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Welcome to France Information web site! updated 04-11-11
Useful Information for moving to or living in France
If you have any information you would like to share please email franceonlinewebsite@gmail.com |
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and Pets Pet Passports New rules coming into effect beginning 2012 - more info here www.defra.gov.uk/news/2011/06/30/new-rules-pet-passports |
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1 January - New Years Day 22 April - Good Friday (regional) 25 April - Easter 1 May - Labour Day 8 May - Victory Day 2 June - Ascension Day 13 June - Whit 14 July - Bastille Day 15 August - Assumption of the Virgin Mary 1 November- All Saints Day 11 November - Armistice Day 25 December - Christmas Day 26 December - St Stephens Day (regional) |
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Cars Buying or selling a used car? The details on the vehicle registration documents and other paperwork needed when buying, selling or scrapping a car, moving house or needing to replace a lost or stolen Carte Grise More info can be found from our link partner Dordogne Anglo Info dordogne.angloinfo.com/countries/france/cartegrise |
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you should have a form in your car (available from your insurance company) and called in French
"Constat Amiable d'accident Automobile".
If you are unfortunate enough to have an accident this form MUST be completed in conjunction with the driver of the other car and each of you have a copy and then you MUST report to your insurance company as soon as possible. We have a bilingual copy of this form (in French and English) in PDF format. If you would like a copy please email franceonlinewebsite@gmail.com and put ACCIDENT FORM in the subject box and we will be pleased to forward a copy to you.
Read more on this subject at Dordogne Anglo Info pages |
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Buying and selling a car in France
Before you agree to buy a used car in France
Make sure that the series number stamped on the car matches that in the registration documents of the seller.
Make sure that the seller is the legally registered owner of the car by checking on the Carte Grise.
And/or make sure that the seller provides a certificat de situation, which includes a certificate of non-security (valid for one month) and a certificate of non-opposition (valid for two months) proving that the car may be sold. To register the car you must provide:
Proof of your identity: passport, Carte de Séjour or French driving licence.
Proof of residence: a recent utility bill (EDF or France Télécom) or rental receipt, house deeds or home insurance documents, in your name and made out to your residential address.
A completed certificat d'immatriculation (Form Cerfa 10672), registration document is available from the Préfecture, Sous-Préfecture, Mairie or police.
A certificate de situation provided by the seller (see above).
A certificat de cession or certificate of transfer and sale from the previous owner. The date of sale should the same as that on the sellers car registration document.
The Carte Grise registration document of the previous owner, marked in indelible ink "Vendu le..." or "Cédé le..." with the date of the sale and signature of previous owner and dealers stamp if appropriate.
If the car is older than 4 years, a controle technique (CT) certificate, no older than 6 months, which is the proof of roadworthiness provided by the seller.
Money to pay the registration fee.
Tariffs for Carte Grise are based on the CV of the car and the age, less than 10 years old the more you pay.
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Selling a Used Car
You must provide the buyer with:
Carte Grise barrée: this is your vehicle registration document, marked in indelible ink with the words "Vendue le..." and the date, or "Cédée le..." and the date, followed by your signature.
A certificat de situation, which includes a certificate of non-security (valid for one month) and a certificate of non-opposition (valid for two months). The form is available from the Préfecture or Sous-Préfecture.
A certificat de vente document of sale. The form is available from the Préfecture or Sous-Préfecture.
If the car is more than 4 years old, you must provide a controle technique (CT) certificate as proof of roadworthiness. It must be no more than 6 months old.
Within 15 days, you must send the duplicate of your certificat de vente to the Préfecture or Mairie of the place where your car was registered.
There is no administrative charge when selling a car. |
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Car Hire
If you are coming to France and intend to hire a car please be aware that you will need a credit card so that the car hire company has some security to obtain any excess charges. Some house hunters have recently arrived wanting to pay in cash which is probably fine for the hire costs but you still need to have a credit card.
Do book your car hire for 24 hour periods from the time of arrival. If you go over a 24 hour period they will charge an extra day!
