Do you have any suggestions on how to proceed? Wed appreciate you letting him know you found him via our article and site. We are an Arab (Saudi) family of (8 people and a baby). Depending on the age of the vehicle there may be little or no manufacturers warranty. Hi Sue, let me contact them on your behalf. Beer and Croissants recommend John Mottram at France Motorhome Sales. Buying a motorhome in France, or anywhere, is a long-term decision that is not without the need for significant financial consideration. Like any used item, it will possibly show some signs of the previous owners enjoying their own time on the road. These are just some of the examples of a range of motorhomes that are available here. There are so many brands and models of motorhomes. However I do not want to invest time, energy and hope if the business is not operating because of COVID. The ultimate question: Should I buy or hire a motorhome? As I am not the most patient person, I thought about bringing that forward to 2020 as you only live once. Its the perfect way of road testing your future asset. The owners of France Motorhome Sales did not ask me to write this article. We spoke to these keen motorhome travellers to understand more about how, as two New Zealanders, they were able to safely purchase a motorhome in France. More and more people are discovering the lure of the open road and are wanting to spend more than a few weeks in France, or in widerEurope. How much is the rental price with insurance and GPS. HI Michelle, let me see what I can find out. Why buy a motorhome from France Motorhome Sales? You do need to follow the instructions and complete your forms correctly and in a timely fashion to achieve a 5-week turnaround., Absolutely. She travels the world with her husband helping those who love and aspire to travel through their honest, down to earth stories and information. The sooner you can make your decision and get the ball rolling, the better. I agree about Euro Camping Cars service, there is definitely nothing like it. They know every possible cost you are likely to encounter as it relates to vehicle ownership. Buying legally means you own the title of the vehicle, which allows you to register and insure the motorhome and sell it when the time comes. The testimonials from other Kiwis always gave us the comfort that when we wanted to proceed, Euro Camping Cars was the firm we were going to use., We wanted to be sure that we had insurance as we had an incident when we hired the motorhome in 2015. By great luck, Peter had employed a young Frenchman who was able to call the accountant for us and sort out the problem.. With COVID affecting our ability to travel in 2020 and beyond, many people switched their attention to owning a motorhome, so that they could travel more easily (notwithstanding lockdowns and border closures). Manufacturer lead times, availability of stock, time of year and many other factors all influence the timing. This is not a sponsored post. If you dont like the thought of buying a used motorhome and you have a budget that will withstand a new vehicle cost, buying a new motorhome in France might be the perfect solution for you. Its one of the first risks that a buyer will face. Tip: Buying a used motorhome with no warranty could increase your chance of mechanical issues or add pressure on your budget for maintenance and repairs. Im not experienced with VAT at all so thats probably a question for Sandrine. The purchase of a new vehicle can take a lot longer than buying a used vehicle. We recommend John Mottram from France Motorhome Sales now, not Euro Camping Cars. Eventually, a different person responded with a very short email and very little information. The Euro Camping Cars website had testimonials from some Kiwis and Australians who described their experience with them. Buying a motorhome usually involves large sums of money, and often, the buyer is not in a position to meet face to face in the initial part of the relationship e.g. In early 2020, Phill and Hannah sold their Euro Camping Cars business. Our ex-rental campervans and motorhomes are great value for money, beautifully maintained, have full service histories and most are even still under manufacturers warranty. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. We didnt think touring Europe was possible long-term until we came across this and other articles mentioning the French Corporation scheme. Some of them are tangible, whilst others might be more qualitative and feelings based. Euro Camping Cars have a choice of 3 brands of new motorhomes to choose from. If it was me, Id be happy to give these guys a go, knowing that they are using the solid base of the process that Phill and Hannah have established to ensure that we would be buying a motorhome legally. The company can be established with as little as two shareholders for a minimum investment of 1. Thanks! Buying a motorhome in France is a huge financial and operational undertaking. Even if that is not to buy in the end. They then mentioned that they had a 2015 second-hand one that had the exact same specifications that we were looking at. France Motorhome Sales can assist you with getting this setup. As soon as you are able! For many, its a trip of a lifetime. When you are buying new, the options are far broader than buying second hand, and you can make all the key buying decisions yourself. We did look at several motorhomes that Euro Camping Cars were selling, but none met our requirements. Hi Ruth and Paul, thanks for your message, I shall touch base with ECC and get them to email