''It is illegal for a french resident to drive a foreign registered vehicle in France, punishable with a 5 year prison sentence, 3750 euro fine, a minimum 3 year ban & the confiscation of the car. (code de la route Article L.317-2). ''. So much for the EU.
There is a company in South Wales who will insure a uk car in France to a Brit French resident whether it is legal is a different matter, as i was told by Axa claiming to be a uk resident using a relatives address in the uk is tantamount to fraud in the event of a serious pile up the **** would really hit the fan
but i stand to be corrected by more Knowledgeable folk as myths and tale abound on this subject
I thought that. Indeed, when we came we almost immediately reregistered both cars. However, in another post a couple of months back somebody explained it quite clearly. I think the insurance must be French if kept here permanently. I hope whoever it was picks up and explains again or that somebody can refer you to the correct blog.
Brian, you have me confused. I thought that if you kept a UK registered car in France for more than 6 months, you were legally obliged to re-register the car in France and if you are keeping the car permanently in France, surely that has legal implications re insurance i.e. will the UK insurance cover be valid on a car kept permanently in France?
Good luck to you Lesley you both have the right attitude. So many people do end up over here and are not well prepared.
Angela
Hi everyone
Thanks so much for all your comments, helpful insights and advice. I think I came over as someone who is jumping into the deep end with no arm bands and not having learned to swim yet! Believe me that is not the case at all as we are extremely well prepared but just thought would be useful to know what folk thought on a few points and hence my original post.
We have not entered this lightly at all and plan everything to the last detail creating spreadsheets for each step and also for the financial planning as well. I have a detailed spreadsheet re who to contact when etc for all the bits and bobs I asked about but as I said in some areas I was getting conflicting info so thought would be an idea to open up the discussion and I was after first hand experiences from folk that had done it in the last few years as these will be up to date as there have been a lot of changes over the years as we all know and appreciate.
We know that life will throw up challenges and problems for us with this move as is a huge change in every aspect and we are not naive youngsters and have discussed every aspect of our proposed change - and are still not cowed by the decision or the after effects of long term living in France.
My spoken French is very good - just not up to discussing some more technical legal terms wih confidence yet [ I am not nearly as good as my husband in understanding what is said to me [particularly our local dialect] - but his spoken language skills are similar to the French policeman in Allo Allo, so between us we get by really well and will both rapidly improve once we are there for long chuinks of time. Our house is in the centre of our village next to the auberge so we get loads of people to talk to at all times of the year and unlike some we do have neighbours and are not on the top of a mountain with only sheep to talk with!
We are fully aware of the very long and very cold winters having intentionally spent considerable amounts of time in every single season in the last 5 years [been at the house approx 8 weeks per year so far]. We are valued members of our village already, attending as many village fetes as we can manage and even winning prizes in our local Lotto and selling craft items in the village fete. We have made friends with local ex pats in the area and local French community members [including the Mayor] as well so we are not jumping into the frying pan or getting out half cooked but have put a great deal of care and preparation into this collosal move.
I really value these comments and discussions and am very happy that I found this fab forum
Many thanks
Lesley and Rob
Excellent - just what I was after Catharine
If we had loads of money we would keep a bolt hole in the UK Emrys but dont think we can afford to do that - see comments to Barbara re possibly having to be absent landlords.
We have already become key members of our village and attend as may events as possible and hope to be fully part of the village once we are there helped by a fabulous neighbours and ex pats in the area that we already know well. We know we love it and have made sure we have tested each month of the year and each season and worked out what mistakes we have already made and what to do to avoid them - hence loads and loads of hobbies, interests and activities to do in the long and cold winter months.
We look forward to our progress too! Cant wait!
I work out all costs etc at £1 to 1 euro so think tht we are safe in doing that and should with any justice end up in pocket so to speak!
we were very fortunate to have purchased when the exchange rate gave £1 to 1,43 euros so did well with that but have lived the rapid decline in the last 5 years and are now enjoying the recovery and feel we can manage the changes effectively.
We cant wait to be there all of the time and cannot really afford to keep a property in the UK in the long term, however we may be forced to do that if the house does not sell and then we will move into being an absent landlord as will have to make it pay for itself somehow. Not a problem as the letting agency is literally 200 yards away from our door and fabulous and caring neighbours each side offering beds and friendship when we come back to the UK as we will be over at least 4 times per year to see parents, children and grandchildren.
I so agree with your comment re keeping up ith the Jones's and feel so incredibly free within myself in our little commune and can be who I really am, not who I am forced to be by convention etc
Been there and done that Clive as have travelled all over the place in the last 2.5 years since having the pump, and apart from the first ever time I went through airport security and was scared stiff so they did a full body search, no problems since. This has included dozens of flights between the UK and France and two weeks in Thailand earlier this year with 3 flights each way.
I go everywhere armed as you say with the letter from the specialist which itemises every single item related to my diabetic care and have only ever had to show it once. I am fine about going through security now [incidentally I keep it on myself thro security, tell them before I go through and have never been stopped or searched since I started to do that]. Aparently the pump should not go through the conveyor belt xray with hand luggage as it can damage the pump so they recomend do not take it off and seems to be fine - certainly has been for me.
