leaving a bike in France?

[Zorro]

I will need to leave my GS in France from April this year as I will spend most of my time there (bike on UK plates). Are there any restrictions or taxes that I need to be aware of? I am likely to come back to the UK once every 4 to 6 weeks max for a few days. Can this be done or do I have to 'import' the bike and get French plates and the lot? Cheers

 

[Wapping]

The rules are the same throughout the EU.

If the vehicle is to be imported for longer than six months in any 12 month period it has to be re-registered.

You will, of course, have to have to keep it taxed and MOT'd in the UK as it is registered in the UK, until such time as you re-register it in France. After that you will have to comply with whatever tax / MOT regulations the French require.

If you then come back to the UK you will have the same six months in any 12 restriction to meet, so you may well need to get it re-registered again, on British plates.

Don't forget to tell your insurer that the bike will not be permanently garaged where you said it was when you filled in your proposal form.

Failing any of the above? Wing it like many bods do. Just don't cry if something goes wrong or you run into a load of red tape at some point. Simply blame governmental bureaucracy......

There are lots of websites on 'How to import a vehicle into France'. Some are better than others. Many make a big play on how difficult it all is.... My mother managed it, without too much effort.....

 

[BillN]

Technically, if you spend more than 6 months in any calendar year in France you are deemed to be resident there.

The confusion, (can be), as far as the UK versus most other countries in concerned, is that if you spend more than 90 days in the UK in any fiscal year you are deemed to be UK resident for "tax" purposes.

These are general rules but other conditions can override and shorten these periods.

Residency then decides many things, including using foreign registered vehicles in a country that you are not resident in - (otherwise we would all be driving around in "tax free" cars).

If you are caught in France "breaking the rules" you will be done and, depending on the circumstances French law can be very harsh - but as Wapping indicates, many people get away with breaking such rules.

From what you have said, and if you want to be sure, I would register the Bike in France and insure it there - there is no MOT or Road Tax in France - so even if insurance is a little more expensive, (which is not always the case), what you loose on one you gain from the other two.

(but, depending on the Bike, registering a UK Bike in France can be a "balls aching" affair - but when I did my R80 is was quite simple)

 

[Riders Rest]

Now we are in the EU, as long as your vehicle is registered to A UK address which is your main residence or permenant abode and your vehicle conforms to the Laws of the country in which it is registered then you may ride it in any EU country. EBike will insure you for 365 continuous days of riding in the EU against your UK address. This mean you will need to have a current MOT (if required) and Valid Road Tax.

However if your Permenant residence is in France then you have 1 month from the time of entering France with that vehicle to register it on French plates.

But France is a country of contradictions and it will be dependant on where in France (dept) you have your holiday home as to how rules are interpreted.

If it were me I would ride it on UK plates on UK Insurance with MOT and Tax given it is for a short period, and your main residence is the UK.

However if I was permenantly resident in France I would export and register it toute sweet.

Benifits of leaving it on UK Plates - speed camera's are ineffective in France, Police wave you on at controle's (french document checks)

Benifits of being on French Plates: No Tax, No MOT required.


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I am a permenant resident in France and Have 4 bikes,

01 FJR1300 UK spec bike - now registered in France no problem - Certificate of conformance provided free of charge from Yamaha UK. no requirement to restrict, change clocks or light configuration. Did cost 333€ to register it though.

08 Stelvio1200 UK Spec - Now registered in France no problem - Certificate of conformance provided for a £35 fee from Piagio UK. no requirement to restrict, change clocks or light configuration. - cost 348€ to register it.

98 Honda CB500S - still on UK plates going through the process of getting a Certificate of Conformance from Honda France, I ride this Bike and have for 3 years on UK plates, French Insurance, No MOT and SORNed the insurance company I use is cool with this


2005 Triumph Rocket 3 UK Spec - English Plates - need to change clocks, lights and restrict befrore Triumph France accept the bike and issue a french conformance certificate, for 119€ even though I have a UK conformance Certificate from the UK. - Triumph are nortoriuosely difficult to get into France. I ride this Bike and have for 3 years on UK plates, French Insurance, No MOT and SORNed the insurance company I use is cool with this

BMW's are the same you will need to present your Bike to the BMW dealership who will guide you through the process.

 

[Riders Rest]

I have just re-read your post and see that you are leaving the bike in France permenantly...

I will need to leave my GS in France from April this year

That changes my answer Get it registered in France, Once registered you will not have to get it MoT'd or Taxed again and you will be free to ride anywhere in europe without worry.

If you can read French this document will help (or confuse you) http://tinyurl.com/yhh5q4v but it is what the DRIRE and Perfectures work from...

This is the process to register a bike in France, May Vary in deartments but shouldn't now the Immatriculation is Nationale


VEHICLE REGISTRATION

1. Obtain forms from the Prefecture
DEMANDE D’IMMATRICULATION

2. Have vehicle checked with local Dealer – light adjustment, clocks, restricted power to 78.1Kw or 106bhp etc.

3. if it is a car you will need a ControleTechnic (like an MOT)

4. Take original and copies of all forms, V5C registration document, original bill of sale, proof of residence and passport to IMPOT to get QUITIS FISCAL ON CERTIFICAT DE DEDOUANEMENT (Tax form).

(** A Certificate of Conformity may be required should your vehicle not conform to EU standards (ie have a CE plate). This document is available from the manufacturer at a cost to you

5. Take all documents to Prefecture to collect Carte Grise. Take passport and EDF bill for identification. Payment depends on engine size.

6. Get number plates and insurance changed.

Happy Riding!


The Carte Grise is an important document and is valid for the life of the vehicle. It will need to be shown at garages when obtaining servicing/repairs, parts etc.


CERTIFICATE DE CESSION D’UN VEHICULE
This certificate is required should you sell or dispose of a french registered vehicle.

 

[Zorro]

French registration it is...

Many thanks for all the replies.
As I need to leave the bike there it sounds it is best to get French registration sorted despite me not becoming a full resident (I will be traveling a lot in and out, but not the bike).
The temptation is to but one locally but new bikes are really expensive in France! Unless the Greeks help drive down the euro... Cheers

 

[BillN]

Zorro - when you have a certificate of Conformity, and to be on the safe side, when you have the Bike inspected, do not have any non standard bits on it.

(I have even known vehicles to be refused because it had the wrong tyres, i.e. tyres not recommended by the manufacturer)

 

[madman]

But be aware that if you do what many Brits here do and keep it on UK plates with French insurance, you will not be covered in the event of an accident. The Honda and Triumph that Riders Rest has are in this situation, but it is your choice if you want to take that risk.
French insurance agents are famous for saying that you will be covered and after a spill telling you that it is your responsibility to comply with the law on vehicle importation.
It is also illegal under UK law to declare a SORN and then ride a bike outside the UK on that SORN.
There are many illegal cars here on UK plates, and they have got away with it for a long time, but times are changing.

 

[madman]

BMWs will require a Certificate of Conformity that will be supplied by BMW UK for free. That is sufficient to register a BMW here as long as it is later than 2002. I know this because I have registered two.

 

[Riders Rest]

The Honda and Triumph that Riders Rest has are in this situation,

Not True in Ridersrest's case both have certificates from The DRIRE and the French Importers (Triumph & Honda) indicating that these two vehicles are in the process of being exported/Imported, pending. The Insurance Company is aware and happy with the situation. and so am I

I would advise as I have done above to register your bike in France however this process can be difficult in some cases, these are rare.