you. If you are a non-EU resident and need a simple solution for buying, registering and insuring a vehicle here, we have a unique scheme to allow you do this so get in touch and we will send you all the information you need by e-mail. It is a Chausson 640 Titanium Premium. Betsy sounds like she is allowing you to live a fantastic life in Europe, something we aspire to. If it was ours we would know there would be no pre-existing damage.2. We are americans living in Ecuador; early retired. We completed all ours in 5 weeks. All of it looked completely legitimate, but it was in fact not. In May 2019 we asked Phill and Hannah to start looking at the price of new ones for the 2020 season, which they did. Cities closeby include Poitiers and Limoges. The visit was great and gave me a great deal of comfort that what they said could happen would happen. This article was so helpful and thorough. As mentioned above, much of this information has come as a result of our relationship with Hannah Spurge, former owner of France Motorhome Hire, and someone we have known for many years. This process is commission-based. As the transaction continued, the sellers became more demanding. France Motorhome Sales work with providers who are able to store your motorhome when you are not using it. Need some inspiration for your next motorhome road trip? We recommend them because they are experts at what they do, are professional and honest, and treat their customers well. Sometimes, even though the financial analysis might stack up to support a purchase, the thought of owning an expensive asset that isnt within your sight doesnt suit some peoples risk profile. If you are a non-EU resident looking to buy a motorhome in France, or in Europe, this is the most comprehensive, independent guide you will find on the internet. Initially, a small French company, called a Societe Civile, is established for the new owners to enable them to purchase. Hi John is also an excellent communicator, responding quickly to emails, and providing all the necessary information to help you with your questions. No one wants hidden surprises at the time of pickup, or at the time of disposal. Hi Alan and thank you very much for your comments. This guide gives you accurate information on how to buy a motorhome legally so that when you outlay large sums of money, you can be assured that you are protecting your investment. Instead, youll find a regional area, where theres no need to rush and plenty of space to get your bearings. We were a little wary of doing business transactions in France, being aware of the crazy bureaucracy and other difficulties from our daughter who lived in Paris recently. We have decided to leave these testimonials here because they contain valuable information about the process from an absent buyers perspective. We did originally plan to buy new but not do it until 2021 when I would be 55 years old. You also know the process for doing so, legally. These are some of our favourite road trip itineraries. We are considering buying. A quick taxi ride and then we were there., Paying in full for a motorhome that is sight unseen relies on complete trust in the company you are dealing with, and Euro Camping Cars has earned our trust.. With these people as our source, you can be assured that this information is accurate and current.**. The final registration certificate is the proof of ownership. From a lead time perspective, buying a secondhand motorhome allows for delivery to happen more quickly, but your choice of configuration will also be more limited. They were also offering to keep the vehicle registration and ownership details in their own name, not the buyers. How to start the process of buying a motorhome in France? We have a long-standing relationship with many people in the European motorhome industry. Hi Joan, thank you very much. With so many options available talking to John and ultimately providing a brief is the best way forward. If you are based in the EU, you are very welcome to come and look at our current selection of vehicles for sale in person. The vehicle will be registered in the company name, with the individual purchasers (the owners of the company) having the right to the title. and you can even try before you buy with a short hire. Tip: If you are planning on driving the motorhome mostly in Europe we strongly recommend buying a left-hand drive vehicle. Is the business still trading as it was previously? And if there is more information, please send it to me via e-mail. A phone call confirmed the factory price, and we then had a short time to make a final decision as there were only one of our motorhomes available, with a delay for further vehicles to be produced. In 2018 both Carolyn and I set up our own business which would allow us to take two to three months off each year, so the first step could be ticked off. There is obviously a cost with the set up of the company structure as well, but all of this, plus any other costs are explained in full detail, ensuring there are no surprises to a new owner. Copyright 2009 - 2022 France Motorhome Hire.com, our current selection of vehicles for sale. He found a blog written by a Kiwi couple who had brought from Euro Camping Cars, who outlined their positive experience.. The company in Holland actually owned the van, and the German option seemed a bit hazy as to who actually owned the van (the company or us). Were updating our fleet and may have just the vehicle youre looking for. Along with Phill, Hannahs husband, theres no one we trust more when it comes to providing us with information