Registering any vehicle in France is going to require a Certificate of Conformity but, how can one be obtained for a motorhome which has many varied contributors in its construction.
Firstly there is the van, let's say a Peugeot Boxer, to this a chassis is added by, say, Al-Ko and then the body is added by the Motorhome manufacturer.
It's obviously an impossibility to obtain a COC from each party.
Is there a testing centre in France, similar to the SVA in the UK (I think that's right) who can inspect the motorhome and give their approval if everything conforms?
Any ideas please?
No, the van is still MOted and Taxed in the UK so, totally legal. On renewal of my French insurance, I will have to go back to a UK insurer so as to travel to the UK for MOT retest and for further RFLs.
I am not resident here for more than 183 days as we split our time between UK, Spain, France and Italy.
Have to assume that you are also paying your UK RFL and having a UK MOT all Vehicles must be street legal in the country of registration.
Assuming you are a French resident ie you live here for more than 183days pa and that you do not have your immediate family living elsewhere then: The reason why you cannot get a 2nd CT is that you are required to re register your vehicle within 3 months of its importation, your CT lasts for 2 years so you have been driving illegally for 18 months.
I think I am with you on this Elaine.
Last year we had cover with SAGA but, to keep the cover "legal" it should of course have a current MOT and Car Tax.
We now have cover with a well known French insurer but, believe it or not, even though we have a Green Card, the van could (because it is on UK plates) be seized if used in the UK as the insurer is not on the Motor Insurance Database which is a requirement of the law. The MID did send me a copy of the legal wording on this as I believed it to be a nonsense and, it is there in black and white.
The constructor is no longer in business and the name alone has been acquired by another manufacturer, so, nobody to contact here.
Also, since early last year, it has not been possible to put any UK registered vehicle through a Controle Technique without a COC. I did previously have a CT but, was unable to renew it. I tried 4 different centres in the hope that someone hadn't caught up but, to no avail.
I don't have a European whole type approval and would have no idea where to get one.
I think the reply from Elaine (below) is the only way to go.
We decided not to register our van in France. We still have a UK address so have kept the registration there. We were careful to have our insurance valid for 365 days a year abroad via Allianz (UK).
for DREAL see here
http://www.aquitaine.developpement-durable.gouv.fr/identification-o...
That's for my local one, just Google DREAL and your region for your nearest. but surely it's easier to get the C of C for your Base vehicle and from the Constructor for the conversion if an oldun or Go to your prefecture with your V5, CT, and European whole type approval if you have one, etc. I think you are making difficulties where they do not exist.
I did it easily(in hindsight) with a 1993 german camper so a 2001 should be easy peasy http://www.survivefrance.com/profiles/blogs/24th-november-2010
It doesn't make for good reading unfortunately.
Camping Car is 2001.
I don't know who DREAL is but, is it an agency that can inspect a camping car and, if it conforms to the normes here, issue the necessary paperwork?
Sorry but it depends upon the age of your Camping car!
later ones hold a European whole vehicle approval issued by the converter which acts in lieu of a C of C, Valueable classic campers have still to follow the age old route and yes you do need a C of C from the base vehicle manufacturer and the Converter or a trip to DREAL if its home converted.
have a look here for the latest news Registering a Camping-Car