Shipping a car to France

The rules is very stringent about shipping a car to France. While the rules vary for temporary import you need to have an idea, in case you are planning to ship a car into France. The French government is very concerned about environment and safety issues and so your car has be completely in compliance with the governmental parameters on these two issues.

Prior to Car Shipping to France you need to ensure that your car meets the French regulations of Safety and Environment. It may require modifications and it would be better if you can get these done before shipping your car to France. Check with the car shipping company and they would be able to guide you.

You will have be pay import tax whether your car is new or used, and the amount depends on the value of the car, make and condition. Normally it is 10%, and there is VAT or value added tax of 19.6% also. If your car comes into France from an EU country, you will only have to pay VAT. You need to have your papers ready for the Customs. You should also ask your shipping agent to check if you can claim some deductions on your tax taking the depreciation value of your car into consideration.

Documents you would need at French Customs

1. The registration papers of the car
2. Car invoice or the second hand sale papers.
3. Form T1 for an EU country car
4. EUR.1 certificate, if your car comes from a country with a trade pact with France.

After your car goes through the customs you will be given the import declaration and a receipt of the taxes and the Certificate 846A which you will have to submit for the registration of your car in France. Generally it takes 4 months for the car to get registered. Be very careful to carry all the relevant papers since fines are dished out on spot if the car is checked.

If you are only visiting France as a tourist or a student your car does not need to conform to French standards and may escape the taxes levied. Of course, you would need special clearance, for which you must be a student or working on a temporary visa. But this is applicable for a short period of 6 moths to one year as the case may be after which the car has to be exported. It can not be sold or rented.

Steps to be taken for shipping a car into France

1. Get a new set of keys made for handing over to the Car Shipping Company
2. Get copies of registration, sale invoice, and other papers made and hand them over to your shipping agent.
3. Always keep the contact numbers and mail id of your shipper so that you can track the progress of shipping.

Prior to handing over the car clean the car, leave only as much fuel as required to drive to a fuel station, and remove all personal belongings. Get the brakes checked, they should be working well. Check for oil and grease leaks, get them attended to.

Ensure that your shipping company offers insurance, is reputed and will take care of the customs formalities. Any reputed company does that, so check the BBB rating before handing over hiring them for shipping car to France. If you are looking for a car shipping company to get your car to France fill our online form and we shall contact you at once.