Hi all

Anyone bought a French registered A series in France and driven it home?

If so, what's the deal with insurance for the French leg of the journey?

Any UK companies that will do this from the chassis plate? Footman James and Bishops Calway won't. Before I phone blind I thought I'd ask here.

Any help much appreciated

Thanks

Footman James used to, (I did it twice with them), but in my experience they've got more and more crap over the last few years.
You could try Peter James: I've found them to be very helpful. If you ask for something that is not the usual simple request, they actually treat you like a person rather than an annoyance! A bit like Like FJ used to years ago before they got to big and importent to care about customers.....(in my experience).

Thanks, I will give them a try

No luck with Peter James

Ru, I take it you know about the government's latest money spinner - NOVA?

Yes kind of. I need to tell HMRC of the import within 14 days of it arriving I believe.
Shouldn't be VAT due as its second hand.
Or am I missing something?

No VAT to pay, but if you don't NOVA it within 14 days then they'll hit you with a fine; £5 for every day over...

Sorry my suggestion didn't help. I don't really understand what the insurance companies problems are! (not that I know much about it, apart from my own experience).
I did it with FJ twice. The first time, when I got the ferry & train to Rouen to collect an Ami Super, I arranged insurance cover beforehand. The second time, I bought a Traction Avant in Lille on the spur of the moment, phoned the insurance co, and drove it home. Both times it was just a matter of adding the new vehicle to my existing classic policy, temporarily using the french reg number. I believe that all EU insurance policies have to cover at least the minimum legal level of cover for all EU country/countries, (so a UK policy covers driving in France etc), so if you already have a classic policy that allows additional cars, then adding an extra vehicle shouldn't be a problem, using the french registration number. If not, I would have thought you should be able to just start a new policy, which should automatically cover you for driving in France.
I assume then that their problem is the reg number? or is there some other reason they are giving?

Neil, thanks for the heads up.



Not really giving a reason, just can't do it.
All of them however do insure the car in the UK from the chassis number.
I haven't tried Flux yet who insure my cars (not for much longer as I hate them) but I don't hold out much hope. I will tackle it tomorrow and do some more research. May have to do it with a French company in the end..

Assuming that they do have to cover use in other EU countries, do you need to mention that you are collecting it and driving it from France? When asking for a quote, couldn't you just ask if the policy covers 'driving in France'? If they will insure a car with french plates, and as long as you are not going to do anything that is not covered, is there a problem?
I would suspect that finding a willing French insurance company would be more difficult, unless you have a French address.