[rynd2it]

Hi everyone,

As promised I'm starting this thread to document the process for importing a car to France, in my case my Lexus RX400h and Mercedes CLK500, from the USA.

The first really sensible data was provided by a moving company I am working with (haven't decided fully yet but I'll need a lot of reasons not to use them).

They also will provide the customs clearance as follows:

>>In order to customs clear your cars (as part of your removal) we will need the following documents :

Important: The original of registration/propertytitle is always required.
Certified translation by a Notary Public of the Original registration document/property title,
Copy of purchase invoice mentioning that the duties and taxes have been paid or other proof that the vehicle has been in the client's possession for more than six months from the official change of residence date (outside EU Countries only)
Proof that owner has been living abroad for more than one year.<<<


I've started collecting information, documents etc and will post progress as it goes.

Hope this proves helpful

David

 

[suninspired]

I'm really glad you're exploring this, David.

I see you're originally from the UK. I don't want to sidetrack you but do you have the option to export your cars to the UK, register them there and use them in France?

 

[rynd2it]

I'm really glad you're exploring this, David.

I see you're originally from the UK. I don't want to sidetrack you but do you have the option to export your cars to the UK, register them there and use them in France?

Nothing so complex, we just ship them to France direct. The clue here is the word "homologation" - if the car is homologated in France it's not difficult, just tedious paperwork. If its not homologated and/or right hand drive - the the effort is not worth it. It also probably isn't worth it for lower-cost vehicles either.

I'll post some (non-competitve) links later when I've done some translations - Thank Google for translation - it's great.

David

 

[rynd2it]

The clue here is the word "homologation" - if the car is homologated in France it's not difficult, just tedious paperwork.
David

OK, I just mailed off the request for the Certificat de Conformite (COC) to both Lexus (Toyota) and Mercedes.

There is a list of the homologation departments for most manufacturers here:

Liste de constructeurs

They do list phone & fax numbers but I'm using snail-mail for now.

More news later

David

 

[suninspired]

David, you're a brave man. Looking forward to your discoveries.

 

[rynd2it]

David, you're a brave man. Looking forward to your discoveries.

Not really - I've read the whole process and it seems straightforward but tedious. I just hate giving up without having tried and economically (for me anyway) this makes sense.

Watch this space

David

 

[rynd2it]

Costs!

David, you're a brave man. Looking forward to your discoveries.

OK, I now have two quotes for shipping my two cars:

1) From the removal company - two cars, one 40' container, warehouse in CA to warehouse in France = $10000 + insurance (3%)

2) From a specialist vehicle shipper - two cars, one container, my door to warehouse in France = $5000 + insurance ($600)

Seems it pays to shop around

The first quote would make the whole thing unecomonic so I wouldn't do it but the second quote was only about $2300 per car and that is within the bounds of possibility.

Now for the rules & regulations

David

 

[NickZ]

Are those prices including everything? Make sure they are giving you apples to apples.

I want to say you'll want to ask about brokerage fees, any storage fees if the cars are stuck waiting for clearance. Plus anything else they might tack on.

 

[rynd2it]

Are those prices including everything? Make sure they are giving you apples to apples.

I want to say you'll want to ask about brokerage fees, any storage fees if the cars are stuck waiting for clearance. Plus anything else they might tack on.

All good advice Nick, and obviously before we sign anything we'll be scrutinizing contracts etc.

David

 

[rynd2it]

Alternate method

For those who are really on a budget and must bring their car, there is another method from certain ports within the US. Ro-Ro or roll-on, roll-off. It's exactly like a car ferry but you don't do the driving. Deliver the car to the port, sign all the customs stuff, pick it up at the port in France. Cost is around $1000 - $1200 plus insurance.

Thought I'd let you know.

David

 

[MataMata]

I would urge you to think long and hard about this and do your homework throughly as US and Jap imports can be impossible or ruinously expensive to register in France.

Two common stumbling block technically are the glass - if it doesn't carry an 'E' mark then you could be faced with changing it all, and the seatbelts - do they conform to EU standards. Often too you will have to take a car to Paris for it to be put through a multitude of tests, such mundane things as the views from the rear view mirror for instance.

Then there is the question of the cost of registration. Typically the CLK500 is rated @ 29CV so will attract a fee of just under €1000 to register, and that is not including the bonus malus or eco tax, which will be levied on first registration in France and is based on the Co2 emissions.

