Can UK vehicle be registered at French second home?
Confusion over ‘proof of address’ required for request
A vehicle brought over to France by a second-home owner should be registered within the first year to comply with the law
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Reader question: I have seen posts online saying it is illegal to register a UK car at a French home if it is not your principal residence. Can you clear this up?
It is not illegal to register a foreign-registered car at your second home in France.
Indeed, a vehicle brought over to France by a second-home owner should be registered within the first year to comply with the law (those moving a vehicle to a main home must do this within one month).
Confusion stems from the procedure to register a vehicle, under which people are asked to provide a justificatif de domicile proving they live at the property.
France’s Code Civil includes wording that says a ‘domicile’ is the person’s main residence – and for some formalities it is necessary for proof of address to come from a main home.
However, that definition does not apply for vehicle registrations, interior ministry officials told The Connexion.
These requests only require proof of address via one of the following elements listed in a 2009 order in annexe IV, not specified as having to be from a main home:
a property or sales deed;
a tax assessment or notice from the previous year (income or property tax);
proof of address, including rent, gas, electricity, water, or telephone (landline or mobile) receipt less than six months old;
a home insurance certificate.
Interior ministry officials have previously confirmed to The Connexion that UK-registered vehicles can therefore be registered at second homes and that the key element is simply having a valid address where the vehicle may be registered.
This applies both to vehicles purchased in France to be left here, and those imported to be used occasionally at the second home.
By registering them in France, they will receive French plates.
Note that for vehicles imported post-Brexit, additional formalities must be carried out, including obtaining a certificat de conformité to show the car complies with EU standards, completing the 846A customs form, and paying any duties/VAT.
You should also inform the UK DVLA that the car has been exported within 12 months.
