Obtaining the Declaration (equivalent of a CoC) from the French constructor would/should negate the need for DREAL. (seems it might/will depend on when the vehicle was constructed…ie before Brexit)
Of course, the vehicle would need to conform… eg: all the lights would need to be correct for France…
Ayant fait partie de l’Union Européenne jusqu’au 31 janvier 2020, les véhicules anglais fabriqués jusqu’à cette date respectent les normes et standards européens. Il est donc toujours possible d’obtenir un certificat de conformité CE pour ces véhicules. Ceux produits après cette date nécessitent une homologation spécifique préalable à l’immatriculation en France. Pour cela, il faudra obtenir une réception à titre isolé (RTI) auprès de la DREAL (Direction Régional de l’Environnement, de l’Aménagement et du Logement).
It is nothing more than a money making scam. Sure the headlights have to comply and the speedo has to be at least dual range (MPH/KPH). The components are the same ie a German Ford has the same brake discs (Ate) and steering gear(bar the rack from Zf) as the equivalent one in the UK as an example or the exhaust system on a Vauxhall comes from Leistritz who make the equivalent Opel system.
“Ceux produits après cette date nécessitent une homologation spécifique préalable à l’immatriculation en France” . Do they or you think that vehicles manufactured afterwards are manufactured to a differing set of standards, they arent, the Auto industry use global standards and dont change them just like that. It is like saying the components for the airbus built in the UK are manufactured to differing standards than those built in Toulouse or Bremen. They arent. So if it isnt a money spinner then what is it, punishment maybe?
I know you arent digging, I was bringing the point across, or trying to, that it has nothing to do with standards whatsoever.
I quite understand why France wants to be sure that vehicles produced in UK after Brexit are OK … (remember… UK took back control and can do what it likes … )
There would be a heck of a lawsuit if France allowed such stuff in, without checking, and there was an accident … and it was subsequently found that UK had “done what it liked.”
As I know from a previous life… just one small change in a proven-safe-system, can have disastrous results…
I’m talking Food, but it can apply to anything…
Incidentally, France is having its own Food high-jinks, closing factories because of illness/whatever… and possibly just because one small link in the chain was not followed to the letter…
Sadly, and this is my personal thought, the UK does not inspire confidence in any of its dealings… so I don’t think we’ll be seeing a reversal of the CoC etc thingy just yet.
My sentiments entirely. This govt or the next one for that matter.
The food industry has always been high jinks in some form or another. If it isnt eggs then its chicken , it just never stops. It is more so true, if one segment is left out then the next scandal is on it way. With the car and aviation industries the scenario is very much different though
Neither do I. Even cars made in Germany are sometimes required to provide a CoC, which to me says the legislative bodies need to get their standards in order.
In UK… firms are under pressure… all firms… and if one tiny change in “whatever”… can save time/money etc… some bright spark is bound to give it a go. Managers will be thrilled to see less/no overspend in their budget… and everyone pats themselves on the back…
They are meeting their own criteria… and, just like all Third World countries… the UK no longer has to comply with or answer to the bullying EU…
Meanwhile, France needs to be sure… well, as sure as it can be…
Folk do realise that not all marques and models of vehicle sold in the U.K. were also sold in EU countries?
Car manufacturers are notorious for wanting to cut any corners, so I wouldn’t be surprised if they didn’t apply for an EU CoC if they weren’t going to sell model X on the continent.
La France has always been strict on modifications to vehicles carried out in other countries by the way. I was once involved in planning and arranging the conversion of several Mercedes Vitos for cellular radio performance testing. This was carried out by a U.K. company that is highly regarded globally and have every certification and qualification known to man.
The vehicle for the German team was purchased and registered in Germany, driven to the U.K., converted and driven back to Germany. A copy of the paperwork was sent the correct German agency and everyone was happy.
The vehicle for the French team was purchased and registered in France. It was driven to the U.K. , converted and driven back to France. DREAL not happy with paperwork and wanted the vehicle inspected. Because some of the electrical components were unfamiliar to them (being USA and U.K. made specialist items), we actually paid for the U.K. conversion company’s electrical specialist to fly over and go with the vehicle to DREAL to answer any questions they had.
This made DREAL very happy and the conversion was approved on the spot.
The moral of this story is that government agencies want things done their way and they can make you jump through as many hoops as they like.
Well it was only the wings/fuel tanks that were built in the UK that leaked so it looks very much as if the UK worked too different standards.
. Toulouse and Bremen had very firm views about that…
and, for the more recent UK vehicles, there surely aren’t many hoops… not really.
If necessary, getting the French CoC should be straightforward… and then it’s the normal procedure through ANTS.
If the French CoC isn’t straightforward… then there’s obviously something “adrift” which needs further checking… but that should be the exception…
and for the exception… DREAL would be a last resort… last chance saloon…
OH has just looked at this thread and reminded me about a friend in our commune… she had problems and had to use DRIRE (as it was in those days)… as her UK-bought car had been built in South Africa …
It was later found out that the sealant specified by the Germans didnt meet the criteria. The specs to which the UK worked came from Germany and were signed off in Toulouse. I worked for 9 months in Toulouse on a different aero project and saw first hand that specs from Germany didnt always work in Toulouse or Wharton for that matter.
In reply to Stellas comment, I know that the commercial departments are very quick with the red pencils as when the Golf Mk1 was in production, the commercial department caused the problem with the rusting escapade by using cheaper steel sheeting for the panels which in the end cost them more in rectification than it would have done if they had left it be in the first instance.
To which I had a Merc 220 Kompressor which was built in SA to save labour costs. The quality of the builds was such that Merc sent QA people out there to sort out the problem. Another instance was when VW took over Skoda, the build quality was so much higher than Wolfsburg, they sent a team to Plzen to see how they were better.
we can go back and forth with examples of who did or didn’t do whatever… forever… but I have to consider Lunch…
So, my more or less last word on this is…
If UK is not committed to meeting EU standards (and allows inspections et al) … then I can understand any EU country being sceptical and following the safest route …
My friend had a Toyota and was astounded and horrified (at first) when she discovered what she had to do…
but we took it step by step… and all was well… phew.
Jump through the hoops, grovel et al. It always works, youre quite right Stella. When I built my first super seven copy, I knew the TUV inspector (felllow crotch rocket jockey) and he inspected it all along through the construction, i incorporated some ideas he came up with. When it came to the German equivalent of DREAL ie TUV Rheinland in Essen, the inspector inspected it, saw the signatures of the TUV inspector I used and after a very fruitfull test drive signed it off and the registration was completed. I asked before I was told wht they wanted to see, makes all the difference.
Actually, for me… it was my tears (of frustration)… which stood me in good stead.
After a hopeless conversation with the Receptionist, I turned to leave the building…
A gent came in through the door and, seeing my tears, asked me what was wrong…
Turned out he was the Examiner… but I didn’t know that… I gave a brief account of the fiasco the Receptionist had put me through…
He glanced at our package of paperwork, swiftly offered an appointment for the following week… and the rest is history…
We used to enjoy subsequent visits to see him, with other vehicles… as and when…
Although one car did break down on the way home from being Examined… (thankfully, after it had passed with flying colours… )
