The following is based on information supplied by Club Members and reflects their own experiences in registering several MGF/TFs in France. As mentioned on the header page of this section, procedures tend to vary from Préfecture to Préfecture:
Firstly check your headlights. If you have a right hand drive MGF (as opposed to a TF, see below) with left hand dip headlights, you will need to address this in order to obtain a CT (MoT) (Stop Press 09/12/17: but see Note below)* The following possible solutions that our members have successfully employed:
- Use Beam deflectors, if fitted correctly they will pass the CT.
- Replace the RHD headlights with LHD units. French headlights dip vertically but US spec. right hand dip units are acceptable. Replacement headlights can be obtained from parts suppliers, Ebay, etc., or,
- A much cheaper but much more fiddly solution: Remove and dismantle the headlight units (clips), carefully prise off the two glass lenses from the light units and swap them over, right to left and left to right. Turn the lenses through 180 degrees (to line up the flaps) and refix the swapped glass lenses with the fluted sides outwards. This method has been used successfully by our members. It produces light beam patterns which are not exactly the same as those of replacement headlights but the car should pass it's CT and you will surely be able to see where you are going at night.
If you have an MGTF, the solution could be much simpler as the car was produced with adjustable headlights, see http://www.mgf.ultimatemg.com/group2/lighting/converters/TF_converter.htm . That said, we have recently been informed (June 2016) of a CT failure using this method - we are investigating. It seems that the particular CT station required the lights to dip to the right ("tourist mode") and not vertically as per the adjustment. This may apply to cars going for a re test as well as cars new to France. If your car doesn't pass then I'm afraid new LHD headlights are required which are not cheap and, we believe, difficult to find. Should you be taking a TF for a test with adjusted beams please let us know what happens!
*Note 09/12/17: The club has heard from two different sources that, as from May 2018 when the new CT regulations come into force, headlight beam converters will be acceptable on RHD headlights for CT purposes. The beam converters have to be the optical type - black stick on tape will not be acceptable. Our sources are French CT examiners who have attended courses on the new regulations. We are trying to get this confirmed - watch this space!
French insurance needs to be obtained at some stage. You can do this using the foreign registration number but check with your insurer as such insurance may only have a limited period of validity before you have to provide the insurer with the French registration number. When you do this the insurance documents will be reissued reflecting the French registration. There are a number of English speaking (or indeed British) insurance agents operating in France.
You should then proceed as follows, remembering at at times that your MG is probably listed as a "Rover":
You should then proceed as follows, remembering at at times that your MG is probably listed as a "Rover":
Step 1 - Certificate of Conformity
You will need to prove that your car has received a European Certificate of Conformity (C o C). If your car is registered in an EU country, the CoC reference, which begins with an "e," should be listed on your registration document. In the case of a UK V5 this is normally listed against item K. This should satisfy the Préfecture (4. below) but recent experience is that it doesn't; it appears that the number on the V5 may be too short and missing the letters "RD" - remember that the functionnaire at the Préfecture is simply filling in boxes on his/her commuter.
Rather than waste time at the Préfecture it's probably best to obtain a CoC as the first step of this labour of love. This can be obtained from your nearest DREAL office (for locations see http://www.developpement-durable.gouv.fr/Liste-des-21-DREAL ) The cost at the time of writing was €64. Specifically DREAL Niort has proved helpful. Their website is http://www.le-site-de.com/d.r.e.a.l-niort_108381.html - this gives opening hours, etc. The contact there is M. Caillou (Xavier). Remember to tell them (him) that, because the Rover company is no longer in business, you cannot obtain a CoC from them.
An alternative source for a CoC is MGRCC Services in the UK, see http://www.mgrccservices.com . Here the cost is £150 plus postage – you can make your own choice!
You will need to prove that your car has received a European Certificate of Conformity (C o C). If your car is registered in an EU country, the CoC reference, which begins with an "e," should be listed on your registration document. In the case of a UK V5 this is normally listed against item K. This should satisfy the Préfecture (4. below) but recent experience is that it doesn't; it appears that the number on the V5 may be too short and missing the letters "RD" - remember that the functionnaire at the Préfecture is simply filling in boxes on his/her commuter.
Rather than waste time at the Préfecture it's probably best to obtain a CoC as the first step of this labour of love. This can be obtained from your nearest DREAL office (for locations see http://www.developpement-durable.gouv.fr/Liste-des-21-DREAL ) The cost at the time of writing was €64. Specifically DREAL Niort has proved helpful. Their website is http://www.le-site-de.com/d.r.e.a.l-niort_108381.html - this gives opening hours, etc. The contact there is M. Caillou (Xavier). Remember to tell them (him) that, because the Rover company is no longer in business, you cannot obtain a CoC from them.
