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I know there are a number of french residents on here and that this place is a font of obscure knowledge.
My parents live in france now - they were looking to change vehicle a LHD but having lived down there for a year are in the throws of changing their vehicle (a nissan nv400 ) to french registration - because they hardly use it to warrent a new vehicle - how ever when it is used its to transport building materials/tow the 17ft trailer with the digger and or tractor on.
It would be convenient if their van had 5 seats - IE we add 3 rear seats and two side windows + bulkhead
does any one know where the official guidance for France would be found ? looking at the usual suspects google provides - some people say its impossible - and others say they have done it no bother through a garage inspection and an 80 euro payment to the prefecture for change of use ?
Might be possible...but when you factor in the costs involved in the french registration: changing the head-lamp units,getting a control technique etc. I would suggest it really is not worth it.
financially as a van its worth changing - the maths makes sense - to the point its already been changed to french plates control technique etc - this part was relatively pain free and didnt cost much at all. . - if we cant change it the alternative is a second vehicle.
there will not be another van bought either way.
Annoyingly i think had we done it in the uk paperwork system then changed it to french it would have been easy.
Préfecture is the place to go.
But I think the seats, seat belts and windows must comply, not just a case of bolting 3 seats down.
I would first go in a garage where they do this kind of work to ask about the regs.
Where about in France?
You'll need a "passage aux mines" which is expensive and complicated. It's almost always easier to sell your UK vehicle and buy another in France unless it's something exotic like a Lotus and ther's a professional who specialises in doing it.
Edit: oops I'm way out of date, I have a look
Edit 2: apparently it's the DRIRE now:
https://www.carte-grise.org/reception.htm
Yeah we are not changing the driving position. Just the headlights and reregistering in France.
But to take it a step further it would be convienant if we could have 5 seats rather than 3.
It hasn't proved to be the issue folks said it would. Be to have a rhd vehicle in France..
They are in arnac pompadour.
will check that link
From a safety point of I've driven for 8 years in the UK and over 30 in France/Europe and have never driven on the wrong side of the road with the appropriate car. I've had a quite a fright with a LHD car in the UK and a couple of emabarrasing moments in Europe with a RHD car. I naturally put the kerb on the other side of the car to where I'm sitting.
Being in the right car isn't foolproof as the Harry Dunn case shows but you're more likely to get it wrong in the wrong car IME.
next thread will be what left hand drive motorbike.