Boat registration and insurance

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Allan
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Boat registration and insurance

Post by Allan »

I have bought a boat, 5.35M with a 30HP motor.

It was registered by the former owner in England but I believe that since I am resident in France the boat must be registered here.

My insurance broker here says he can only arrange insurance for a french registered boat.

Has anybody registered a boat here? If so some guidance on the procedure would be appreciated
HH

Post by HH »

Allan,
I had a friend who tried to register a cheap English boat in France a couple of years ago, it cost him thousands in fines and taking the certificate.

He regrets ever buying in the UK
Here is the link if you want to try.

http://www.douane.gouv.fr/page.asp?id=84

Good luck
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Kate
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Post by Kate »

If you have a residential address in England, it is worth registering under the French 'pavillon' if you can as you can avoid paying the French navigation tax. Our boating neighbours are French, but have property in England and their boat is registered there, saving them a tax bill of 900€ per year.

On the other hand, as HH says, get it wrong (or if they can prove that you are resident in France) and fines can be heavy. Not quite sure of insurance situation either.
Anthea & Tim
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Post by Anthea & Tim »

Allan,

May be worth calling Bishop Skinner on 0044 (0)1245 291167 or boat.enquiries@bishopskinner.com, they are marine insurance specialists and may be able to give some advice on registration.

Similarly, The RYA is a good source of advice, try motor.boating@rya.org.uk

When we bought a similar boat (but already French registered) a few years ago all we had to produce to the local Capitanerie to transfer the registration was: the bill of sale/proof of ownership, insurance certificate and ICC/permis.
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russell
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Post by russell »

Kate wrote:If you have a residential address in England, it is worth registering under the French 'pavillon' if you can as you can avoid paying the French navigation tax. Our boating neighbours are French, but have property in England and their boat is registered there, saving them a tax bill of 900€ per year.
What sort of boat did your neighbour have for it to cost that much to tax here, a supertanker? We used to have a 9 metre yacht at St. Cyp. and if I remember correctly it cost about 50 euro/an for the "droit de navigation". If you are resident here, even if you own property in the UK, it is compulsory to register the boat here. Go along to the "Duane" in Port Vendres. I found them very helpful when I changed the category of my boat to allow me to go up to 200 M offshore instead of 50..

Russell.
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opas
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Post by opas »

200 metres offshore :roll: ? surely a pedalo could do that distance, 12 mins @ 5kph or equivalent in Knots........
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russell
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Post by russell »

200 Nautical Miles :D
200 metres would be written 200 m.

Russell.
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Kate
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Post by Kate »

Our boat is 25ft and we pay 750 per year. Admit I just made a rough guesstimate based on that for the neighbours, (as they don't pay anything due to reg in England)whose boat is 33ft. Olivier has just shouted to me that it depends on age of boat and size of engine too. Ours is fairly elderly, so more modern boats will be even more than that I suppose.
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russell
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Post by russell »

Kate wrote:Our boat is 25ft and we pay 750 per year. Admit I just made a rough guesstimate based on that for the neighbours, (as they don't pay anything due to reg in England)whose boat is 33ft. Olivier has just shouted to me that it depends on age of boat and size of engine too. Ours is fairly elderly, so more modern boats will be even more than that I suppose.
O.K. Our boat was 20 years old and only 16 hp as it was a sailing boat so perhaps that's why I paid very little. In fact the last year I owned it the droit de navigation was issued free of charge.

Another point to remember, Allan, is that for a motor boat with an engine of more than 6 hp you must hold a French Permis if you are French resident. They won't accept an international qualification issued in the UK.

Russell.
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opas
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Post by opas »

russell wrote:
Kate wrote:Our boat is 25ft and we pay 750 per year. Admit I just made a rough guesstimate based on that for the neighbours, (as they don't pay anything due to reg in England)whose boat is 33ft. Olivier has just shouted to me that it depends on age of boat and size of engine too. Ours is fairly elderly, so more modern boats will be even more than that I suppose.
O.K. Our boat was 20 years old and only 16 hp as it was a sailing boat so perhaps that's why I paid very little. In fact the last year I owned it the droit de navigation was issued free of charge.

Another point to remember, Allan, is that for a motor boat with an engine of more than 6 hp you must hold a French Permis if you are French resident. They won't accept an international qualification issued in the UK.

Russell.

only 16hp! That is a power boat in my books :lol:

we had a 9m yacht with a whopping 8hp yanmar invboard deisel engine, oh those were the days! :cry:
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aarinmartin

Post by aarinmartin »

I have already heard about the boat insurance but i didn't know any thing about boat registration. Is this really important for the very boat owner. Because i am also going to buy a boat.
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