Lots of garages in France now have 24/24 pumps, as in UK, designed to serve yourself and pay by credit card. Some pumps DO NOT accept UK cards, check first!
The cheapest places for fuel are supermarkets, and as in UK, the most expensive fuel is on the autoroutes.
Unleaded petrol is 'sans plomb' and diesel is 'gazoil'.
Autoroutes - In France it is usual to pay to travel on the autoroute (motorway). You enter through a booth called Péage where you either collect a ticket and pay as you exit or you may be asked to pay a fixed fee. It may seem expensive to UK visitors but the autoroutes are well maintained and an easy and quick way to travel long distances. The traffic is not usually as heavy as in UK although it can be busy around major towns.
Speed limits are 130kph in good weather and 110kph in bad weather on the autoroutes.
Do not be tempted to go above the speed limits. The French police are very 'hot' at the moment trying to catch speeding motorists and you will see them!
Do not drink and drive. You can be stopped in the middle of the smallest villages and breathalysed!
Do invest in a Michelin map book for finding your routes. Expensive, but worth it. |
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Drivers who take up residence in another EC/EEA country no longer have to exchange their driving licence, but may continue to drive using their own national licence for as long as is remains valid. You should however check with the appropriate driving licensing authorities where you will be residing for information on any conditions that the host member state may stipulate.
National licences may only carry an address from the country which issued that licence. The DVLA is therefore unable to re-issue your British licence with a foreign address. It is accepted that drivers who move to another part of the EC/EEA could be holding driving licences showing an incorrect address. This is permissible under the terms of the EC Directive on Driving Licences
Further info www.direct.gov.uk and www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensing |
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Useful info here about cleaning chimneys
www.french-property.com/news/build_renovation_france/chimneys_flue_pipes/ |
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Diagnositc Reports for house purchase
www.french-property.com/guides/france/purchase-real-estate/legal/surveys/
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If you would like a list just e mail franceonlinewebsite@gmail.com and a "word" document will be sent by return e mail, just mark your e mail DOCUMENTS. |
EducationFrench School GrantsIf you have children of school age in France, then you may be able to benefit from one or more school grants. While all of these grants are means tested, the basic ‘Return to School’ grant (Allocation Rentrée Scolaire) has generous income thresholds. There are also other specific grants for attendance at French secondary and upper secondary school, although they are not particularly generous. As well as the main grants distributed on a national basis there are also local grants and loans that are distributed by the schools and by the local councils. You can read more in a comprehensive Guide to French School Grants here Education Grants |
Finance
www.euro-cheque.com - euro-cheque.com has been designed to make life a little easier for anyone having to write foreign cheques. At the moment we support four main languages. English, French, Spanish and German - we are hoping to add more languages at a later date. There is no such thing as a bank guarantee card in France, as a cheque must be honoured. Click this link to read more www.french-property.com:80/news/money_france/cheque_france/
Tax issues when leaving the UK
If you live in France permanently and your home is your main residence you must register with your local tax office and receive a tax number, even if you have nil income. If you don't do this and then sell your house you will be subject to capital gains tax.
When you leave the UK you
should notify HM Revenue and Customs by completing form P85
(www.hmrc.gov.uk/cnr/p85.pdf)
and sending it to your UK tax office. This will enable HM Revenue and
Customs to decide how you should be treated for UK tax purposes.
Tax Fonciere and Tax d'Habitation
Two useful links below
www.french-property.com/guides/france/finance-taxation/taxation/local-property-taxes/fonciere/
www.french-property.com/guides/france/finance-taxation/taxation/local-property-taxes/#9.1 |
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House Insurance must be in place before you finally sign for a property.
Take a copy of
the insurance/cover note with you to the Notaire on signing day. Changing Insurance companies - you must give at least 2 months notice to change your insurance company. |
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If you want to know the phone number, address and email for your local Mairie email us and we will try and find it for you! Email franceonlinewebsite@gmail.com with your commune and post code |
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Police 17
Fire 18
Ambulance 15
International emergency number is 112
and see this link for useful info ec.europa.eu/information_society
Affections Longue Duree (ALDs)
we have a list of these medical conditions in English. If you would like a copy please email dordogneonline@gmail.com with "ALD LIST" in the subject box and we will forward a copy to you.