An alternative source for a CoC is MGRCC Services in the UK, see http://www.mgrccservices.com . Here the cost is £150 plus postage – you can make your own choice!
Step 2 - Contrôle Technique
These tests are normally carried out by appointment. Don’t forget to take the vehicles present registration certificate (V5C for UK) as well as the CoC, as 1. Assuming the car passes, you will be issued with a windscreen sticker recording the current registration – there is no need to change this once you get the French registration – wait until the next test is due.
These tests are normally carried out by appointment. Don’t forget to take the vehicles present registration certificate (V5C for UK) as well as the CoC, as 1. Assuming the car passes, you will be issued with a windscreen sticker recording the current registration – there is no need to change this once you get the French registration – wait until the next test is due.
Step 3 - Tax Exemption Certificate Obtain this from your local Hôtel des Impôts - however there have been reports that some tax offices have refused to issue them - in one case the application was told the "those people at the Préfecture don't know what they're doing." However pleading worked and the certificate was issued
You should go armed with:
There have been reports that some tax offices have refused to issue certificates - in one case the applicant was told that "those people at the Préfecture don't know what they're doing." However pleading worked and the certificate was issued
Note: For second hand vehicles this stage may not be necessary. You could always try Step 4. below first. However, after waiting for your turn at the Préfecture, you may be told that the Exemption Certificate is indeed required. A trip the Hôtel des Impôts will inevitably mean that you will loose your place in the queue.
You should go armed with:
- Certificate of Conformity
- Contrôle Technique
- Present Registration Document (V5C)
- Utility bill in your name giving your French address (see below if this presents a problem)
- Bill of Sale (giving the date you bought the car and the price - be intelligently enterprising as necessary)
- If you have imported the vehicle from a non EU country, the French Customs form.
- Passport.
There have been reports that some tax offices have refused to issue certificates - in one case the applicant was told that "those people at the Préfecture don't know what they're doing." However pleading worked and the certificate was issued
Note: For second hand vehicles this stage may not be necessary. You could always try Step 4. below first. However, after waiting for your turn at the Préfecture, you may be told that the Exemption Certificate is indeed required. A trip the Hôtel des Impôts will inevitably mean that you will loose your place in the queue.
Step 4 Carte Gris Proceed to your local Préfecture or Sub Préfecture armed with the documents listed in Step 3 1) to 7) above, plus the Tax Exemption Certificate, insurance certificate and some cash or chequebook. Also at some point you will probably asked for the "fiscal horsepower" of your car - e. g. we believe and MGF is 9CV (registration fee depends on the fiscal horsepower of the car being registered - an MGF is approximately €150).
Be aware that the system has now moved to on-line and unless you have the correct log in accounts, then you cannot do this yourself. Another option is to use someone with the accounts, I used the Peugeot garage in Ruffec, who did the application for me for a nominal fee.
At certain Préfectures sandwiches, a cushion and a fully charged Kindle should also be considered. Don’t forget the utility bill, this is essential. However, if you do not have one in your own name and are living at an address with someone who does, their Attestation (in French) that you live with them at the stated address will suffice.
No matter what happens, under no circumstance argue with the officials - it may make you feel better but it won't do you any good, in fact to the contrary.
The Carte Grise will then be posted to you by registered post – this is usually quite quick. When you get it send a copy to your insurance company so that they can reissue the documents and also use it to obtain your number plates, which should be riveted to the car (coloured rivets usually available at from number plate shops.)
As above, once you receive the Carte Grise don't forget to advise your insurance company, who will reissue the window sticker to reflect the new registration new number.
We hope this helps - please let us know if your own experience is different from the procedure outlined above!
Be aware that the system has now moved to on-line and unless you have the correct log in accounts, then you cannot do this yourself. Another option is to use someone with the accounts, I used the Peugeot garage in Ruffec, who did the application for me for a nominal fee.
At certain Préfectures sandwiches, a cushion and a fully charged Kindle should also be considered. Don’t forget the utility bill, this is essential. However, if you do not have one in your own name and are living at an address with someone who does, their Attestation (in French) that you live with them at the stated address will suffice.
No matter what happens, under no circumstance argue with the officials - it may make you feel better but it won't do you any good, in fact to the contrary.
The Carte Grise will then be posted to you by registered post – this is usually quite quick. When you get it send a copy to your insurance company so that they can reissue the documents and also use it to obtain your number plates, which should be riveted to the car (coloured rivets usually available at from number plate shops.)
As above, once you receive the Carte Grise don't forget to advise your insurance company, who will reissue the window sticker to reflect the new registration new number.
We hope this helps - please let us know if your own experience is different from the procedure outlined above!
Guide Prices (subject to change):
CoC (DREAL) € 64
CT € 70
Tax Exemption Free
Registration Fee (MGF) €150
Insurance (varies) €150
