Worth it to Import Car from USA to France?

Posted by LaundryCBusThrowAway@reddit | expats | View on Reddit | 20 comments

Hey there/Bonjour!

As the title says, just asking if it would be worth it to ship my car to France from the USA.

I already know that I would need to modify it for emissions and lights etc and have looked up shipping rates on Schumacher etc. My father and grandfather died very suddenly within months of each other, and I inherited this car, which I'm weirdly attached to but not committed to financially effing myself over. It's just a great driver and really zippy. My grandpa put a lot of work into it very recently already, so it has newer everything (hoses, belts, oil gasket, brakes) + 4 brand new (less than a year old) decent Firestone tires.

It's a 2009 (LOL I know, she old as hell, which is why the emissions updates may be silly to fund) BMW X3 with 101K miles, everything works as it should, interior is pristine, right hand driver automatic, some upgrades.

Otherwise, looking to purchase a similar zippy but more energy friendly car in France, with a similar amount of SUV room for large dogs. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance! 💙

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cptninc@reddit

If it’s RHD, then it’s already been imported from the EU to the US. This means it started life as EU-compliant. Depending on how strict the RI was in the US, it might not require much at all to make it legal in the EU again.

That said, the shipping alone is more than the car is worth, PLUS it’s always a PITA to live with a wrong-side car (ie, driving RHD anywhere in the developed world, or LHD in the UK). So you’re looking at spending a bunch of extra money in order to get a vehicle that is inherently inferior to a local one.

This will give a temporary sentimental respite (until it’s time to get rid of the car) and it will do so at appreciable financial and emotional cost. Not worth it, IMO.

Typical_Design_2505@reddit

2009 BMW X3 have a head gasket problem

djoliverm@reddit

Right hand drive so the car originally was a UK/Japanese region car that was then imported to the US?

Besides telling you to absolutely not do this in any circumstance, the fact that it's also RHD is like a cherry on top haha.

Only do this if the care is literally pricesless and you're fully aware that you will spend way more than the car is worth to import it and are fine with all the hassle and red tape you'll need to go through. If it doesn't meet that standard then sell it before you move.

RickityNL@reddit

2009 X3

Why would you even want to import one from the USA? They're also here? I don't get why you would even consider this tbh.

Hell no

YetAnotherGuy2@reddit

My mom had the army bring her VW Rabbit (it's been a couple of years) to Germany. As long as anty plays were on them, she was driving it around in German roads without problems. When she left the army and decided she wanted to keep the car, she went to the German technical car oversight organization and they told her it wasn't street legal and she'd have to exchange a lot of parts to make it. A Volkswagen.

For example: the US headlights were round and not square as required by the law at the time, so she would have to have the headlight assembly exchanged.

She ended up selling it to someone in the army and got herself a German version.

It's not as bad nowadays anymore but it that's in comparison to that episode, lol

Jinniblack@reddit

No advice on shipping but get the window regulators checked. The window motors dying in this. Idek is a known issue. (I still remember all these years later!!)

monsieurlee@reddit

That thing is worth maybe $3000.

It isn't even the financial cost. You've gonna spend so much time and mental energy figuring out the rules shipping it, importing it, making it compliant, and maintaining a US spec car in France.

Final answer: Fuck no.

Spiritual_Pound_6848@reddit

Unless it’s a one of a kind / rare car (which it isn’t), no. Just sell it in the USA and buy something in France

Ok-Assistance4133@reddit

No advice but definitely know the pain of leaving a car you love inexplicably on the other side of the pond

Dmte@reddit

Lmao no. I looked into bringing my midsize truck cause you can’t get it anywhere else, but it’s so not worth it. It’s dumb, buy something here.

KostyaFedot@reddit

Start with asking of European certificate of compliance. Usually it stops right where.

You could still dump your vehicle to EU without it, but getting is certified and modified is nightmare and money.

AllPintsNorth@reddit

No.

apc961@reddit

It's never worth it for any country, unless you are moving on fat expat package and employer is willing to pay the associated costs (very rare these days).

grogi81@reddit

Not worth it, unless it is some sort of rare car - an american classic, an exotic car etc - and you're not doing it to save money.

BAFUdaGreat@reddit

Hell no. Sell it and use proceeds to buy vehicle in FR.

M_e_n_n_o@reddit

Why not just get a BMW X3 2009 in France. It’s a European car.

eventuallyfluent@reddit

werchoosingusername@reddit

This person knows the pain.

Short: No

Long: Hell no!

I had 2009 BMW 328i (US model) and after digging into the nitty gritty part of the procedure I sold the car in NL to someone who was interested.

Along the process there is a part where engineers will examine your car and it is literally up to their mood that day to give it a pass or not. The can ask you to change the headlight lenses, window glass, tires (for sure). Headlight on new cars are a small fortune.

Just the document Certificate of Conformity (CoC) will cost you 200-300 euros. My model was never sold in the EU, hence It was a way bigger hassle. I gave up. Oh just saw yours is a RHD. Another problem.

Now, if you have a classic (more than 30 y.o.) things are smooth sailing. I had one and did the paperwork myself.

There 2 Facebook groups related to this subject. I forgot the names. I still suggest not to go through this. You will have plenty of option to satisfy your masochist urges within the French bureaucratic system.

NOTE: Just realized that you are from the UK. You might have a bit less problems, but still you will have some. Best of luck.

feudalle@reddit

It might cost more to import it to france and modifying it than buying a newer bmw x3 in france. Sentimental value thats a you call.