and advice with regards to motorhomes, whether they are to hire or to buy. As it has nothing to do with French residency, they are able to do this legally. Being new, you also dont have to make do with the previous owners additions. While these solutions might appear simple enough, when it comes time to register, insure or sell, most people find they had major issues on their hands. Motorhome ownership has allowed us to feel more secure when travelling as we were able to increase the security of our motorhome with an alarm and extra locks installed on the side entry door and both garage doors. We have been to Europe a few times hiring a car, travelling around and staying at hotels and I was always keen on the idea of retiring early, buying a motorhome and travelling around Europe. **We can say this because we worked closely with Phill and Hannah Spurge, owners of France Motorhome Hire and later Euro Camping Cars since 2012. We decided to explore the possibilities of owning our own to give us more flexibility (ie start and finish dates that suited us) as we wanted to increase the travel time to 9 weeks this year and longer in the future. This is an online bank that offers much better exchange rates than those offered by the main banks. Can you help? For those who would prefer to keep the amazing memories of their trip in a motorhome at the forefront of their mind, and not get potentially bogged down in the sale process, you can advertise your vehicle with France Motorhome Sales. Hiring in the peak summer months is infinitely more expensive than doing so after October. A domicile address is required as part of the company structure. may live overseas. Dont get caught with operators who arent reputable and who dont place you and your financial situation first. It is also a subject where its difficult to find accurate, comprehensive, relevant and updated information online. The set-up of a French Societe Civile takes approximately one month but is dependent on individual circumstances. and his research into buying a motorhome in Europe yielded 3 choices one each in Germany and Holland, and at Euro Camping Cars. thanks K. is Euro Camping Cars still running business? Understanding ongoing running costs is also important for budgeting. Please do mention us to Bruno and Sandrine if you touch base with them. Note this process does not require you to become a resident of France, thus you are not going to be in contravention of French rules. Several years ago we rented a near-new motorhome which developed a steering rack failure in Italy. The cost of purchasing a new vehicle and new accessories will also be far greater. But its so important to have the correct information. The buyers, located outside France, were involved in ongoing conversations and emails about the purchase of a motorhome. This is often the case for many of our readers. I have just sent another email with tons of questions and am waiting a reply. With the significant outlays required, purchasing legally from a reputable company is paramount. 2016 Tour de France towns we know and love. Ownership has also allowed us to enjoy some extras: better lightweight bikes (previously we sold them for next to nothing at the end of each holiday so only ever brought basic bikes), a scooter, a solar panel and inverter (great for charging devices), inflatable kayak, better bathroom facilities and decent pillows.. France Motorhome Sales has established a unique, legally robust process for buying a motorhome in France, after years of research and working with their legal and financial advisors. Motorhome travellers in theUnited Kingdomknow this travel world well already. Geoff and Carolyn from New Zealand know this process well. We ended up not going on that trip and then COVID came along, and when I looked again, I saw that they had sold the company. It also means that you can work with them in good faith and with a level of comfort. Looking to buy a motorhome in France now? Thanks. The decision around which make/model of motorhome we should buy took some time. I am getting frustrated due to the lack of forward progress. This obviously poses a significant risk to the buyer. Here is an example of a recent issue experienced by one of our readers. It is, therefore, important to ensure you have the most accurate and up to date information possible to assist you with buying a motorhome legally. Falsifying records is a major legal risk but paying large sums of money for a vehicle that you dont have the title for is pure madness. Motorhomes seem to hold their value quite well.3. In fact, its increasing. We have the joy now of mapping out our 2020 adventure knowing that its sitting there ready to go., Getting to Phill and Hannahs place was pretty easy. France Motorhome Sales English-speaking chartered accountant takes all the hard work out of setting up the company by doing it for you. We use this as a strong reminder to anyone considering buying a motorhome in France, to only do so through known, reputable and proven sellers. The fact that both Bruno and Sandrine have owned a motorhome accessories business, and run other successful businesses in France means that they know how to run a good business and work with clients. Do you know the status of the business and have the new owners resolved any problems relative to communications? Coming to Europe from NZ is a bit tricky in terms of lining up air travel with a rental period to avoid costly hotels and disruption at either end. For an OCD person like me, this is something that I would consider. Other regular information found