissance CV rating. From the initial Topic Header it seems that there is a lower rate for cars over ten years old. My 1988 3.0 litre mercedes would I assume be rated at around 15 and the current rate per CV seems to be 46 Euros per. Halve this for an old car, then I assume I have to pay  345 euros when I re register in France.   Is this correct?

Regs

BobD

[cooperlola]

[quote user="Anton Redman"]One important calculation is the higher purchase price of a diesel car verus lower running costs. Gas Oil is currently 99 Euros a litre versus 1.15 for  unleaded[/quote]Gosh that's pricey, Anton![:D]

[Bob T]

Bob, Our motorbikes are rated at 10CV fiscal and cost us €145 each to register.

[Sunday Driver]

BobD

Your calculation is correct.

 

[powerdesal]

[quote user="cooperlola"][quote user="Anton Redman"]One important calculation is the higher purchase price of a diesel car verus lower running costs. Gas Oil is currently 99 Euros a litre versus 1.15 for  unleaded[/quote]Gosh that's pricey, Anton![:D][/quote]

Coop,

When I was last in France in September, Gazole was about 1.03 / litre in Normandy, it did vary by the day of course. What are you paying?

[BobDee]

Many thanks SD et al for the clarification. It would seem that the price per CV has really escalated in the past few years. I dont seem to have heard of rioting in the streets etc. May be the French take to these things more easily than we do.

Forgive the ignorance this end, (Moving to France permanently in January), can one assume that the price per CV is common throughout France?

Also if a car is 9 years 11 months old, would the CV rate still be twice the 10 year old rate?

BobD   

[Anton Redman]

[quote user="Bob Dubery"]

Many thanks SD et al for the clarification. It would seem that the price per CV has really escalated in the past few years. I dont seem to have heard of rioting in the streets etc. May be the French take to these things more easily than we do.

Forgive the ignorance this end, (Moving to France permanently in January), can one assume that the price per CV is common throughout France?

Also if a car is 9 years 11 months old, would the CV rate still be twice the 10 year old rate?

BobD   

[/quote]

The price per CV cannot be common accros France. There is one Department, cannot remember the name or number, which still collects almost all the hire car and van registrations in France.

There is no transitional relief based on age - mad but true 

[Sunday Driver]

Registration cost per CV varies according to departement.  In Paris (75) it's 46 euros.  In Bas Rhin (67) it's 32 euros.  Check your own prefecture website.

As the half CV rate only applies to vehicles over 10 years old, a car aged 9 years 11 months would pay the full rate..... 

 

[Nearly Retired (I am now)]

This half-price at 10 years rule is good news for me. The Peugeot 306 we will taking to France soon is over 9 years old now - I'll certainly wait until its 10th birthday before taking it and registering it. Any idea of the CV for a Peugeot 306 1.9D - non-turbo?. Dept 17.

[Sunday Driver]

The Peugeot 306 1.9D will probably be around 7-9CV.  Standard cost per CV in Charente-Maritime is 32 euros, so that'd be 16 euros to you....[;-)]

 

[Nearly Retired (I am now)]

Thanks. I take that to mean a once off    8CV x 16€  =  128€.

[Sunday Driver]

Yes.  If you move address, you have to get a new carte grise, but it's free.