Living in France and buying a 2nd hand car privately in the UK and bringing it to France

[frenchdc]

I live in France but am buying a rhd 2nd hand car privately in the UK. I intend to go to the UK and bring it back to France after a weeks holiday there using the car and then import it . Does anyone know what I need to do regarding insurance cover. Any help greatly appreciated

[Anton Redman]

I talked to my French insurance broker, agreed roughly what I was going to buy. Emailed when I had bought it with chassis / VIN number and accepted an Email from them that they were at risk. However I only drove it from the dealers to the docks. Provided you buy a car which is taxed I do not see you having any problems but I would agree the insurance in writing first.

[Pickles]

[quote user="frenchdc"]I live in France but am buying a rhd 2nd hand car privately in the UK. I intend to go to the UK and bring it back to France after a weeks holiday there using the car and then import it . Does anyone know what I need to do regarding insurance cover. Any help greatly appreciated[/quote]

I have just been discussing this with a French friend who is planning to do the same thing.

If the UK car has MOT and tax, then a French insurance company can provide insurance to cover its importation. This cover is legal for use in the UK for up to 30 days. However, the insurance will not show up on the UK MIB database, so if you happen upon a VOSA or police ANPR check, you may be pulled over. You will then need your French insurance documentation and possibly a copy of this document (in case the officer is unaware of the legislation), and some proof of French residence might come in handy.

see: http://www.mib.org.uk/Customer+Services/en/General+Cross+Border+Information/Police+CBC.htm

[SC]

Like Anton, we alerted our agent about our requirements in advance, when we e-mailed him the details of the car we'd bought he faxed a copy of the insurance certificate and vignette to the UK garage. However this might not be so straight forward if you are not already a client. If that's the case perhaps you could pay an agency something on account before leaving?

In the UK there are specialist short term car insurance contracts available, some offering one day cover that's sometimes insisted on by private sellers before allowing buyers to road test fast cars, however you will likely need a UK address for these.

Steve