Archiesgrandad Posted February 9, 2016 Share Posted February 9, 2016 For 10 months, ever since we arrived in France, I have been slowly plodding through the quagmire of trying to re-register our much loved Pilote Galaxy in France. Each time we think we've made it, someone will advise us that something else is needed, and with the help of Google Translate, we boldly set out on another adventure. We thought that we were nearly there, but today we finally received a reply from Group Pilote to whom we had applied for the partial certificate of conformity to compliment the partial certificate we have from Peugeot. Our van, which was built in 1997, was built specifically for the UK market, and was, therefore, not built to conform to prevailing French standards, nor to any other standards. They cannot provide us with any sort of Certificate of conformity that might enable us to register the van in France. I fear that this is the end. It is unlikely that we can do anything more, although a friend has suggested that it might be possible to get the authorities to accept that this is a bona fide camping car on the same basis as that which applies to a home converted van, and allow us to register it if we can prove that it is properly converted. I suppose it might be worth one last push. Failing that we have to try to get the van back to the UK so that we can sell it. It will break my heart, this van although it is quite middle aged has only done just over 40,000 miles and is in pretty good condition. It is for us the perfect layout, and our finances will not run to us buying anything we might want in France,so this seems likely to end our motor homing career. I'm useless at finding threads in the archive, it's probably the Luddite genes showing through, but I recall that a little time ago there was a thread about MOT's and getting the van back to the UK, can anyone help me onto the right track please. AGD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randonneur Posted February 9, 2016 Share Posted February 9, 2016 I have sent you a PM, hope it helps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yoko8pups Posted February 9, 2016 Share Posted February 9, 2016 We are in Portugal and suffering too in a similar way, the previous owner had downplated the van to 3500, Portugal won't accept the down plating because it doesn't conform with the COC, and although we have paid SVTech to up plate it the DVLA won't send us another V5C. We are also at our wits end having paid out a fortune to do the process and only needing the V5 to complete.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hallii Posted February 9, 2016 Share Posted February 9, 2016 My sister who now lives in France had similar problems until a French neighbour helped to fill in the forms. It appears that we, the British, are to honest and they, the French, are honest but in a different way :-D Certain answers and information was "adjusted" to suit and the registration docs came through without any problem! I remember the one problem was that it was a self converted motorhome (and very well done). For the form filling it simply became a "VW van" . You might want to "re-consider" some answers :-D H Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nowtelse2do Posted February 9, 2016 Share Posted February 9, 2016 I have a friend who lives near Niort and he did the same that what hallii suggests to do, he had no problems after one of the locals helped him. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StuartO Posted February 9, 2016 Share Posted February 9, 2016 yoko8pups - 2016-02-09 1:42 PMWe are in Portugal and suffering too in a similar way, the previous owner had downplated the van to 3500, Portugal won't accept the down plating because it doesn't conform with the COC, and although we have paid SVTech to up plate it the DVLA won't send us another V5C. We are also at our wits end having paid out a fortune to do the process and only needing the V5 to complete.. Try writing to your MP or former MP; if DVLA arte being awkward, they will change their tune when the MP contacts them. Make it easy for the MP by writing a clear and concise letter which explains that your only asking for something which is reasonable, which DVLA are refusing. It could work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keithl Posted February 9, 2016 Share Posted February 9, 2016 yoko8pups - 2016-02-09 1:42 PM We are in Portugal and suffering too in a similar way, the previous owner had downplated the van to 3500, Portugal won't accept the down plating because it doesn't conform with the COC, and although we have paid SVTech to up plate it the DVLA won't send us another V5C. We are also at our wits end having paid out a fortune to do the process and only needing the V5 to complete.. yoko8pups, Sorry to take AGD's thread off thread for a while but have you by any chance notified DVLA that you have exported the vehicle? If so then I'm afraid that I have to agree with them not issuing you another V5C. The only way I could see round this would be to bring the MH back to the UK, ie re-import it, and then get a new V5C issued. Keith. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yoko8pups Posted February 9, 2016 Share Posted February 9, 2016 No, we haven't exported it yet and will only do so if we can import it to Portugal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yeti Posted February 9, 2016 Share Posted February 9, 2016 So much for the EU! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted February 10, 2016 Share Posted February 10, 2016 AGD This 2008 forum thread may be of interest (NB. the links in it no longer work) http://forums.outandaboutlive.co.uk/forums/Motorhomes/Motorhome-Matters/French-Registration/12410/ I recall an inquiry in a French motorhome magazine (years ago) that asked about registering a motorhome that had been bought abroad. The particular model had never been marketed in France and, consequently, had never been through France’s vehicle homologation procedure and compliancy documentation could not be obtained The advice was unequivocal – take the motorhome back to the country in which it was purchased and try to sell it there. However - as has been suggested above - there may be ‘work arounds’ that would permit your Pilote motorhome to be French-registered. Plainly some vehicles (eg. old ‘classic’ vehicles) will be desirable to French residents and have been able to negotiate the French registration process despite lacking ‘compliancy’ documentation. (Following examples refer:) http://www.survivefrance.com/forum/topics/classic-cars-and-the http://www.classic-sport-cars.net/spip.php?article77 A GOOGLE-search on “immatriculation camping car marque etrangere” https://www.google.co.uk/?gws_rd=ssl#q=immatriculation+camping+car+marque+etrangere retrieves a fair amount of French-language stuff that might be useful. For instance http://www.europe-consommateurs.eu/uploads/media/Immatriculer_son_vehicule_achete_a_l_etranger_en_France.pdf What you really need is expert advice from someone local to you who is very familiar with the French registration system and can communicate on your behalf with the appropriate authorities. GOOGLE Translate can only go so far... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randonneur Posted February 10, 2016 Share Posted February 10, 2016 DREIA, this is the place, like VOSA, where you go when you have a problem registering a vehicle. There is usually one in each Departement. Have a look at this link. http://france.angloinfo.com/transport/vehicle-ownership/dreal-taxes/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terry1956 Posted February 10, 2016 Share Posted February 10, 2016 Over the years I have reregister two motorhomes in France. the first was afford transit converted into a camper, the second a hymer. I was in Normandy at the time and my local French transport office was in caen. You must have, proof of left hand driving lights, a form from the manufacture in French or a translation, this shows the weight, size, number of seats etc etc.we also needed a form from the local tax office that any tax was paid. ( just put down millions of miles and you pay nothing) we also needed the V5. take all this to the French office, and they will give you lots of forms to fill out. We had to get the gas checked which cost 140 euros for the ford. we also had to draw out full plans of the inside and the outside showing seats, cooker etc etc and windows all in great detail. so armed with proof of LH lights, gas check, plans, cert form van maker( base chassis) form from tax office, and proof of ID and any other papers you may have. took it all to the office and got told it needed a French mot. got that and was told the van needed to be checked over first to get its log book. this it failed on because it had window catches and know sighs in French stating that you must not drive away with the windows open. catches removed signs made and retested and a pass. paid 300 euros for the log books and a further 80 euros for the plates and all done. I must say that the ford was a pain. the Hymer needed none of the above tests etc and I got the log book and plates the same day.It can be done. Please don't lie, I know people do, but if you do get stopped for some reason and you have said its a van not a camper you are truly F....ED. michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted February 11, 2016 Share Posted February 11, 2016 The difficulty AGD is currently facing stems from the fact that (as he mentions) 1990s Pilote Galaxy motorhomes marketed in the UK had features not found on ‘Continental European’ equivalents. I have a 1996 “Which Motorcaravan” review of a Galaxy 27 and - besides being RHD - the motorhome had its habitation-area entrance door on the left (the UK ’nearside’), RHD-pattern windscreen wipers and (I think) the Peugeot chassis was unique to UK Galaxies with LHD versions being built on a Fiat. The review compared the Galaxy with a RHD Hymer B584 that had an ‘offside’ habitation door, LHD-pattern wipers and was built on a Fiat. So, other than being RHD, the Hymer closely matched its Continental-European siblings and (one might reasonably assume) would be easier to register outside the UK. I would have thought the Pilote’s UK variations should not be insurmountable when it comes to registering AGD’s motorhome in France, but the French vehicle registration system is much more bureaucratic than the UK’s regarding imported vehicles and it definitely won’t help if you are not a Francophone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archiesgrandad Posted February 11, 2016 Author Share Posted February 11, 2016 Thank you all for your support, you have given us one or two lines to follow and we are starting to work our way through them, so a big thank-you to you all. Still not convinced that we will succeed, I would love to hear from anyone who has had a vehicle shipped to or from the UK at their own expense. Many thanks AGD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terry1956 Posted February 12, 2016 Share Posted February 12, 2016 The French don't care about the make. its the base chassis that they want the information on. so you don't need to contact Pilote again if they are not interested. lets say its a fiat