Insuring an Elan in France

[stuartgb100]

Hi,
I'm just wondering if any of our French owners still post on this site ?
Possibly "old english white" ?

I'm looking to move to France permanently this Summer, and would welcome the best way to insure my Elan when I settle there.

Regards and thanks,
Stuart.

[elated]

When registering the car in France i suggest you consider seeking a "voiture de collection" status since that assists with cheaper insurance, reduces the French MoT frequency from every 2 to every 5 years and exempts it from the appreciable and tightening restrictions in Paris and elsewhere upon polluting cars.
Gordon

[stuartgb100]

Thanks Gordon, seems good advice.

Do you know if there are Classic car insurance schemes over there, perhaps even multi-vehicle policies ?

[nmauduit]

depending on your intended use of the car and how you whish to insure it (liability only, that is damages to other party but not your own, which is the minimum required by the law to go on public roads in France / then optionnally fire and/or all damages, up to an agreed upon value and above a given amount per damage depending on contractual terms), if you have a regularly insured "daily" vehicle you may insure the elan as a vintage car, which is cheaper (you may still lend it depending on the insurer, but some specific restrictions may apply to be checked case by case). This can be done wether the car has a "collection" registration or not ("collection" registration mainly prevents one to rent his vehicle or make other commercial use of it).

[stuartgb100]

Thanks nmauduit,
Do you have any recommendations for suitable insurance companies ?
I would be looking for their equivalent of comprehensive insurance, owner-only as the driver, agreed value, with car garaged securely when not in use.
Thanks.

[alan.barker]

In France you can get Insurance with different choices like in UK.
I have never heard of "Carte Grise Collection" making a difference for driving in Paris or for Hiring etc.
You can get your car changed to French Reg (french V5) easily and if you choose "Carte Grise Collection" the French MOT is then every 5 Years.
I have my cars insured with the MAIF fully comp and you can decide what the value is without an expert value certificate. Depending on the value band you give or decide on.
I have registered 6 different cars in France which i have bought in the UK. 2 Lotus Elans and 4 TVRs.
Alan
ps. NB. you can only Insure a Car on English Reg for a limited period

[stuartgb100]

Thanks Alan.
Can you confirm the need to be tax resident before being able to register/tax the Elan ?
Cheers.

[nmauduit]

I have never heard of "Carte Grise Collection" making a difference for driving in Paris or for Hiring etc.

2 separate issues there :

- by law in France one canno't have any commercial use of a vehicule registered under "carte grise de collection" , that includes (but is not limited to...) renting his vehicle

- of late in France there has been a number of local restrictions to drive older vehicles in larger cities and their suburbs including sections of suburban highways, and by law the corresponding official Crit'air stamp has to be affixed on the windshield to enter these zones, on the ground that they would emit more pollution (won't discuss that here - presently Crit'air 3 is still allowed, that is built after 1997 regarding gasoline powered private autos), then as elections are coming up Paris has decided a temporary exclusion measure for vintage vehicles on tourist attractivity ground, which I understand should be vehicles registered under "carte grise de collection" - it is unclear at this point how long this exclusion from the general rule forbiding Paris and neighboring cities from older vehicles will last...
https://www.lez-france.fr/nc/en/french- ... s-zfe.html
NB: there are also temporary driving interdiction measures that are taken based on air quality assessement and arbitrarily based on a Crit'air level (usually higher than 3, but can be more stringent on occasion), and some of these interdictions only apply during the week from 8:00 to 20:00 .

welcome to France

[alan.barker]

The restrictions for polution is not only for Carte Grise Collection. Sometimes the speed limit is also reduced.
Cars on UK registration can be Insured but only for a limited time.
Will you be resident in France and buy a House in France.
You will need to suppy an address in France with a Gas or Electric Bill or sometihing like that in your name to register a Car.
If you apply for French Nationality. If so it will take a while. It took a little more than a Year for me and my Wife is French plus we were married in Versailles.
Amicalement
Alan

[stuartgb100]

Thanks both.
Already have a house, and have paid last year's taxe d'habitation etc.
Also paid EDF and water bills.
Have a French bank account, credit card etc.
Will not be going for French nationality, just residence.
Retired, not working.

Seems best I get UK car insurance to cover me up to December 31st (end of transition period), in the meantime acquire French residency and tax residence status.
During that period, at the appropriate point, export the vehicles, get them inspected etc, French licence plates and taxed.

[alan.barker]

Bonjour Stuart,
Where is your House.
I live in Brittany Morbihan region
Alan

[stuartgb100]

Salut Alan !

I'm in the Limousin, near Limoges.

Regards.

[elated]

I understand RetroAssur claim a specialism in insuring older cars.
I am near Circuit Charade to the west of Clermont Ferrand

[HCA]

Salut Alan !

I'm in the Limousin, near Limoges.

Regards.

I am south of Carcassonne. If you ever decide to drive a bit south, call in! I have a couple of gites if you wat to make a weekend in Carcassonne - (alongside a fully equipped workshop with a two post lift.. )

As has been said above, I find France unsympathetic to age and use of cars when it comes to insurance. For instance my new Audi RS3 is 450? p.a and my +2 is 390? p.a limited to 4000kms in the year. Questioning it just gets 'the Gallic shrug'. One thing I have found though: shop around and if your experience will be anything like mine - avoid English agents! A good start is to try your house insurer. I think I might be paying a little over the odds as I am with a small local broker, but looks after everything - I have had a few house claims and never even filled out a form, and one car claim where someone rear ended me, and never filled out a form other than the EU roadside one!

Look closer at the small print regarding getting UK insurance for 2020. Technically under EU regulations, insurance can only be for (is it three or maybe six) months from another EU state. And if one overstays the regulated time, the insurance automatically reverts to third party. I have heard that they have full all the year cover, but these are mainly the ones who want to be seen to know everything. Worth checking out if this is your plan.

Hal

[stuartgb100]

Thanks alan, elated and HCA for the help.

If you'd like to keep in touch (swap info on good Lotus finds etc. in France) then please pm me and we can exchange emails.

Regards,
Stuart.