Importing a motorhome

[Lost in translation]

    Greetings. I have read with interest posts on registering vehicles in France but haven't yet resolved my problem. If anyone has experience of it I would be most grateful for tips and pointers.

I bought a motorhome three years ago knowing I would probably retire to Europe though not at that time certain of which country. I am now retiring to France in June. I thought I was sensible and planning for the future by buying a German base (Mercedes) with an Italian conversion (Rimor) in european spec throughout (i.e. LHD, european electrics in cabin etc). However, neither the english importers nor the italian suppliers can provide a certificate of european conformity (although they do now for new vehicles). Having heard how difficult it can be to negotiate French bureaucracy I am now wondering whether to sell it here. The problem of course is that I will take a bath financially because of those very same 'european' features.

Any help or advice gratefully received.

[Dago]

Hi,

   I bought a VW Transporter crew bus from Holland and imported it to France, I had to get the certificate of conformity from VW. They would only issue a 'half' certificate because the crew bus conversion was carried out after the van had left the VW factory, I had to make an appointment with the DRIRE (someone will explain the meaning of that, it escapes me at the moment) and take the van for inspection, it turned out to be quite straight forward. There were a couple of large camper vans there that day so it may be that you will need to go down that same road I am afraid.  Good luck.

best regards

[IMG]http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g130/dago49/Dago3.jpg[/IMG]

[Pierre ZFP]

Sounds very odd because how did the importer make the first registration in the UK 3 years ago?  You need a CoC to register in the UK, of course the big boys have a sort of blanket coverage but yours sounds very specialised.  I would go back and ask again of the importer for the CoC when it was first registered in the UK.

[Sunday Driver]

Importing an older motorhome is more complex than for a car, but not a problem if you follow the correct procedure.

Firstly, you'll need to declare it as VAT exempt on its arrival in France.  Go to your local hotel des impots with your V5C, original invoice/receipt and a utility bill and obtain a quittus fiscale certificate. The certificate is free and contains your authority to drive the camper on its UK plates for up to four months whilst you sort everything out.

Next, you need to have it specifically type approved for use in France.  For motorhomes, type approval covers three principal areas - the base vehicle, the conversion, and the gas/electricity installation.

For the base vehicle, you need an attestation de conformite and notice descriptive from Mercedes Benz France.  Go the their website [url=http://www.mercedes-benz.fr]here[/url], select >Utilitaires legers, select Attestations de conformite >vehicules d'importation, then download and print out the application form.  Full instructions and the return address are on the form.

For the camper part, you need a similar attestation from RIMOR FRANCE SARL, Route de Laghet, 06340 LA TRINITE.  Their phone number is  04.93.54.73.88.

Next you need a gas inspection by Bureau Veritas.  You'll find your nearest office in Pages-Jaunes. Phone then and arrange an appointment.

If the van is over four years old, you'll need to change/adjust the headlamps, move the rear fog lamp bulb over to the left hand lens mounting, then put the van through a control technique.  If its gross weight (PTAC) is under 3,500kg, then it's the same test as a car.

Finally, when you've done all that, visit your local DRIRE centre and request a reception de titre isole (single vehicle approval inspection).  You hand them a dossier containing copies of your V5C, Merc/Rimor attestations, BV report, quittis fiscale and CT certificate.  They'll then assess the van's conformity with French technical standards, then call you back in for a brief inspection to check the VIN numbers, etc to make sure the van matches the paperwork.  If everything's OK, they'll issue you with your process verbal de titre isole (single vehicle type approval certificate).

Finally it's off to the prefecture to register.  You'll need your UK V5C, quittus fiscale, DRIRE certificate, CT certificate, passport, utility bill and registration fee.

Approximate costs:

Quittus fiscale certificate - free

Mercedes attestation - 120 euros

Rimor attestation - 120 euros

Bureau Veritas inspection - 215 euros

CT test - 56 euros

DRIRE inspection - 86 euros

Registration fee (dependent on the vehicle's CV power rating) - say, 200-250 euros if it's a Sprinter.

Number plates - 25 euros.

 

 

 

[Lost in translation]

    Thankyou for your superbly comprehensive reply. I am much obliged to you and all who replied. best wishes.