Registering a French Discovery 3 in the UK

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Almat62

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Location
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Newby to the site, and this is my first question, so please be gentle!

I have a French registered Discovery 3 (2007) that I would like to register in the UK. In order to do this I understand that I need to have a Certificate of Conformity (CoC), get the head lights adjusted and either get a sticker applied over the existing speedometer or get the whole speedometer unit replaced, plus MOT and relevant DVLA paperwork. My questions are as follows:-

1) Are Land Rover UK able to provide the CoC or does this have to be done via Land Rover France ? Does anyone have any telephone numbers for the relevant people?
2) Concerning the speedometer - is this a sealed unit, and therefore something that has to be replaced or is it possible to open the existing unit and apply a sticker to the dial?
3) Does anyone know of any good insurance companies that would be prepared to insure a left hand drive vehicle using the VIN, as I will not have a registration plate at the time when I need to get the insurance. It would also be good if they took into account a French no claims bonus.

Thanks in advance for any advice.
 
Almat62 said:
Newby to the site, and this is my first question, so please be gentle!

I have a French registered Discovery 3 (2007) that I would like to register in the UK. In order to do this I understand that I need to have a Certificate of Conformity (CoC), get the head lights adjusted and either get a sticker applied over the existing speedometer or get the whole speedometer unit replaced, plus MOT and relevant DVLA paperwork. My questions are as follows:-

1) Are Land Rover UK able to provide the CoC or does this have to be done via Land Rover France ? Does anyone have any telephone numbers for the relevant people?
2) Concerning the speedometer - is this a sealed unit, and therefore something that has to be replaced or is it possible to open the existing unit and apply a sticker to the dial?
3) Does anyone know of any good insurance companies that would be prepared to insure a left hand drive vehicle using the VIN, as I will not have a registration plate at the time when I need to get the insurance. It would also be good if they took into account a French no claims bonus.

Thanks in advance for any advice.
Click to expand...

Its EU so i dont believe you need a C.O.C...

I dont believe your speedo has to show mph for an mot.

What you need to do is keep it on frog plates and insurance, you're allowed to drive it 6 months in the uk if it was yours in frogland..get an english MOT, then go to DVLA office and re-register it on uk plates.
 
As the vehicle is 1st registered after 1.1.2003, you won't need a Coc.

Depending on the mot guy, there is every chance you'll need to change the headlights for driving on the left (UK side), it's all about the dipped not main, beam.
 
Thanks for the replies. Even though it is EU, according to the VCA (Vehicle Type Approval and ISO Certification through VCA worldwide) they require a CoC and a dual marked speedometer. Head lights should not be a problem as they just need adjusting as they have a clear glass lens.
On the other point you cannot keep it on French plates and insurance unless you are resident in France, and as I shall be coming back to good old Blighty this unfortunately will not be an option, which is a shame as I will have to cough up for road tax as well !
 
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Almat62 said:
Thanks for the reply. Even though it is EU, according to the VCA (Vehicle Type Approval and ISO Certification through VCA worldwide) they require a CoC and a dual marked speedometer.
On the other point you cannot keep it on French plates and insurance unless you are resident in France, and as I shall be coming back to good old Blighty this unfortunately will not be an option, which is a shame as I will have to cough up for road tax as well !
Click to expand...


As I said before, if the vehicle is registered after 1.1.2003 you don't need a CoC, because there was a europe-wide agreement to provide the CoC info on the 1st registering countrys' Carte Grise, after that date.

Dave
 
Why do you need to change the headlamps?
D3 headlamps are universal the dip direction can be altered via a 'leaver arrangement', the lamps have to be removed for access to carry this out which is a pain but both can be done within an hour all the info is in the D3 owners handbook.

It's may be more involved if you have Adaptive Front Lighting System (AFS) and Static bending lamps but straight forward will standard halogen lamps.
 
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discool said:
Why do you need to change the headlamps?
D3 headlamps are universal the dip direction can be altered via a 'leaver arrangement', the lamps have to be removed for access to carry this out which is a pain but both can be done within an hour all the info is in the D3 owners handbook.
Click to expand...

If I understand it correctly, then no, it's not that simple.

The lever that you refer to, is only there to remove the "flare" that dipped beams have, which allows for more light to go up the nearside of the road, showing up the the verge or kerb much more.

Operating the lever brings a screen over part of the reflector re-shaping the beam so that it is now flat, therefore reduces the possibility of blinding on-coming traffic when driving on the 'wrong' side of the road - UK cars on the continent & continental cars in the UK.

So in this particular case a French car with continental lights would normally dip to the right - so when driving in the UK would blind on-coming traffic. With the lever operated there would be a flat beam rather than a flared beam, but that is not a UK beam pattern.

As I said before, a UK mot man might accept it, but it's not the correct fitment.
 
"Different glass pattern...must be changed for mot."

Apologies for being very thick, but I do not understand what you mean by this. I cannot see any glass pattern or for that matter pattern on the reflective part of the light. The glass is completely clear.
 
Hi,
i have a freelander LHD (2000) that i have brought back from Gibraltar recently and currently driving on Gib insurance and MOT. I also dont have a COC and wonder if i need one? does anyone know or this other thing called a Mutual Recognition Certificate.
i have KPH and not MPH as well. Is there some sort of transfer or over label that can be used? DVLA booklet states it must show both, but dont know if that applies to my car which is year 2000.
Lights i have the beam benders on , is that ok long term and will it pass MOT with them on?
rear lights are ok as have reverse lights and fogs on both sides.
Is it just worth ringing DVLA or am i opening a can of worms.
Any advice gratefully received.
Alternatively anyone want to buy a LHD and is due to go to Gibralatar shortly as it can be just driven straight back in no questions.:eek:
 
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