Going out to by a TOAD (TowCar) today!

yeoblade

yeoblade

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As title, we have bought house in the middle of France, just come back and after travelling there 'n back in the MoHo (7.4m long coachbuilt ) I have found the impracticalities of having to daily drive it around there to do all those daily things. So the only real solution I've found is take a TOAD with me and leave it there for 6 months. As it needs at least one or two stopovers to get there I like having the moHo to travel there, and of course have some trips out from the FR. house.
Any thoughts apart from it's maybe illegal and it will fall off the MoHo and kill people when its front goes rusty!
 
Hmmm, a Towed Haul?

Many people do though so I don't think it's illegal? Are the rules different in France?
 
...just seen this though;

If you are towing a car behind a motor caravan overseas, our advice would be to use a trailer with all four wheels of the car off the ground. Although most countries do not have a specific law banning A-frames, they do have a law which prohibits a motor vehicle towing another motor vehicle.
 
And this one specific to France;

You're not allowed to tow a motor vehicle except in the event of a breakdown or an accident and if the distance to be travelled is short. This practice is banned on motorways where the assistance of a recovery vehicle must be sought.
 
caledonia said:
Buy a cheap motor in France and leave it there to use at the France house. But a cheap motor in uk and leave it there to use at the uk house. Probably cheaper and less grief than all the impracticalities of a tow car.
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Yes, I'm not a fan of TOADs just a solution to problem. A few of problems though with above:
  • It is actually illegal to buy/own a French reg car in France unless you are a resident, I'm not.
  • French cars MUST be register at the owners PRIMARY residence, which for me is UK, and not a second home.
  • The registration process is now randomly checking residency when buying/registering cars.
  • Legally to drive a French reg. vehicle, (not hire car) you must have a French driving licence. I don't.
French cars are poor value for money compared to the cheaper UK market.There ain't half a lot of old stuff on their roads that had long passed ther use by date here!
 
caledonia said:
Buy your friendly French neighbour a car that you could maybe use while on holiday? 😉😉
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Not sure I could ask that only just meet them and they're english but FR resident. They have already been really good in pushing my MoHo off THERE drive, where they said I could park when I got wheel spin stuck, after moving I moved off my grass parking where I got bogged down. Got to get some grasscrete put down there asap.
I've a Honda PCX in the 'boot' but the wife's not so keen on it and our dog really struggles to keep up 🙄.
 
You probably have discovered them but I am sure there are a couple of French ex pat forums on the go. I registered with a couple when I was considering full timing and / or moving to France a few years back now. I bet someone on there will know a way around it. One issue you might have if you register it in UK and leave it in a shed somewhere in France is you will have to drive or tow it back to the UK for its MOT I guess. I suppose a scooter is out of the question on a rack or easylifter?
 
Another option would be to hire a small car there. Might be cheaper in the long run and certainly a lot less hassle.
 
dunfillin said:
Another option would be to hire a small car there. Might be cheaper in the long run and certainly a lot less hassle.
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Unlike Spain France doesn't really do cheap car hire, best I could find was about 209eu/week fiat 500, especially away from main cities. So about 12 weeks a year min = £2.5K
 
If You have a car here Could you drive it over as well as MoHo ? You mention 6 mths how will you manage the 90 day rule
Second thought isn't there a restriction on how long you can keep a vehicle in france with out registering it there
 
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yeoblade said:
Unlike Spain France doesn't really do cheap car hire, best I could find was about 209eu/week fiat 500, especially away from main cities. So about 12 weeks a year min = £2.5K
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Still cheaper than buying a car, running costs, ferry charges each way and possibly a big fine as well!
 
witzend said:
If You have a car here Could you drive it over as well as MoHo ? You mention 6 mths how will you manage the 90 day rule
Second thought isn't there a restriction on how long you can keep a vehicle in france with out registering it there.
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People 90 day rule

Cars 180 days then has to be registered in FR. So it will have to come home every 6 months (or so!) need an MOT anyway.

I believe insurers log entry ad exit with a ferry ticket as evidence, so if Towed may not register, unless CCTV at dock.
 
yeoblade said:
People 90 day rule

Cars 180 days then has to be registered in FR. So it will have to come home every 6 months (or so!) need an MOT anyway.

I believe insurers log entry ad exit with a ferry ticket as evidence, so if Towed may not register, unless CCTV at dock.
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If it`s being towed it will have the motorhome number plate over the cars number plate on the back so will not be picked up even by cctv.
 
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