We crossed from the UK on 10th Jan with our Skoda Octavia Mk3 with import documents completed. The car failed it’s CT test on a headlamp problem. I’ve never been flashed by oncoming drivers.
It took a week to get a response from the nearest Skoda dealer (Montauban) to my email and I’m not sure when they will look at the car. Also unsure if the deflectors I have will work on my car (Metro Beam Finders Ultra). Headlamp front is acutely angled and the the light source (led) is set well back. CT tech said I can retake test with deflectors.
Most pressing question is how long do I have to register the car. Does the one month limit start from the date of import or from the date I register for Carte de Séjour? I have two months to address the issue with the CT centre.
AKA sticky tape, they are not beam benders so just block a portion of the beam. What year is your car, from memory (not reliable these days) a lot of European cars from 2018 were manufactured with flat beams without the left or right kickup. My Toyota 2010 has flat beams for example so although they might say you need xyz you may not.
Someone knowing more on the time line will correct me but 2 months springs to mind
LED headlamps have to be self levelling so as not to dazzle, (its why you cant retro fit LED into non LED headlamps) so will be modern and most likely flat beamed anyway but CT person may not be aware and just think english car = headlamp fail. Worth double checking with Skoda = VW.
If you are going to keep the car in France I would switch the headlamps for LHD version. Although beam deflectors will reduce/eliminate blinding oncoming drivers they will by definition reduce the light output.
I would also recommend sticking to genuine Skoda (or VW?) headlights rather thank cheap imitations from say eBay. A second hand genuine pair shouldn’t cost a fortune.
I’m happy to switch the headlamps to LHD but at the moment I don’t want to receive fines for not complying with the registration time limit. The car made in 2018 - facelift model SE L 1.5 TSI has switchable left/right traffic. I am waiting for Skoda UK to tell me more about it’s operation.
Yes, the month starts from date of arrival and the fine can be €750. Have you already sorted out getting into France Titres do this? As that step can be awkward too.
@MichaelL
It’s been a long time since I was involved in Registering… but I seem to recall that one can Register even with a “failed CT”… it must just be a current (less than 6 months old CT) so don’t hang about.
and it is within 2 months to get the car re-tested, otherwise you have to pay for a whole new CT…
others will chime in with info… but, basically, go ahead with Registration now…
Yes I think Stella is right. 4 months rather than 6 months tho’. So start!
Yes, the Import Date starts the clock ticking… so get on with changing to French Immatriculation for your car straight away.
I once had a non-runner… totally failed its CT… not roadworthy, but still able to be French Immatriculated… as we had all the Documents on The List 
I still held my breath while the Clerk at the Prefecture went through the dossier…
phew, such a relief when she grunted approval and told me (more or less) to “go and pay over there”…
Those days are long gone, but the Rules remain the same.
Good luck.
From the ANTS Page:
Immatriculation d’un véhicule d’occasion acquis à l’étranger ou démuni d’une immatriculation au format SIV
À savoir
Le délai est d’un mois pour immatriculer un véhicule étranger ou immatriculé sous l’ancien format.
La carte grise permet d’identifier le véhicule et l’autorise à circuler.
Le titulaire doit posséder un permis correspondant au véhicule, et justifier d’une assurance.
7 documents à fournir
- Une pièce d’identité en cours de validité
- Un contrôle technique de moins de 6 mois (si le véhicule a plus de 4 ans)
- Un justificatif de domicile de moins de 6 mois
- Le Quitus fiscal (véhicule acquis à l’étranger)
- Le cerfa 13749*04 ( sert de demande d’immatriculation , certificat de conformité )
- Un mandat
- La pièce d’identité du client
Au besoin, des documents supplémentaires peuvent être demandés par le service instructeur
Thats good and should avoid a headlamp swap, from others its a lever on the back of the headlamp but there must be a skoda forum where you could get a fast answer but Skoda UK should be quick enough.
Our 2017 Tiguan had that. Did you show it to the CT’er? That said, I remember the Tiguan’s manual said not to use it is for extended periods. Though I’m used it i5 for months at a time and was never flashed.
I changed the headlamps from right to left in my MB SL some years ago when RHD lamps were a CT fail, no ifs or buts. The best price I found was from a reputable OEM in Germany for €1,000 
plus fitting, of course.
Re the immatriculation - get yourself a WW plate temporary registration. If all your paperwork is good then it takes less than an hour, lasts six months whilst you get it done through ANTS.
Ask around for the nearest local immatriculation station - often it is a local car breaker.
Re France Titres, I’ve had my own little tussles with them recently over a carte grise.
The following news item goes some way towards explaining why you might encounter delays at the minute:
I’ll pretty sure that WW plates are good for 4 months rather than 6. The problem is you’re then screwed if registration isn’t complete before they expire as the car needs to be kept off road. Taking more than 4 months isn’t unusual for UK cars now as they often need to through DREAL for technical approval.
I do have the type approval doc
You mean the Certificate of Conformity? If it says that it’s an approval for left hand traffic then there’s a very high probability that you’re going to DREAL. The most recent advice I’ve seen is not to submit the CoC unless requested by ANTS.
If yours has this it should be a doddle.
I had problems with one issued by Mazda UK - problem was solved by getting one from Mazda France.
My approval doc came from Germany
Does it have the text about left hand traffic?
Will check.
Switchable left/right - yes but it failed with it switched to right hand traffic.
Will definitely start the registration.
Thanks everyone.