base. you contact fiat using the vin code asking for the correct information in French. so you contact fiat in france. with this form, as I said before you will need proof of lights correct, gas check and so on. Its easy to do. what the French don't like are trailers or motorboats, caravans etc I have done this and know all about how to do it.and I have read all the rubbish from people on this forum who have never done the job, yet are internet experts, and I am reading most of it again michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted February 12, 2016 Share Posted February 12, 2016 Michael This 2006/2008 forum thread http://www.forum-auto.com/automobile-pratique/vie-pratique/sujet376833.htm describes buying a secondhand Hobby motorhome in Germany, importing it to France and registering it there. It has some bearing on AGD’s case as the particular Fiat-based Hobby model being discussed was not marketed in France and, consequently, had not been through the French homologation process. The buyer managed to French-register the vehicle having involved a certification company (Veritas AFNOR) to advise on what was needed to allow the motorhome to meet French compliancy requirements. (A somewhat startling list of things...) The buyer emphasises that his description might give the impression that the procedure is quite simple, but it is not only complex but can be stressful. As you have practical experience of the procedure (and I suspect no other forum-member has been in AGD’s position) can I ask you to liaise closely with AGD about what to do next, please. He seems to have gone a long way down the road towards French-registration, but has now hit what he believes is a major stumbling-block. If you can get him over or around this obstacle I’m sure he (and other forum-members here) would much appreciate it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archiesgrandad Posted February 12, 2016 Author Share Posted February 12, 2016 I really am grateful for all this support. Things are getting a little clearer, firstly to Randonneur, we have emailed your contact, but we received a reply saying that correspondence to that email address is no longer accepted, a second email has not been answered, give it a day or two and we'll try the phone number. We have located an Englishman, married to a French lady, has lived in France for 20 odd years, runs a motor repair shop, a Controlle Technique station, and for a side line he sources specialist vehicles and imports them into France, sounds too good to be true, we'll give it a try. A transport company we found has quoted less than £1000 to return the van to the UK. That would give us the choice of returning the van to the UK and selling it for a sensible price, or, we could get it MOT'd , change the address on the V5, and bring it back to France, remembering to get it back to the UK for it's MOT in good time. The only problem might be finding suitable insurance cover. So, we might be able to use our van after all. AGD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted February 12, 2016 Share Posted February 12, 2016 Archiesgrandad - 2016-02-12 6:01 PM ...A transport company we found has quoted less than £1000 to return the van to the UK. That would give us the choice of returning the van to the UK and selling it for a sensible price, or, we could get it MOT'd , change the address on the V5, and bring it back to France, remembering to get it back to the UK for it's MOT in good time. The only problem might be finding suitable insurance cover. So, we might be able to use our van after all. AGD Not sure you can legally do what you are suggesting if you are now a French resident and were planning to have a French address on the motorhome’s V5C. Even if you did manage to get your Pilote re-registered in the UK, you’d still be facing the ‘6 months abroad’ rule when you brought it back to France. And - as you rightly point out - there are potential insurance-related difficultirs. Undoubtedly your best bet would be to continue with the French registration procedure, and hopefully your Englishman contact will be able to help you with that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yoko8pups Posted February 12, 2016 Share Posted February 12, 2016 Archiesgrandad - 2016-02-12 6:01 PM I really am grateful for all this support. Things are getting a little clearer, firstly to Randonneur, we have emailed your contact, but we received a reply saying that correspondence to that email address is no longer accepted, a second email has not been answered, give it a day or two and we'll try the phone number. We have located an Englishman, married to a French lady, has lived in France for 20 odd years, runs a motor repair shop, a Controlle Technique station, and for a side line he sources specialist vehicles and imports them into France, sounds too good to be true, we'll give it a try. A transport company we found has quoted less than £1000 to return the van to the UK. That would give us the choice of returning the van to the UK and selling it for a sensible price, or, we could get it MOT'd , change the address on the V5, and bring it back to France, remembering to get it back to the UK for it's MOT in good time. The only problem might be finding suitable insurance cover. So, we might be able to use our van after all. AGD For insurance try Abbeygate in Gibraltar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randonneur Posted February 12, 2016 Share Posted February 12, 2016 Hello, the email address is mstorey@pilote.fr as per Pilote Concessionaire for UK and phone number is 0044 121 448 1331 address is PILOTE GROUP AGENT IN UK, 4a Beacon