Left hand drive blah blah blah

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Sun 11 Aug 2002 19:05
Left hand drive blah blah blah - anthony
I am thinking of moving to France to live - I currently drive a rhd diesel Renault Scenic and would want to change it for a lhd version. Where would be the best place to do it, here or there. Or should I sell here and re-buy there?

Regards
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Sun 11 Aug 2002 20:41
Left hand drive blah blah blah - Harmattan
As there is no real market for RHD vehicles (even those of French origin) in any of the EU countries, apart from Ireland where they are cheaper to begin with, your only real option is to sell privately in the UK and buy your LHD abroad. It might be worth scanning the ads for a suitable LHD used one before you go but I wouldn't hold out much hope of getting a specific model already legal for use in France. You could, of course, use your RHD in France provided you pop back to the UK every six months and keep it UK legal.

Unless you are sufficiently proficient in French to deal with importing and registering a Renault diesel from a cheaper EU country, I don't think anyone will recommend the 'gris' import route without the help of a specialist agent, if they exist in France.

There is a useful French BX forum so I'm sure you can find a French-language Renault forum where they will give you more information if you ask.

David
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Sun 11 Aug 2002 21:02
Left hand drive blah blah blah - lezebre
Good advice methinks, David, except that if anthony is going to move permanently to the land where they eat the cheese course before dessert, then I'm pretty sure he won't get away with a permaGB registration just by popping back to Albion every now and then.
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Sun 11 Aug 2002 22:05
Left hand drive blah blah blah - Andrew Hamilton
Guess RHD vehicle less likely to be stolen abroad by locals!
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Mon 12 Aug 2002 09:00
Left hand drive blah blah blah - Harmattan
Strictly, you are correct. International agreements say you are allowed to use your vehicle for six months in any 12 months period in another signatory country, according to the DVLA. It has to be taxed and tested according to the rules of the country of origin. Where that leaves a car a couple of streets from me, I don't know. It has been in the UK on Spanish plates for the last four years at least and carries no obvious tax or insurance insignia. In practice, I think you would get away with it in France, provided you stay on good terms with the local gendarmerie if in a rural area, and don't do anything that gets you pulled over by the traffic cops and they discover you have a French address.

However, as in the UK, the French controle technique (MOT test) will require the fitting of correct items such as a clearly-readable kph speedo, correct bulbs and maybe even guaranteed asbestos-free brakes and clutch (see archived postings). Hopefully, someone who has tried or succeeded in registering a modern RHD vehicle can comment on their experience.

By the way, most vintage French sports cars/cycle cars seem to be RHD--as are the Italians of the same age. But French classic car rules are a whole new can of worms!

David
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