**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. Fortunately, the undue pressure created enough concern at the buyers end and they pulled out, losing their 2,000 deposit. Does anyone have experience with the new owners of Euro Camping cars? You can contact John via this link. We organised the paperwork with Hannahs help and 5 weeks later we landed in Paris to take possession and for a quick 3-week tour.

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. european adventure campervan draws close These are some of our favourite road trip itineraries. Please read thedisclosureto find out more. We recommend John Mottram from France Motorhome Sales now, not Euro Camping Cars. All of it looked completely legitimate, but it was in fact not. campervans The cost of renting has increased significantly over the past 2-3 years also. spring vehicles few trip last heading campervan 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. Looking to buy a motorhome in France now? HI Michelle, let me see what I can find out. A domicile address is required as part of the company structure. Note: Motorhomes attract a much lower depreciation rate than general vehicles. I read you can get VAT back within 4 years. 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. Click here to go straight to the website. In 2020, the demand for motorhomes also saw a rise in seller fraud and scams. We have decided to leave these testimonials here because they contain valuable information about the process from an absent buyers perspective. While we all agree that taking a motorhome to the roads of France and beyond is pure freedom, sometimes its just easier to have someone else own and maintain the motorhome. How to start the process of buying a motorhome in France? This increases the opportunity for unscrupulous dealings. Is it even possible? It also means that you can work with them in good faith and with a level of comfort. Betsy sounds like she is allowing you to live a fantastic life in Europe, something we aspire to. Sourcing the motorhome. Failing to understand the legal process, in particular, could leave you facing a number of issues that are not inconsequential, with the most serious being a loss of funds. We are planning to purchase through Euro Camping Cars in the spring of 2021. We speak English! When negotiating insurance rates, a letter from our NZ insurance company stating our no-claim status of 9 years helped to lower the premium by 50%. 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. He found a blog written by a Kiwi couple who had brought from Euro Camping Cars, who outlined their positive experience.. 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. Beer and Croissants recommend John Mottram at France Motorhome Sales. So when does it make sense to buy a motorhome vs hiring a motorhome? This post may contain affiliate links. Sandrine also speaks good English, something that is important for non French-speaking clients. 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.. If owners have the time, inclination and skill to do this, its a perfect option for them. We then checked the travel blogs of these people to ensure they were legitimate and credible testimonials. Read this list of documents required to prove French residency. John speaks English which means he is able to provide the comfort that many potential buyers need. As the transaction continued, the sellers became more demanding. Hi Sue, let me contact them on your behalf. After contacting the manufacturer, Phill told us the factory had just one of our models of BluCamp motorhomes available so that spurred us on. They have a strong reputation both with us and within the motorhome industry and I know they would not have sold this business that they have built up from nothing to anyone they felt would not continue their brand and customer values. After the successful sale of the business they built up from the ground (France Motorhome Hire), these British ex-pats built another business that was a direct offshoot of their hire business. The offer is similar but the communication and therefore your peace of mind is of a high, professional standard**. Im not experienced with VAT at all so thats probably a question for Sandrine. A huge outlay of funds required to purchase, unknown or difficult local rules, and having to deal with people you dont know, can often stop that dream not long after it comes to life. 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. You do need to follow the instructions and complete your forms correctly and in a timely fashion to achieve a 5-week turnaround., Absolutely. 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. The sellers had done their homework! How do non-EU residents buy a motorhome in France legally? While we have explored these options in the past for normal vehicles, we have always opted away from such a scheme simply because they always felt like we would be ripped off. It is also a subject where its difficult to find accurate, comprehensive, relevant and updated information online. Geoff and Carolyn from New Zealand know this process well. We are definitely interested in beginning the conversation with the new owners. Motorhome travellers in theUnited Kingdomknow this travel world well already. 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. Pre-purchase inspections are difficult. 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. The preliminary research process will take a while, given the plethora of options to choose from. COPYRIGHT 2014-2022 BEER AND CROISSANTS. Buying new means having a two-year mechanical warranty. We are looking at using this motorhome each year for the next ten years at least so keeping it in good condition is important., Excellent. The sellers were asking for full payment before the buyers had actually seen the vehicle. Some set off for a few months, while others have been known to spend three or four years traversing the world. For many, its a trip of a lifetime. have tried to reach Hannah with no luck?? France Motorhome Sales is an accredited supplier of Hymer, Rapido, Dreamer, Weinsberg, ETRVSCO and Knaus motorhomes. 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. Ive just touched base with them, when I hear back I will let you know. If you are handy with the tools, this could decrease the risk, otherwise, time and money spent at the mechanics could add up. As such, understanding all of the potential costs, and the quantum is extremely important. 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. All of the necessary paperwork (eg carte grise, proof of address) was provided to the buyers. There are so many different factors that can impact such a decision. They know every possible cost you are likely to encounter as it relates to vehicle ownership. 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.

