UK registered vehicles are rarely seen now

[fabien]

I think he is talking post Brexit… the current state of that particular matter. At least that’s how I see this

[NotALot]

That’s the Ulys package I subscribe to, though the monthly admin was €1,67 last time I used my bipper in October 2020.

I love the 30 kph lanes!

[JohnBoy]

@JohnBoy

When I started this topic I was referring to British registered cars owned and used by British who have made France their home. All these people have until 30th June to apply for residence under the WA (no ifs or buts).
My observation was that there are very few UK plated cars to be seen now suggesting that those who have used such cars have now completed the necessary transfer to be French road legal. According to other contributors to this topic there are still such vehicles on the roads here and some owned by the same people.
Maybe they know something I dont, which is quite possible, but I cannot see how a UK registered car can be legally used here. Who is the registered keeper and legal owner, what does it say in the log book, certainly not a French address.
Rules are rules and we all take liberties with them from time to time with the possible consequence having an affect on our own life. Driving a car on the road, whether legal or not, brings with it a responsibility to be mindful of other road users. Unfortunately accidents happen and can bring many levels of trauma to those involved. If one of the vehicles involved isnt road legal for whatever reason and it belongs to you, how would you feel?

@Poquelin

On the matter of UK reg vehicles, there are British insurance companies which insure cars in France and will also accept CT in lieu of MoT certs. Some people I know use them; it’s still illegal not to re-register of course, but with valid insurance in place, perhaps not so heinous.

@JohnBoy

But is the insurance valid just because the insurance company tells the insured it is?
Pocketing the premium is one thing but paying out on a potential claim is quite another.

@fabien

If we follow European regulations, it is not possible (illegal then) to be insured for more than 90 days in a row in another country all accros the EU. This is the reason why 90 days is the max limit on all EU policies and any foreign insurer (from outside of the EU) that says they can cover you for more than 90 days may not be a liar but that cover is impossible by the very definition of EU legislations.

So, the short answer is “it’s both illegal and they’re probably not covered for something bigger than a window break or calling the tow truck”.

@Poquelin

Why should it not be valid? Post Brexit perhaps, but previously why not?

@fabien

I think he is talking post Brexit… the current state of that particular matter.

I think it has now been confirmed that if you are a French resident and the owner of a vehicle that you drive on French roads with a mix and match of a UK regististration with a CT instead of MOT and insurance from the UK or France then 90 days is the limit for that insurance to be valid after which the vehicle is being used illegally hence the reason why the topic is called " UK registered vehicles are rarely seen now".
Given that Covid restrictions have severely limited the arrival of UK registered cars driven by UK residents then to my mind the appearence of a Uk registered car/van on the French highway suggests that it is highly likely to be driven illegally i.e. it is an unlicensed weapon capable of detroying peoples lives.

[JaneJones]

Aren’t all vehicles a weapon that is capable of destroying people’s lives?

I am very anti- illegal vehicles, but legal vehicles kill and maim people too…and insurance money really doesn’t make up for it.

The insurance to me is more relevant for the biffs and bumps., and thefts.

[JohnBoy]

Agreed.
But it doesn’t excuse people from not abiding to the rules of the road and vehicles they use on it.
Brexit has changed many rules that we all took advantage of in some shape or form but much has changed and we have to change with it, like it or not.
Those who bury their head in the sand will be caught out sooner or later.
I hate what Brexit has done and in the short term Covid has made things even worse but life goes on and I prefer to live my life legally without looking over my shoulder, perhaps some dont care.

[Poquelin]

True, Brexit has changed a lot of things. I shall observe the effects with interest, particularly as one UK reg driver I know has refused to apply for a CdeS because “I’ve lived here for fifteen years and never needed one, why should I get one now?”.
The air will be heavy with the rush of books being thrown at her, I fear.

[fabien]

Just to add to the “global knowledge”, if an event arise to a French resident and if the other third party is an illegal situation (not insured, not declared, etc.) then the French resident would have a legal recourse so that he/she would not be out of pocket anyway. That recourse is called the FGAO (Fond de Garantie des Victimes) and it is available for any claim in regard to some direct material or corporal damages.

[fabien]

And, another fun fact is that all the “legal drivers” in France are actually paying a tax each year in their policies to contribute to the FGAO. But don’t worry, you’re not really paying for uninsured people as these guys will feel the weight of the French administrative system if they are to get you to use the FGAO as we’re talking jail time 3/4th of the time so it’s no joke

[JaneJones]

@fabien

That recourse is called the FGAO (Fond de Garantie des Victimes) and it is available for any claim in regard to some direct material or corporal damages.

