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SKIPPY

I am thinking of moving to France on a permanent basis.
Anyone know if the cost of insurance in France is similar to ours and what would be the cost of registering my vehicle there.
Also are there any organisations in France similar to the C.C. and C&C.C.
Any info appreciated.

Cheers SKIPPY.

JSR

Hi Skippy,

I live in France and have a 1999 Frankia Bavaria A625 Camping-car. I have no idea what the insurance cost would be in the UK but over here I pay 394 Euros per year (approx' £250.00 at todays rate) with a 500 Euro excess.

If you were to come to France permanently and wish to register your camping-car properly there would be quite a lot to do:

Obtain from vehicle maker a Certificate of Conformity (Even if it's a French van!).

Change the headlights to conform to driving on the right. (Deflectors will not do).

Have the van Control Techniqued(Same as the MOT but every 2 years instead of every year).

Take Certificate of Conformity, Certificate of Control Technique, UK Log Book and your passport to the local Prefecture where they will issue you with a French log book and registration number. Cost approx' 140 Euros.

Good news is that there is no road tax for any sort of vehicle in France.

Unless you are completely attached to your current camping-car I would suggest you sell it privately and then come over and buy a right hand drive one which will already have the necessary paperwork.

There are lots of Camping Clubs in France, some cater for camping-cars only, some for caravans only some for both. Then there are the specialist clubs for long haul campers who go off to faraway places for example. The Federation Francaise des Associations et Clubs de Campings Cars (FFACCC) looks after about 20 Camping-car Clubs and is a good first port of call. See: www.ffaccc.com.

Sorry for the long winded message - France is a beautiful place and the most camping-car friendly country in Europe, but it also has it's fair share of beaurocracy!

If I can be of any further help, just shout.

Cheers,

JSR

JSR

The heat is getting to me. When I said "Buy a right hand drive over here" I obviously meant "Left hand drive". Apologies.

Hope it's as hot where you are as it is over here - we'll be in North Yorks next month visiting family.

Cheers,

JSR

SKIPPY

Thanks JSR, for all the info, we have found this very useful.
We have now sold our house and will hopefully be in the Limousin/Charente area of France house hunting in the next few months.
Cheers SKIPPY