How I imported our car

This is how I exported our car from the Netherlands and imported it to France.

In 2008 we moved from the Netherlands to Grasse, France. I want to share how we exported our car from the Netherlands and imported it in France.

I first imported the car in France and afterwards I exported the car from the Netherlands.

1st step: I went to the "Center des Impots" in Grasse:

Hôtel des Impôts
29, traverse de la Paoute
BP 23150
06335 Grasse Cedex
Tel: 04 93 40 36 00

I needed to bring the following things:

• Passport
• Proof of residence (for example rental contract, utiliy bill, ...)
• vehicle's original registration documents
• receipt of sale for the car

I didn't have to pay taxes (VAT), because my car was declared as "household" good. I owned the car long enough in the Netherlands. You will have to check individually if this applies as well for you.

2nd step: I requested an attestation de conformité from the vehicle manufacturer.

This identifies that the vehicle is of a recognized type in France. You will have to do some internet search to find it for your car. I got it for our Opel from: GM France, Service Homologation. I paid 132 Euro for it. I heard as well, that you can get it from the governmental organization DRIRE (Nice 04 93 72 70 00).

3rd step: I went to a garage to do a "côntrole technique".

I paid 80 Euros for it.

4th step: I went to the Sous-Préfecture in Grasse for a "demande d'immatriculation", form Cerfa Nr 10672

Prefecture des Alpes Maritimes
3, Avenue Général de Gaulle
06130 Grasse
Tel: 04 92 42 32 39

There I needed to bring:

• Proof of identity (passport)
• Proof of residence (for example rental contract, utility bill, ...)
• a copy of the foreign registration certificate
• copy of the attestation de conformité (would not be needed anymore today)
• copy of the certificate of purchase and customs clearance certificate (issued by the centre des impots)
• Côntrol technique certificate

The same day I could pay the registration fee (around 400 Euro, depends on the size of the car) and I got the Carte Grise.

5th step: With the Carte Grise I was able to get printed a license plate.

Several small shops do this. I found one in the building of Auchan in Grasse. I attached the license plate to the car.

6th step: I exported the car from the Netherlands.

I just had to write a letter to RDW.

Notes

You can also export your car first from the Netherlands and then import it to France. Hier some more information from RDW in Dutch: RDW or RDW

And don't forget the French insurance for your car. For us, the car was not insured anymore in the Netherlands as soon we exported it. I found an English speaking Insurance Agent from AXA France: Arnaud Dubut, Tel: 04 93 36 05 89. He also helped me to sort out the no-claim statements of the different countries we lived.