Soon we are moving back to Menton after three years of officially residing in New York City and bringing with us our 2002 Ford Thunderbird Hard Top Cabrio. I already have the Certificat de Changement de Residence certified by the Consulat général de France à New York showing that I have owned this car for well over the minimum one year requirement so it is to be declared as already part of our "household goods" and should not be subject to customs duties. I do realize, however, that I will have to "matriculate" my car in France within a certain period. I am not sure how long a period I have to get this done. Therefore I seek an agency that can help me with that procedure. Yes, I know it can be tedious, but this car "belongs" with us on the Côte so am willing to go through whatever is necessary. I hold both U.S. and Italian (EEU) citizenship if that makes a difference. So, please suggest an agency or individual agent that can help with this. Additionally I need to find an agent to insure the car during the period following it's arrival. It is likely that will be be shipped to the port of Genova in a sealed container. The car is titled and licensed in my name with registration and license plates from the State of New York. Feel free to contact me directly at [email protected]
Seeking help with registering and insuring my car in France
Hey,
Presuming you succeed in getting it through Customs and into France.
The big issue thereafter is 'type approval'. US Federal regulations on car emissions and crash testing are different to EU regulations. Sadly.
Some car manufacturers, such as Volvo make 'World' cars, which by default in the design meet global regulations for new cars, Volvo began this in 1996. Perhaps a Ford Thunderbird is a global design, perhaps.
Every model of car sold in the EU since 1994 has an EU 'homologation' certificate number, this is issued to the manufacturer by an EU testing station BEFORE it goes on sale for the first time in the EU.
If your Ford has an EU Certificate Number, Certificat de Conformité Européen, it begins Exxx. It is stamped on the VIN plate under the VIN itself, then no problem.
If it does NOT then it must undergo a special test, at a testing centre in France. The government agency which conducts these tests is called DREAL (it's an abbreviation), it was previously known as DRIRE (I kid you not).
http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direction_ … u_logement
They operate through 'regional' offices, so you have to apply to the appropriate one where you will live. They undertake a very full test and they may require changes to the car before granting it a French 'Certificate de Conformitie'.
Frankly, given the costs involved and if you value your sanity, my advice would be sell it and buy a car in France.
Good luck.
Arkan.
Hi,
You could try Aimee Swanton, Insurance in France (Eurosud Assurance )
Insurance expert, specialising in arranging French insurance with an English -speaking service.
She is american, living in Marseille.
You can reach her on Internations.org
Will get back to you with email details as soon as I have them 
Best of luck
Thank you, Patricia. I will look forward to hearing from you with the email information for Aimee Swanton.
Regards
Hi,
Just waiting for Aimee to log on to internations and see my message, as soon as I hear I will let you know,
if I dont I will PM her number too you
Regards,
Thank you Patricia
YGM
Patricia,
Could you provide me with this info too?
I am French born, have the French permit since 1977, have a 2nd residence in France now and am trying to insure a car.
Have had a US licence since 1984 with no issues in France from 77 to 84 or the US 84 up.
I still cant get insure in France due to the fact that my primary residence is in the US.
I need a contact to get me thru that
thanks
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