I just need to know that I can keep the same pump in France as would be incredibly useful to know that
Thanks Pat - we will bear the translation in mind and keep our fingers crosed that we are not required to give one as seems different region by region and all areas seem to have different requirements
Thank you Helen - excellent advice - had not thought about that so will action that with my GP as sure he will be happy to help me in that way.
That might be a good idea Brian. If I fail on my next visit, I will try that. Ta very much.
I have been reading hundreds of stories relating to "moving to France"
Of course there are so many things to concider and all the right answers are
here on SF because most of the people quote from 1st hand experiences.
I came fairly well prepared....been thinking about it for years.
But the problem...the main obsticle is the financial climate...never easier
to manage on new soil...and my crystal ball tells me that it will take a long
time for "recovery" to set in.
At the sime time...in a new sentance I feel that many of us venture to France
to find ourselves. Sometimes it takes a life time and, perhaps we need what France has...
the tranquility, the space...perhaps that "not having to keep-up with the Jone's" which
is not only irratating but hides the true person .....there is a real person living with in everyone of us.
I am sure that I am not the only one who has experienced the change....with the help of
the landscape, finding new friends and dealing with adversities.
Re insulin pumps. My ex-wife travels extensively with no problems. She has a 'to whom it may concern' type letter but the secret is to have it in more than one language on the basis of security people not being the best linguists in the world. They can usually call a supervisor who is a bit more adept once they see one familiar one. The problem is more getting on than getting off planes which is when you don't want to be held up as a suspected terrorist.
I have a 'Reveal' cardiac monitor about the size of a flash card implanted in my chest and it is bad enough setting off supermarket alarms, let alone airport ones. At least, in the reader pouch I have an instruction for security people in two languages and fortunately until it is taken out again am avoiding air travel.
Insulin pump: My partner uses one of these (Medtronic). To avoid problems with security checks at ports, airports, and so on, ask your GP or diabetic department of a hospital to give you a "to whom it may concern" letter explaining what the device is. This once saved a lot of hassle at Stanstead airport when we encountered a member of the security personnel who had clearly never seen an insulin pump before, and was about to cause huge alarms and excursions, body searches, arrests and goodness knows what else.
We are just about to switch from UK healthcare to French healthcare. So far all my partner's pump supplies have come from the UK so far. So we don't yet know about supplies of insulin and all the bits and pieces for the pump yet. However, France - particularly here in Montpellier where we are - is at the forefront of the development of insulin pumps and the treatment of diabetes. But what it costs, we don't yet know.
Good luck!
Clive
I am afraid the answer there is find the pertinent part of each treaty, printing out the French version, sticking it under your arm and marching into the office with a "Now then...". I fear that there are public servants who are as fervently anti-EU as many Brtish citizens and there you will find no common ground.
It wouldn't be nice to just answer "don't", but after my recent battle with EDF, that would be my initial reaction to the heading of your post.
However, I am about to complete my 16th year and I have had (and still have in a way) a fantastic time here.
Bravo for your knowledge!
We go to the local office here in Beziers and are told we need a translation of said documents; ring the English Speaking helpline and the answer is - some ask for it some don't!! Great, so we have an office who does. Therefore we follow their requests!
Without acceding to their requests we have no health cover. Do you have a cunning plan to override their zealousness??
As diabetic I believe that you are entitled to have 100 per cent entitlement on your Carte Vitale. Make sure that this done when you register with your doctor and get the forms for the CV.
Hi Lesley
I'm not a regular poster on the forum but Catherine gave me a nudge because, like me, you're a 'pumper'.
I came to France nearly 9 years ago and I can honestly say my diabetic care is superb - far better than any I received in the UK. When I arrived my HBA was 11.2, now it's a not too bad 7 ish. I was on multiple injections initially and my specialist kept trying to persuade me to try the pump which I held off on for a few years. Been on it a couple of years now and although I feel like chucking it in the river sometimes, it's made a big difference to my control and overall health.
Still, about having to give back your pump - I'm not sure what the situation in the UK is but here in France they are only 'on loan' so to speak also, the Omnipod has been refused clearance by the French Health Authority so if you are on this one then you would not be able to get all the supplies. I would suggest you stow enough supplies to see you through until you know you are in the system. Once in the system anything to do with your diabetes is covered 100% as in the UK (under the ALD scheme which is the same as the chronic conditions criteria in the UK). I still have a top up Mutuelle for anything non-diabetic. I would also make enquiries about an English speaking diabetic consultant - translation mistakes for something like this would be a real no-no. I'm also lucky to have an English speaking GP and I live in the backend of beyond. So the long and short of it is, once you are in the system you should be good to go and getting a pump is a lot easier here than in the UK; you go to the GP for a prescription for your insulin and your pump liaison nurse comes to visit every 3 months or so with your pump supplies.
Re your driving licence, I too had to renew every 3 years in the UK and once it ran out I took my UK one to the Mairie with 3 photos I think, she filled in a form, sent it off and I got a French one within a week - no restrictions for diabetics or doctors note needed.
I'm sure I rambled, so apologises but if you need to contact me please do.
Regards and Bon Courage
Karen