Affections Longue Durée (ALDs) as presently defined by the French Government. ALDs are medical conditions for which 100% re-imbursement is available through the French State Healthcare scheme.
Carte Europeene d'Assurance Maladie
if you are a resident in France, have a carte vitale and travel to the UK or any other country in Europe for a holiday you must have this card. It is necessary to renew it every year. Apply at your local CPAM or you can apply on line if you create an on line account with your local CPAM.
You need a card for each person travelling.
European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)
What are the
rules and procedures on the use of the European Health
Insurance card for visitors to France and expat residents in
France? With effect from May 2010, the French authorities will cease to issue the CEAM card to those with an E121, who should make application to the UK NHS Business Services Authority (or equivalent in other countries).
www.direct.gov.uk/en/BritonsLivingAbroad
Medication and medical problems
whether you are just travelling France, renting, house hunting or coming to live for the first time carry with you details of any medical conditions you may have and a list of your medication, preferably prepared by a doctor in the UK. If your stay in France is extended for any reason and you are not carrying enough medication it would make it easier for a French doctor to prescribe for you.
Top up/Mutuelle Assistance (CMU)
Most of us pay for a Top Up insurance policy here in France.
However if you are on a low income you can apply for CMU, which simply put is an application for your top up policy to be paid by the CPAM (social security). If your income is below the limits or within 20% more then you can apply for CMU if you meet the criteria.
The simple criteria are that you are stable in France for at least 3 months, you need to produce your passport, and proof that you live in France full time, tax returns perhaps, EDF bill, Tax d'habitation/fonciere bill, information on your current top up policy, your carte vitale and complete an application form which is available for download by clicking this link
www.ameli.fr/fileadmin/user_upload/formulaires/S3715.pdf
Click this link to go to the relevant page for all information on this assistance (in French)
www.ameli.fr/assures/soins-et-remboursements/c.m.u.-et-complementaires-sante/index.php
or go along to your local CPAM for assistance.
We also understand that once you apply for this and receive your new attestation the CPAM contact EDF and you will then receive a form to apply for reduced electricity bills - see this link here
www.french-property.com/guides/france/utilities/electricity/assistance-payment/
CMU is awarded for 12 months. Be aware that if you apply for and receive CMU it is up to you to apply for renewal at least 2 months before the renewal date.
If you currently have a top up and apply for this assistance DO NOT CANCEL your current insurance, wait until you receive the new attestation and then take that to your insurance company who will copy it and your payments should then cease. It may be wise to check the procedure with your insurance company.
Having just obtained an "ordanance" here in France for our Tetanus vaccinations we are told by our chemist that there is no record card to be completed and we have lost our original ones so we have found one on line in pdf format and if you would like a copy please email franceonlinewebsite@gmail.com for a copy and put VACCINATIONS in the subject box.
Useful info here -
Health Cover Changes September 2011 |
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To renew an English Passport in France go to
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www.shipping-to-france.info Useful link on what to consider when shipping to France |
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Television and TV Licence
Useful information here about the TV Licence in France
www.french-property.com/news/tax_france/france_television_licence_payment/ |
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Working
www.startbusinessinfrance.com Free expert advice on registering, setting up and starting a business in France
www.adie.org/microfinance-in-france - Adie finances the self-employed and microenterprises through a variety of products based on clients needs - Loans at market rate up to 6000 €, "Start-up grants" funded by the French government or by local authorities, Non interest bearing subordinated loans. |
| France on line English speaking
useful information and links for Alsace, Aquitaine, Auvergne, Brittany, Burgundy, Centre, Champagne Ardenne, Corsica, Franche Comte, Ile de France, Languedoc Roussillon, Limousin, Lorraine, Midi Pyrenees, Nord Pas de Calais, Normandy, Pays de la Loire, Picardy, Poitou Charente, Provence Alpes Cote d'Azur, Rhone Alpes |
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