As it has nothing to do with French residency, they are able to do this legally. How much is the rental price with insurance and GPS. The cost of purchasing a new vehicle and new accessories will also be far greater. Great write up. Check with them also if they can source you a Hymer. We recommend them because they are experts at what they do, are professional and honest, and treat their customers well. Peter is an avid internet researcher, blog browser and travel planner, (he read your blog before this years trip!) They were also offering to keep the vehicle registration and ownership details in their own name, not the buyers. Being able to have telephone conversations with them was very helpful when you are taking a leap of faith from the other side of the world.. By great luck, Peter had employed a young Frenchman who was able to call the accountant for us and sort out the problem.. BEER AND CROISSANTS IS A PARTICIPANT IN THE AMAZON SERVICES LLC ASSOCIATES PROGRAM, AN AFFILIATE ADVERTISING PROGRAM DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A MEANS FOR SITES TO EARN FEES BY LINKING TO AMAZON.COM AND AFFILIATED SITES WORLDWIDE. Or, at least commercially disadvantaged. Many motorhome owners choose to sell their vehicles themselves, through whatever means they feel appropriate. Hi Joan, thank you very much. The France Motorhome Sales depot is located in Persac in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of France. Weve beenhiring motorhomes in Francefor many years now and we love it. Still, we would love nothing better than to never hear of our readers losing any kind of money. Your email address will not be published. I sent email with your referral code BEER01 try to connect with ECC but no reply. 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. These schemes are always designed to commercially profit the hiring company or broker, not the purchaser. Why buy a motorhome from France Motorhome Sales? Do you have any suggestions on how to proceed?

Is the business still trading as it was previously? Click here to get more information. The buyers, located outside France, were involved in ongoing conversations and emails about the purchase of a motorhome.

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. With the significant outlays required, purchasing legally from a reputable company is paramount. Thanks. After being broken into twice in Southern Italy a couple of years ago this was important to us. 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. In this article, we will give you all the steps of the entire process for buying a motorhome in France or Europe, if you are not a resident of the EU. This is the complete guide to buying a motorhome in France if you are not an EU resident. The set-up of a French Societe Civile takes approximately one month but is dependent on individual circumstances. Motorhomes can be stored in Europe and picked up whenever you want. (they have moved and said it was very difficult) I had already put things on hold so it wasnt a big deal to us. Hi Melissa, the business is definitely still operating. and you can even try before you buy with a short hire. 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. Purchasing a vehicle via the French company provides the buyer with full ownership (legal title) and registration certificate. So youve heard from us about how to buy a motorhome in France, or in Europe. The internet is littered with misinformation. Motorhomes seem to hold their value quite well.3. Be sure to factor this into your decision. Choose your own insurance and roadside assistance company, The freedom to go wherever you like for as long as you like, Dont have to be constrained by hiring company rules. Please use our referral code FMS1022 if you do. This article was so helpful and thorough. If you are planning on outlaying huge sums of money, and you want the vehicle of your choice, look no further than France Motorhome Sales and tell them we sent you! Six weeks passed with no progress, despite emails to him. Also, do you think we could use their registration services and purchase a different brand, like Hymer? 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. Being able to take ownership of something new appeals to me greatly. We highly recommend Euro Camping Cars and the service they offer. Geoff and Carolyn New Zealand: Used motorhome purchase, Denise and Peter New Zealand: New motorhome purchase. With motorhome travel growing significantly each year, and buoyed even more during the past two years of the global pandemic, buying a motorhome in France has seen incredible market growth. 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?. Just send us an email found here. Motorhome payments need to be completed before pickup, so allow enough time for this to be processed.. 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. At the moment, the halting of manufacturing and other COVID-related issues has impacted the production and delivery times of new motorhomes. With market growth comes new opportunities for people to make a quick buck, and they dont always have the interests of the buyer in mind.

Copyright 2009 - 2022 France Motorhome Hire.com, our current selection of vehicles for sale. Are you aware of anyone who has done this? The Euro Camping Cars website had testimonials from some Kiwis and Australians who described their experience with them. I dont blame them. We have found the motorhome that we want to buy. Here they take good care of your investment, which also includes winterising in preparation for the colder months. Access to a French speaker to deal with any glitches that occur with the companys formation and negotiating with the insurance company was invaluable. Of course, if budget isnt an issue, go for it! We did originally plan to buy new but not do it until 2021 when I would be 55 years old. With such a lot at stake: money, relocation, lifestyle the decision to buy a motorhome must not be underestimated.

It is simply a location for official correspondence to be received. We have spent a lot of time researching what is available online and talking to people who have also done their own research. She travels the world with her husband helping those who love and aspire to travel through their honest, down to earth stories and information. I see from the comments that the business was sold new owners Bruno and Sandrine, I was prepared to go forward with investigating the purchase of one of their campervans.

