Shipping a Vehicle from the US to France
If you are relocating to France from the US, you may be considering transporting or shipping your car to the country. It could be a real challenge on your part. The process begins while you are still in the US. You would be required to meet specific Customs regulations and to coordinate with the nearest French Embassy or Consulate for necessary clearances and other requirements.
Consider the possible time frame of shipping a vehicle from the US to France. It usually takes about three to four weeks to complete the shipping process. Thus, you could already be in France to personally receive your shipped car or you could arrive a few days or weeks after the shipment has reached the destination.
Basic requirements
Of course, upon shipment of the car, certain requirements must be met. First, the vehicle registration and corresponding title should be presented. If the car is presently being leased or financed, you would have to furnish a notarized statement coming from the lessor or creditor, which should clearly state its awareness that you are shipping the vehicle.
Do not forget to present your valid identification cards. Those would also be required by the time you receive and claim the shipment in France. Your car keys should be handed over to the shipping company for logistical purposes. Be sure the set of keys include those for the trunk, the ignition, the gas cap, and all locked compartments, as it could be subject to inspection by French Customs officers.
Preparing your car for shipment
Before shipping the car to France, be sure to make the necessary and appropriate preparations. The car must be in ideal and working condition. The shipping company may have to check the overall condition of the vehicle prior to approval for shipment. The car should have at least six inches of ground clearance. Low-riding vehicles may face greater difficulty when shipped.
Do not leave anything inside the vehicle. The shipping firm may also ask you to take off or remove any item that is not normally and permanently bolted or mounted to the car. It is also wise not to fill your tank before shipping. You may leave at least quater a tank of gas, which would just be sufficient to drive it to a service station upon arrival at France. Also disconnect all alarm systems of the car prior to shipment.
Registration requirements
By this time, you should also be aware of the need to register the car upon arrival in the country. This type of registration is called ‘immatriculation.’ After receiving the vehicle, you would need to secure a ‘Carte Grise’ or grey card. Do not forget that after clearance from the French Customs office, you are obliged to immediately apply for a domestic license plate.
Cars should always drive on the road’s left side. You are expected to abide by French traffic rules at all times. Otherwise, you would have to deal with spot fines. Always bring your driving license and all necessary vehicle registration and ownership documents. Finally, if you are monitoring speed limits, always bear in mind that the country uses the metric system (kilometers per hour instead of miles).