What do you do in France before reregistering your car in the UK?

[val douest]

I think we are clear on what we need to do to reregister our RHD car

which is soon to be returned to the UK.  But what, if anything, do

we have to do to deregister it in France before we leave?  Do we

have to notify anyone or is this done by the DVLA once they process the

paperwork?

Val

[Sunday Driver]

You do not need to do anything if you are taking your own car back to the UK to reregister it in your name.

However, if you have sold the car to someone else in the UK and you are delivering it to them, then the procedure is different.

[val douest]

What we are in fact doing is taking the car back to give to another

family member living in the UK.  We had hoped to reregister it on

arrival in his name to avoid having to take out a UK insurance policy

on it (certificate needed for registration I believe).  When we

leave France it will still be our car; when we arrive at the DVLC

office to deliver the documents it will belong to the new owner. 

You mention that different circumstances require different actions in

France before departure.  We would be very grateful if you can

clarify just what is involved.

Many thanks,

Val

[Sunday Driver]

What you are doing is fine.  Last Xmas, we passed our old RHD Corsa on to our daughter.  She took out her own insurance to drive it back to the UK and she MOT'd it and registered it there in her name. No problems with the DVLA who were extremely helpful.

Selling it to an unconnected third party would be a different matter.  You'd need to advise the prefecture that you were no longer responsible for the car just in case the new owner failed to re-register it - or even brought the car back to France on the original plates (and flashed a few radars!!).

[val douest]

Many thanks, Sunday Driver - helpful and informative, as always.

Val