French vehicle documents

[ELECTRO ARC]

We have just brought a French vehicle into the UK we have no documentation for this vehicle (mislaid by previous owner). Can anyone help !!!

[Eslier]

If the person you bought it from didn't have the Carte Grise then how do you know that the car was his to sell ? How do you know it wasn't stolen ? Hopefully, at the very least you have a correct name and address for the person that sold it to you. I'm surprised you even managed to insure the car without the CG.

You will need to contact the prefecture in the dept. that the car was registered in (the last two numbers of the registration plate). You'll probably find it much easier to visit in person. Explain the problem to them and hope for the best. If all is well with the car, you will have to obtain a new Carte Grise (which will cost you probably a coule of hundred euros ish) and then you will be able to apply to the DVLA to import the car into the UK. Before you can obtain the Carte Grise you will almost certainly have to get a new Controle Technique unless the old one has at least 18 months to run or the car is less than four years old.

Prepare yourself for a costly exercise !

[Ron Avery]

[quote]If the person you bought it from didn't have the Carte Grise then how do you know that the car was his to sell ? How do you know it wasn't stolen ? Hopefully, at the very least you have a correct na...[/quote]

Eslier is right you have been very gullible in buying a car without proof of ownership

Is the car insured in the UK?  You don't say if it is  If it is then I'm not surprised as you can insure on-line in the UK without producing any documents to the insurer

If you are in the UK and intend to use the vehicle in the UK then the advice given is not really practical unless the car came from Calais,

But you will need the French registration document in order to import the car to the UK, if that is your intention. You can contact the Prefecture of the department by letter or phone for a duplicate carte grise, if your French is up to it or talk to the DVLA for alternatives.  (I cannot see why you need a new CT or how you would get one if the car is in the UK)

Full details of how to import a car can be found at http://www.dvla.gov.uk/vehicles/exptimpt.htm

[ELECTRO ARC]

Thanks for your replies. The car is ours it was purchased by our French Company. The salesman who drove the vehicle has done a bunk, we cannot trace him to find out where the documents are. The vehicle is now back in the UK minus the registration document.