Elderly second-home owners: used car or rental in France?

Reader Question: We have a second-home in France we drive to, but it is becoming difficult with our age to drive so long. We thought about getting a used car but friends told us this is impossible to register and tax in France as we do not live there. We have 10-year Brexit Cards so does this change anything? If not, can we rent?

It is perfectly possible for second-home owners to register a car to their French address, provided the car remains in the country. 

When registering a vehicle to their second-home, drivers only need to prove they have a French address, not that it is their main residence. 

This can be done through utility bills or other similar means, which do not state whether an address is permanent or secondary. 

You mention you are planning to buy a second-hand car in France as opposed to in the UK and import it over – this also means it is easier to register as you do not need to worry about import fees or other costs.

Further information on registering your vehicle once it has been acquired can be found in our article here. The process is done online.

Once registered, you will be able to obtain insurance for the vehicle from a French insurer. 

We are not sure what you mean by ‘tax’ as there is no annual road tax in France. Registering the vehicle, having valid insurance and a driving licence, and ensuring the car is roadworthy are the requirements for driving a vehicle in France. 

You do not need separate proof of address for a contrôle technique (CT, roadworthiness test) in France, and only need to show the vehicle registration information (which includes the address the vehicle is linked to). 

Hiring rental cars

If this seems difficult, or buying a suitable second-hand car is proving difficult, you can also rent a car. 

Several services are now in place that are used to providing rentals to second-home owners, including in some cases just for a month at a time. 

There are minimum age limits to hire a rental car but no maximum. 

If you hold a foreign driving licence it may also be more difficult to obtain a rental vehicle, especially if it is an older version. Some agencies may also ask for an International Driving Permit. 

Second-home owners should not have Brexit Cards 

Having ‘Brexit’ cards does not have any bearing on car ownership or rental.

It is worth noting that these cards were intended for people who reside permanently in France, and those with a second-home they only occasionally visit from abroad should usually instead be using their 90-day visa-free access to the EU and/or six-month visitor visas. 

However, you do not need to hand back this card now that you have it, and it may be that you were full-time residents but moved away.