I have a need for a rant! It's a long one!
I've just finally completed the importation of my bike from the UK to France. But dear god what a load of bureaucratic rubbish I had to go through! And holy cr@p it's cost me an absolute fortune! If I'd have known it would be so hard and complicated I'd have ridden back to the UK, sold it there and bought a French one back here!
First of all, you need a certificate of EU conformity from Yamaha to say it's been built to EU standards. It's bloody UK bike so of course it has! But oh no you still need this paper. Oh and it costs 125 euros... This took a month to arrive as of course I tried to get this done in summer. If you know France at all, then you'll know that the entire country goes on holiday in July and August as it's practically impossible to get anything done.
Also needed is a certificate to prove VAT tax has been paid. I bought the bike second hand and have owned it for 2 years (luckily I had the receipt from the guy I bought it from). This was (surprisingly) free and easy to get.
Yamaha certificate received, stating PARTIAL conformity as the lights need to be changed to EU spec (as the UK is one of TWO countries in the EU to drive on the bloody left!). So an official inspection from the French authorities is needed.
Lights bought second hand from a guy on ebay, inspection duly arranged and bike towed on a borrowed trailer 50km for the inspection. I paid 86 euros for what should have taken less than 5 minutes. However the guy was looking for a tiny number stamped on the lights, and insisted I take the entire fairing to pieces so he can find it. He then finds it printed on the glass on the front of the lights so it wasn't necessary to take the fairing apart after all.
I rather stupidly assumed it'd be possible to have the paper from him the same day enabling me to go and register the bike. Mr Man shakes head and says ''Non monsieur, ce n'est pas possible.''
Had to wait 2 days before I could go back and pick it up.
All paperwork received and in order (including other items such as electricity bill as proof of address and passport as proof of ID) I went to the local prefecture to register the bike. Everyone was telling me before that it was unlikely I'd be successful first time as there is always a 'problem', such as a missing bit of paper/signature, or it can't be processed as the person is brushing their teeth at the moment...blah blah...
It was in fact done first time with no issues
, apart from my own issue with the 145 euro fee for the registration documents. Hooray thinks I, I shall be on the road by lunchtime! Just have to arrange insurance....
French insurers refuse to recognise my no-claims bonus so I have to start as if I'm a newbie rider. In the UK I had full cover for £150, here I've paid 545 euros for third party, fire and theft only!
So I am happy to be back on the road, but have no money left for petrol!
Rant over...sorry for the length!
)
Valentino couldn't be happier if he woke up in the dressing room of a gladiator movie :BLAA:
