six months UK car insurance and six months French insurance without re-registering car? is it legal?

[martin]

I'm taking a year out from work to live in France. Given that I'll be in France for just a couple of days less than a full year, I'd like to try to keep things as simple, and cheap, as possible. I have read several of the posts about car insurance and having to re-register the car in France - but is anyone able to tell me whether the following is viable?

• My UK car insurance will cover me for up to 180 days in Europe.
• If I understand the posts correctly, it seems that I can then arrange for the remaing six months cover with a French based insurer. But can I do this without having to re-register the car?

I also understand that breakdown cover comes with car insurance in France - but while I'm still covered by my UK insurance, will I be able to buy breakdown cover in France, and if so, is anyone able to recommend a company?

Thanks

[Nick Trollope]

Probably, as you will not be permanently exporting the car. You will simply be visiting.

Can't see the point in insuring in France (you would need a French address anyway), as insurance is not that much cheaper & you would have probelms taxing your car without a UK certificate (should you need to).