Living in France - Driving in Normandy
My wife Jill and I have owned our property in Manche since November 2002, but we only made the decision to move over here in 2007.We finally arrived in early October with a very full estate car, plus Henry, our Bichon Frise dog. After several days of unpacking numerous boxes, fixing kitchen cabinets and so on, we decided it was time to face the infamous French beauracracy, and register with the CPAM (a tale for another time) and re-register the car into the French system.
Armed with my improving A-level French, I approached the local Citroen garage in Lessay. After an initial encounter with one of the technicians, I met le patron, Monsieur Feret, who proved more than helpful. He told me new headlights would be required. Fearing the worst, I expected a long Gallic wait but no, les phares arrived the next day and were fitted the day after inside two hours – formidable! Not cheap but reasonable and very efficient.
The next step was the contrôle technique, or MOT. In France these are State controlled, but are independent from normal garages, as even if the car fails, they do not offer repairs, simply the test. An appointment was made, and on time the ‘break’, as the French call estate cars, was whisked away and I was allowed to watch from the viewing area. The test has over 150 checks and is guaranteed to be carried out in 45 minutes. Sure enough, on time, the car was returned to me with a pas de problème greeting and €55 later a certificate was issued.
It is important to note at this stage that you will need your British V5 registration document and another, known as a certificate of European Conformity in French, which gives all the technical specifications of the vehicle. This is obtained from the manufacturer or concessionaire. (I obtained mine from Citroen UK in Slough at a cost of £70 plus VAT.)
With all these steps completed, it was time to face les fonctionnaires (civil servants) at the local préfecture, to attempt to obtain the carte gris (French car registration document). It is possible to use the sous préfecture, but it is quicker to go direct.
Jill and I set off for St Lo with some trepidation, and after finding Rue de la Préfecture (original!), we introduced ourselves at the accueil and were directed to take a numbered supermarket cheese-counter-type ticket, before ascending to the next floor and waiting our turn. Our number (4,065) was 12th in line (printed on the ticket).We needed to fill out a white form to complete the application (I only realised this after 35 minutes...).
Just as I was completing the form, our number was called and we went to the guichet (desk) where, in my bestrehearsed French, I told the lady what we wanted. Luckily she understood, and after signing the form and telling her what colour the car was, she preceded to tap the keys on her computer.
It is important to take your passport and a recent French utility bill to prove your address. After about quarter of an hour, the process was complete and we were directed to an adjacent caisse (payment desk) and €140 later the carte gris was issued, which also bears the new index number.We left for a celebratory drink and formule lunch at a local restaurant!
The next stage is to return to your local garage and have new number plates (plaques) made up and fitted, or do it yourself. Get the car insured as soon as possible and place the temporary insurance token (vignette) in the windscreen. In due course a printed one will be sent to you.
Remember to sign the green insurance document – it is an offence not to do so – and carry all documents pertaining to the car in the car at all times, in the event of being stopped by les gendarmes. Finally, don’t forget to surrender any outstanding road fund tax to the DVLA in Swansea, along with that part of the V5 notifying permanent export, or you are likely to be fined for not declaring SORN.
In the few weeks we have been living here on a full-time basis, I have found that, generally, the French will help all they can as long as you try, and pander to the Gallic love of paperwork, making sure all is in order.
john.purslow@orange.fr