Oh, I do love France…

[Annej2003]

As a Brit with a holiday home in France I am beginning to wonder what type of welcome we will get as and when we can come back.
I have a sense that if you are not in it fully, then you are very much seen as not very committed/or a bit of an outsider.
I hope we will not receive any/or too many problems when we drive our UK registered car but from what you are saying we may well be stopped by the gendarmes quite frequently.
I hope we will be safe to park our car in the supermarket car park or elsewhere.
A friend told of a time a couple of years ago when she had her car tyre slashed . I hope that won’t be an attitude we will find in peaceful Charente.

[anon88169868]

@Annej2003

As a Brit with a holiday home in France I am beginning to wonder what type of welcome we will get as and when we can come back.

That worries me as well, and I get more worried just about every time Johnson opens his mouth

[AngelaR]

I can’t speak for everyone’s area, Anne, but I think you are worrying unnecessarily. In the 30 years I have been coming here I have never experienced the slightest hostility toward me as a Brit, apart from the occasional young oik at the bank and that was probably misogeny rather than xenophobia!

There’s always been a lot of talk in the UK about the French not liking the Brits and I’ve not seen it. I have, unfortunately, seen a great deal coming the other way. The UK media is full of how ghastly the EU are to the Brits simply because they are British and I have to say it’s boll**ks !

[AngelaR]

@anon88169868

That worries me as well, and I get more worried just about every time Johnson opens his mouth

I can see why that concerns you, Paul, but over here (at least in my area) no-one seems to take any notice of the man apart from seeing him as a prat…

[Stella]

@anon88169868 and @Annej2003

Please try not to worry about how you will be received.

The majority of French with whom I discuss things (from Parisiens to Corsicans and everywhere in between) …
they are only too well aware that the ordinary British person is nothing like the British government.

[anon88169868]

Thanks for the reassurance Stella

Mind you there is a certain type of knuckle-dragging “ordinary” - i.e football supporting and lager swilling (with no trace of irony) - Brit abroad which is exactly  like the present government.

Fortunately I think that particular sort of Brit has a preference for Spain and the Balearics and probably already has such a low reputation that not even Brexit and Johnson can drag it down further.

[toryroo]

@Poquelin

one UK reg driver I know has refused to apply for a CdeS because “I’ve lived here for fifteen years and never needed one, why should I get one now?”.

Please do urge her to at least call one of the associations so she can have a bit more of an ‘official’ answer. That really worries me as she will become an illegal alien as of 01/10/21 without the CDS card. She still has 2 weeks to apply.

IOM - The International Organisation for Migration (Brittany, Normandy, Paris and Ile-de-France, Hauts-de-France, Pays de la Loire)

Contact details:

• visit the IOM website
• email: UKnationalsFR@iom.int
• hotline: 08 09 54 98 32 available during the following hours: Mon - Tues 2pm to 4pm and Wed - Thurs 10.30am to 12.30pm

FBN - The Franco-British Network (Dordogne, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, and Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur)

Contact details:

• visit the FBN website
• email: The Franco-British Network
• hotline: 05 19 88 01 09 available during the following hours: Mon, Tues and Wed, 9am to 1pm; Thurs and Fri 1pm to 5pm

Church of England - Diocese in Europe (Occitanie, Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Centre Val de Loire, Corsica, Grand Est, Nouvelle Aquitaine, not including Dordogne)

Contact details:

• visit the Diocese in Europe Residency Support Project website
• hotline: 05 32 80 00 05 available during the following hours: Mon - Fri 9:30am to 12:00pm and 1:30pm to 4pm; Tues 5.30pm to 8pm; Sat: 9:30am to 12:00pm

[Poquelin]

We’ve tried, all her friends have tried, but she’s stubborn. We’re not giving up, but I fear it’s a lost cause. I wonder if she’s got things to hide, perhaps, but burying her head in the sand achieves nothing. Perhaps she’ll surprise us at the last minute . . .

[Stella]

@anon88169868

Mind you there is a certain type of knuckle-dragging “ordinary” - i.e football supporting and lager swilling (with no trace of irony) - Brit abroad which is exactly like the present government.

I think folk can discern between “ordinary folk” and knuckle-draggers…

The good manners of “ordinary folk” of any nationality, tend to bring out the best in nearly everyone, so I’m sure you’ll be just fine.

[KarenLot]

I think the UK rough equivalent is called the MIB - the Motor Insurance Bureau. It is funded by a levy included on every motor insurance policy.

[PeterJ]

I hope you have a good welcome Anne, the conversation has mainly been about those who choose to live in France but find reason/excuse not to comply with the law in relation to their vehicles.