However I do not want to invest time, energy and hope if the business is not operating because of COVID. 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. Note that this is the first time that I drive a caravan, and I would like to know the permitted places to stand and stay in the caravan in all countries. There are so many brands and models of motorhomes. may live overseas. Can you help? 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 use Transferwise borderless accounts here at Beer and Croissants too. Hello, Kerri I just came upon your website when I typed in the name of Hannah Spurge. Send us an email for a no-obligation quote or assistance in planning your road trip. For an OCD person like me, this is something that I would consider. Hannah also notes that sometimes people just arent cut out to be owners of a motorhome. Ive tried to contact them through their website, but got no response. Time required to buy a motorhome: from idea through to delivery, More cost-effective than hiring for long periods of time, Huge range of new and second-hand motorhomes to choose from, Freedom to choose the configuration and features you prefer, Can be customised to suit your own requirements, Can be stocked permanently with all the items you require. From her knowledge of both the hiring and buying motorhome business, Hannah suggests its usually around the four-month mark where it tips in the favour of buying. As soon as you are able! Motorhome, Campervan or RV for Long Trips Should I Hire or Buy? Hi Kerri, The final registration certificate is the proof of ownership. Euro Camping Cars have a choice of 3 brands of new motorhomes to choose from. Read more about it here. I agree about Euro Camping Cars service, there is definitely nothing like it. The vehicle will be registered in the company name, with the individual purchasers (the owners of the company) having the right to the title. 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. 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). A lot to lose but at least it wasnt the full value of the motorhome. This business is a legitimate one, not a faceless, online portal or a dodgy dealership. If it was ours we would know there would be no pre-existing damage.2. This love affair with road trips is showing no signs of abating in 2022. I have just sent another email with tons of questions and am waiting a reply. Rates for storage depends on the option taken. 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 fee for this work plus the associated French authoritys charges comes to 1,900. Here is an example of a recent issue experienced by one of our readers. Please ask ECC to get in touch with me. You can travel as luxuriously or as frugally as you wish. Once we confirmed with Euro Camping Cars, a contract to purchase was received by us within days, followed by the documents necessary for the formation of a company in France and for insurance. This is often the case for many of our readers. Thats why weve put this guide together. Online searches located a BluCamp model that had our preferred features. This trip really cemented the idea of owning a motorhome in Europe and spending two or three months every year in Europe. Alternatively, you can contact them through their website. France Motorhome Sales also operates as a business to help travellers purchase their motorhomes legally and also assists with registering the vehicles in France. If you arent based in France, this process is done over the phone or via the internet. When is the best time to buy a motorhome in France? 2016 Tour de France towns we know and love. I am getting frustrated due to the lack of forward progress. 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. Being new, you also dont have to make do with the previous owners additions. Weve just bought a motorhome in Australia and eventually, we will buy one in France too. and his research into buying a motorhome in Europe yielded 3 choices one each in Germany and Holland, and at Euro Camping Cars. 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. We have ours all set up with E-bikes on the back ready for us for our next adventure in 2020 for 6 weeks.

We didnt think touring Europe was possible long-term until we came across this and other articles mentioning the French Corporation scheme. A former corporate business executive, Kerri is now the content creator for Beer and Croissants. The purchase of a new vehicle can take a lot longer than buying a used vehicle. On contacting Euro Camping Cars, we found them to be very responsive, helpful and English-speaking and so we proceeded. Australians, New Zealanders, Canadians, Americans and South Africans buy more motorhomes in France than in any other country. For non-European Union residents, the purchase and subsequent insuring of a vehicle by an individual in Europe is not possible. There was some difficulty when the accountant misspelt my middle name on the company document. Although this caused disruption to our holiday, the part was replaced by Fiat under the warranty. CONTACT FRANCE MOTORHOME SALES, TELL JOHN WE SAID HI, AND USE OUR CODE FMS1022. Great to hear all of that. For would-be motorhome travellers much further afield, the dream of spending months or even years overseas can be rather daunting. Together they are also motorhome experts and have road-tripped their way across much of Europe, Australia and New Zealand. When the buyer is ready to do so, they communicate directly with France Motorhome Sales French accounting firm. Once the company setup has been finalised, paperwork is issued noting the owner and allowing for registration to occur. Kerri is a Digital Travel Publisher Member and current board member and treasurer of the Australian Society of Travel Writers. Thanks so much Joan, Kerri. they seem to have disappeared and the response from EEC is now spotty at best. Thanks! Manufacturer lead times, availability of stock, time of year and many other factors all influence the timing. Hello! Due to money laundering rules, the time for payments to be transferred can vary. DID YOU KNOW? Buying a left-hand drive vehicle also means that the entry door for the rear of the motorhome is on the correct side. 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. France Motorhome Sales work with providers who are able to store your motorhome when you are not using it. We love Betsy and our nomadic lifestyle. 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. Tip: Know your budget. On arrival, we stayed the night in Paris near the Bercy station and then caught a 1-hour train to Sens. We bought a new Blucamp Sky 25S from Phill and Hannah in 2017 and have been full-time in Europe every since. Wed appreciate you letting him know you found him via our article and site. Unfortunately, I do not speak French even though I have a very French name. There are many options available to someone who wants to buy a used motorhome. 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. You might also benefit from the addition of some cool accessories by previous owners.

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