Notify the DVLA that you have exported the vehicle. Do not send the whole registration document as this is needed during the process of re-registering in France. Also, return the tax disc if there are any unused months to obtain a refund (although this will probably be sent to your last English address).

Contact the car manufacturers to obtain a ‘Certificate of Conformity’. (The cost will vary depending on manufacturer) Newer vehicles may include this in the documentation

Arrange to change the car’s headlights and possibly the rear fog light to point the correct way. Cost will depend on the model of car and what needs changing. (My VW Sharan cost 270 euros because the whole headlight units had to be changed).
The garage may require some of the following documents;
Vehicle registration papers
Certificate of Conformity
Proof of your address (EDF bill or similar)
Passport

Obtain a ‘Controle Technique’ (M.O.T. equivalent) if your car is four years old or more. (Cost is about 55 euros). Documents you may require are;
As above

Arrange French car insurance. Cost again depends on car and the individual driver. (My insurance with AXA cost 445 euros for the year and includes breakdown cover and driving abroad e.g.England. Documents you may require;
As above plus
Document from your existing insurance company showing the no Claims bonus you receive

Once French insurance is in place cancel UK insurance.

Go to the Hotel des Impots and explain that you wish to ‘immatriculate’ (import) your English car. You should be issued with a ‘Quitus Fiscal’ form that will be needed at the next stage. Documents needed;
Registration papers
Certificate of conformity

Next got to the Prefecture or local Sous Prefecture for the form to finally obtain the French registration (‘carte grise’). (This procedure cost me 270 euros).
Documents needed;
English registration papers – kept by the official
Certificate of conformity – kept by the official
Passport
Quitus Fiscal (completed, in my case by the official at the Hotel des Impots) – kept by the official
Control Technique papers
Proof of your address


Again, in my case, the official completed the form and the ‘carte grise’ was handed over within 15 minutes.

On receipt of ‘carte grise’ return to the contole technique garage to get the documentation altered for the new registration.

Get the registration plates made up and fitted (Cost should be about 20 –25 euros) and return to the insurers for the papers to be amended to the new registration.

In my case the car did not pass the Control Technique on the initial visit but the paper issued, by the very helpful technician, was enough to be able to complete the procedures at the Hotel des Impots and the Sous Prefecture. Therefore, I obtained the registration and was able to get the French insurance and finalise the Controle Technique with the car already having the French registration plates in place.

If you have a non standard vehicle e.g. it runs on LPG, you may need to visit D.R.I.R.E to obtain a certificate stating that the vehicle complies with all French regulations.

George Luke

We have just changed the first of our cars. We did it in Chalon and the people at both the Hotel des Impots and the Sous Prefecture were really good, though some members have told me that other areas are not so easy.
The whole process took less than half an hour start to finish inc. the travelling to and from the different buildings.

As a tip, search around the different palces for number plates. Good places I found are the key cutting shops that you can find at most out of town commercial centres.

One thing I forgot to ask yesterday at the plate shop - I have noticed a raft of locally registered cars sporting a white rear plate rather than the usual yellow. Does anyone know the reason?