online suggests buying under a buy-back scheme with a broker or rental company. The internet is littered with misinformation. Of course, if budget isnt an issue, go for it! Dont forget to use our referral code FMS1022. Please use our referral code FMS1022 if you do. Keep reading to ensure that your dream of buying and owning a motorhome in France is done safely and securely. I contacted her several years ago when my husband and I were hoping to travel to Europe, and we thought about buying a motorhome. COPYRIGHT 2014-2022 BEER AND CROISSANTS. Rates for storage depends on the option taken. This love affair with road trips is showing no signs of abating in 2022. Thats why weve put this guide together. On contacting Euro Camping Cars, we found them to be very responsive, helpful and English-speaking and so we proceeded. I sent an email in May 2021, heard back Aug 2021. Here they take good care of your investment, which also includes winterising in preparation for the colder months. On arrival, we stayed the night in Paris near the Bercy station and then caught a 1-hour train to Sens. Purchasing a vehicle via the French company provides the buyer with full ownership (legal title) and registration certificate. Tip: Know your budget. Theres no wear and tear. The great thing is that they are usually able to gauge this when talking with potential buyers and are able to guide and provide advice to ensure that ultimately, the buyer is as comfortable as possible with their decision. The offer is similar but the communication and therefore your peace of mind is of a high, professional standard**. You need full insurance. At this time of the year we dispose of some of our rental fleet to make way for the 2016 models. If you are thinking of buying a campervan or motorhome, this is a much better time of the year to buy than the spring when everyone is looking and prices are higher. Buying a second-hand motorhome in France wont set your budget back as much. You can contact John via this link. Is it even possible? To streamline your process and give you a solid e-introduction, we can put you in touch directly with France Motorhome Sales if you would like. Australians, New Zealanders, Canadians, Americans and South Africans are leading the charge when it comes to foreign ownership of motorhomes and are jumping headfirst into the slow travel movement in Europe. If you are a UK or US buyer there has never been a better time to buy as the current exchange rates will mean you get a truly incredible deal! I also called the Chausson dealer in Sens where ECC is now located, but no one there spoke English either. John also has a history of working with Phill and Hannah. This is the complete guide to buying a motorhome in France if you are not an EU resident. We were very lucky to have one on hand, but Euro Camping Cars have people who can do this for a fee. But I was able to speak with Sandrine at ECC after I had sent several emails and called several times. Sourcing the motorhome. Purchasing the motorhome in Europe legally, Handling large amounts of money for the sale, Getting appropriate legal coverage of the purchase, Falsifying records can carry significant legal outcomes, Inability to insure the vehicle as it was improperly purchased, Forced to insure with sellers provider at excessive premiums, Inability to register vehicle due to incorrect process or ownership, Inability to sell the vehicle due to incorrect process or ownership, Finance risk large sums of money are transferred prior to ever seeing the vehicle, Driving a vehicle that is not legally acquired could render any insurance invalid. In 2015 we had the opportunity to spend three months in Europe so we hired a motorhome for two of the months and had a great time. It was a very happy day when I came across the Euro Camping Cars website and I thought I had finally found a solution to what I was trying to achieve., In 2017 we were heading to France so I decided that we should call in and visit Phill and Hannah and check them out. There was some difficulty when the accountant misspelt my middle name on the company document. The preliminary research process will take a while, given the plethora of options to choose from. Read on. Here is the link to our vehicle sales website (which is in French and English) so you can see our current selection of vehicles for sale: www.eurocampingcars.com/en/, If you are trying to decide whether to hire or buy for a long trip, read our advice at Motorhome, Campervan or RV for Long Trips Should I Hire or Buy?. He also understands that making the decision to buy a motorhome in France is a big one, therefore he is able to provide any potential buyer with references to give them added security and peace of mind. In 2020, the demand for motorhomes also saw a rise in seller fraud and scams. Also, I wanted them to be able to store it for me undercover for the first few years. They spoke of family issues on their end designed to create urgency with the sale and to hopefully touch a personal spot with the buyers. We first made contact with Euro Camping Cars in August last year, and made the deposit in early February 2019 for our intended holiday starting mid-June.. Please ask ECC to get in touch with me. Also, do you think we could use their registration services and purchase a different brand, like Hymer? Great article. Weve rented a motorhome from either Germany or Spain annually for 4-6 weeks for the past 6 years, so had a reasonable amount of experience with motorhoming in Europe, and have also motorhomed in Australia, South America, Canada and the USA.