Road Great Barr, B43 7BP Birmingham Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archiesgrandad Posted February 12, 2016 Author Share Posted February 12, 2016 The Pilote is still registered to our contact address in the UK, and is still insured by our UK insurer, and is Sorned with DVLA, so if we get it back to the UK on a truck we should be able to renew the MOT retax the vehicle and we're up and running again. If we then find an insurer to give us fulltime European cover we should legally be able to keep and use our van in France, coming back to the UK to visit friends and family, and get the MOT done at least once a year. My preference is still to register the van in France, but we will do whatever we can to enjoy these last few years with it. AGD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archiesgrandad Posted April 16, 2016 Author Share Posted April 16, 2016 It looks as if we might have cracked it. We presented the van for inspection by the local DREAL on Tuesday, and they have told us that we will be able to import the van into France provided we jump through a few minor hoops. We have to put the van through a CT inspection, that's the local equivalent to the MOT, which should be no problem as I have changed the lights, front and rear, and it is otherwise in good nick. We have to get a weight certificate, empty, just the unladen weight front and rear. We have to get a gas safety certificate, I have fitted a new bulkhead mounted regulator, and all the rest appears to conform to the specimen build documents for the French version, that Pilote gave to us. We have to remove one of the 3 sets of seatbelts in the back of the van, the French version only has 2, No problem. We have to remove the towbar/Safe T Bar that was fitted to the van in the UK when new, it takes the van over the dimension given by Pilote and obscures the number plate. After all the prevarication of the last 10 months it was suddenly so easy. I wrote to them on Tuesday of last week, enclosing a dossier of all the relevant paperwork, and asking them to inspect the van and make a decision. On Thursday we received an email asking us the present the van at the local depot on Tuesday 12th, and after a very thorough inspection and a lot of very careful measuring, they told us what we needed to do, and said everything was fine. We received the certificate the replaces the missing Pilote certificate by email on Wednesday. They were really helpful and friendly, and whilst, as ever, we had to do it all in French, and provided we tried, they seemed happy to help us out in English when necessary. If only I'd known all this 10 months ago. Thank you to all those who have tried to help, we should be back on the road in a couple of weeks. AGD , Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bulletguy Posted April 16, 2016 Share Posted April 16, 2016 Glad you eventually got sorted, but i'm curious.......are you moving to live in France? If not, how have you managed to register a vehicle in a country you don't live in? I always thought you could only register and insure a vehicle in country of residence. When my son was in the forces he was based in Germany and he took his car because he couldn't bear to sell it, but after 3 months had to have LHD lights fitted, put through the TUV (way more strict than MOT), and registered there as after that period they are considered resident. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PJay Posted April 16, 2016 Share Posted April 16, 2016 Bulletguy - 2016-04-16 9:41 PM Glad you eventually got sorted, but i'm curious.......are you moving to live in France? If not, how have you managed to register a vehicle in a country you don't live in? I always thought you could only register and insure a vehicle in country of residence. When my son was in the forces he was based in Germany and he took his car because he couldn't bear to sell it, but after 3 months had to have LHD lights fitted, put through the TUV (way more strict than MOT), and registered there as after that period they are considered resident. BG Notice the location The Lot . They have already moved to France, that is why they needed to get the van sorted. You need to register in France if you live there. And you need "Local" plates , to use such things as local dumps, etc. Usual French RED Tape PJay Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted April 17, 2016 Share Posted April 17, 2016 Archiesgrandad - 2016-04-16 9:11 PM ...We have to remove the towbar/Safe T Bar that was fitted to the van in the UK when new, it takes the van over the dimension given by Pilote and obscures the number plate... AGD If you want to have the towbar on your motorhome, I suggest that - AFTER the vehicle has been French-registered - you explore with the Contrôle Technique people whether putting the towbar back on at some stage would be acceptable. The French attitude to retro-ftted vehicle ‘modifications’ is much more stringent than the UK’s, so modifications to a motorhome that here would be uncontroversial (eg. adding a towbar, fitting rear-axle air-assistance) in France would require that the vehicle be officially inspected after the modification had been made and that details of the change be recorded on the motorhome’s French registration document. Plainly if the towbar does obscure the number plate that would need to be addressed, but you might find that the fact that the towbar ‘lengthens’ your Pilote’s original size isn’t necessarily a show-stopper. First thing though is to get the Pilote French-registered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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