I can't find the exact Lexus model but based on similar others it too will be perhaps 20 CV so another €700 plus eco tax.

The eco tax will be a killer. Over 160g/km attracts a fee of €2600 and the CLK puts out 270g/km. @ 192g/km the Lexus also bust's the bank so thats another €2600 and you are looking at in excess of €7000, not counting any modifications you may have to make.

All this assumes that you actually get to register them at all which I would say is very doubtful.

 

[rynd2it]

I would urge you to think long and hard about this and do your homework throughly as US and Jap imports can be impossible or ruinously expensive to register in France.

All this assumes that you actually get to register them at all which I would say is very doubtful.

Thank you - but I am doing the homework which is what this thread is all about.

Your doubts are noted but consider that there are professional firms registering US and Japanese imports for about €3000. I have them on the case as well as doing my own investigation.

Also note the Lexus is a hybrid - extremely low emissions

David

 

[rynd2it]

More data

The eco tax will be a killer. Over 160g/km attracts a fee of €2600 and the CLK puts out 270g/km. @ 192g/km the Lexus also bust's the bank so thats another €2600 and you are looking at in excess of €7000, not counting any modifications you may have to make.

Update: both cars have "E" on all windows so no worries there. The Lexus is classified in the US as an SULEV (Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle) - I have no idea how this translates into the numbers you are using but it's better than a Prius according to the Toyota/Lexus information.

I'm probably not bringing the CLK as the relative values between selling here/buying there are much lower than the Lexus which currently has a differential of almost $20000 - a lot to throw away.

David

 

[MataMata]

I think perhaps SULEV may mean different thinks on each side of the pond as according to THIS site the RX400H is 192g/km so calling it clean is risible, especially so when a virtue is made of the electric power to enhance hard acceleration and performance!

"The petrol engine and motors can work independently of each other or in synergy such as under hard acceleration to produce the cars great performance statistics"

@192g/km it is also in the J UK tax band, 3rd from bottom of a liast of 13.

I presume your professional firms are charging €3000 just for their service because as I've mentioned, the eco tax and Carte Grise cost's will exceed that.

I wish you good luck

 

[rynd2it]

I think perhaps SULEV may mean different thinks on each side of the pond

What is your interest in this? - you come across as some sort of amateur policeman determined to find something wrong, rather than having anything positive to say. This thread was started to follow the process of registration in real time, you seem to want to continually attack the idea (and me) for some hidden agenda of your own.

David

 

[Guest]

Well so far MM has indeed put forward some conflicting views, which of course we are all free to ignore or take on board. Threads occasionally drift a little, but there have been some points for consideration. If MM is mistaken, those with evidence to the contrary are welcome to point out where s/he is going wrong.

Personally I would welcome any contributions that suggest costs or delays may be incurred that I may have overlooked. If they are wrong, all well and good, and I would be able to provide information in support of this. If they are correct, all well and good, as I shall be better equipped to weigh up the pros and cons of the operation.

Let's try and keep what should be an unprovocative subject, civil.

 

[rynd2it]

Let's try and keep what should be an unprovocative subject, civil.

Agreed & well said.

David

 

[MataMata]

I wished you good luck is that not positive ?

I have no hidden agenda nor am I attacking anyone, the worst I would say is that I'm playing devils advocate.

I genuinely sincerely wish you every success in registering your imported car, or cars, here but at the same time I think the odds are that you will encounter some if not all the problems I have outlined.

I will look forward to reading further progress reports although as my input seems unwelcome I think I''ll make this my last contribution.

 

[rynd2it]

I will look forward to reading further progress reports although as my input seems unwelcome I think I''ll make this my last contribution.

Input is always welcome - doom & gloom and predictions of failure, which is how you came across to me is not.

Please continue to comment on the facts, with all the 'myth & legend' out there its hard to tell which is fact.

David

 

[rynd2it]

The next step

Hi guys,

Well I finally got a questionnaire from Toyota which has some interesting questions. They are going to take some answering - I have attached the French version for perusal. Here's my current issues:

14 - No idea what this means - the English translation is no help (Motor type hit on the engine: For example: 3S-ETG)

20 - Again difficult to know because the labels have many numbers & letters some include E

23 - There are absolutely NO letters or numbers on the mirrors.

If anyone can help with these - like a facsimile of a complying label/mirror number - that would be great.

The rest I'm OK with for now.

Thanks


David