Car registration

Is there a link somewhere? We would like to get a UK car registered here (Creuse). We had the lights changed, it's 4 years old so should conform ok. Could we get one of those test certificates done by the servicing garage (it needs a 20k service now), or do you have to go there personally? We've heard that unless you can speak good French you're in for problems. Also we've had conflicting reports regarding insurance, with some saying it's much cheaper here, and others warning that it's much dearer! What's your experience?

We found that it's important to shop around as in any country, but our car insurance is now with our bank. It's more cover for less than in the UK. Worth asking them first.
There is a good explanation of car registration here. http://www.frenchpropertylinks.com/essential/registering-car-france.html
Good luck

You can only get one of "those test certificates" as you term them, the CT (Controle Technique), done at a registered centre - none of which are general garages. Normally you need to make an appointment, and if it fails you have a set amount of time (as in the U.K.) to get the work done at a garage and have it re-tested. I'm not sure why you should be in for problems unless you can't speak any French at all, in which case understanding what is said may prove difficult.

You will also need a Certificate of Conformity from the manufacturer of your car, and in French. When we went to our local office in Bellac (87), the English one was not acceptable but fortunately we also had a French version. Ours was from Renault UK and at no charge as we were still resident in England when applied for. I have heard that some manufacturers charge a fee, and quite a high one. £150 plus has been mentioned.

In our case the insurance was more expensive than in the Netherlands, as in the Netherlands the top no claim bonus is 80% and in France it is 50% maximum.

Controle technique = MOT or similar.

Certificate of Conformité is obtainable from the French importer of the car and can cost approx. Euro 100,00 or is sometimes free of charge, depending on the mark.

If the car is not very old and it consumes rather a lot of fuel, then the CO2 tax may be worth considering as well.

The good news is that you don't pay a yearly amount of TAX on the car, which makes it a lot less expensive to run two cars, which may be essential if there is no public transport around.