Legislation

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Legislation

Following a large number of questions asked by fans of the site, I intend to try an approach on regulations and laws that govern the world of car modifications.

1step One, search on the website of the Ministry of Transport, I came across a FAQ related to road safety. I note these 2 questions answers :

After several years of living in the United States, I will restore residence in Paris. Please tell me the formalities and forms to import my vehicle which I have owned for a year, the cost of registration and if there are any changes to be made to the car ?In accordance with the regulations, the registration in France of a vehicle previously registered in a country outside the European Union can be obtained from the following documents :

the regulatory registration application form accompanied by supporting documents of identity and address,
the registration certificate or failing that : either an official document proving the origin of ownership of the vehicle or certifying that the said document has been withdrawn, either an international automobile certificate issued by these authorities,
if there was a sale, the transfer certificate (or the invoice) drawn up in the name of the applicant,
a customs clearance certificate (entitled 846 A) issued by customs services (french),
an individual acceptance report issued by the regional industry directorate, research and the environment (DRIRE) the department where your home will be. This service checks the conformity of imported vehicles with French standards. This is the reason why I can only advise you, before any other step, to address, now, a copy of the registration certificate of your vehicle to the relevant DRIRE which will give you all the information on any technical changes you will need to make to your vehicle to make it comply with French standards.

a French technical inspection report if the vehicle is over four years old.
If you have kept your US license plates, you can travel for four months under cover of the customs clearance certificate (entitled 846 A). Otherwise, you will need to contact the prefecture of your home to obtain a WW plate valid for two weeks and renewable once.

I am an auto tuning fan. Can I drive safely with my converted vehicle ?It all depends on the transformations carried out. Modification of engine performance or lighting, change of suspensions (accompanied or not by a lowering of the fund) and increasing the size of tires and rims often significantly alter the performance and handling of the vehicle. Compared to the initial model, sold new by the manufacturer and tested upon receipt, there is not much in common anymore.

It is then a particular model which must undergo an isolated reception at the DRIRE (regional directorate of industry, research and the environment) (formerly mining services) closest to possibly be assigned a new registration card if the changes affect the technical characteristics listed on it.

If the transformations concern the elements of comfort (seat upholstery, ground sheet), it should be checked on a case-by-case basis whether these modifications do not endanger the safety of road users.

It is always preferable to carry out these conversions with equipment officially approved by the manufacturer of the model.

A priori, only one body is therefore able to issue homologation for modifications to your car, the DRIRE : http://www.drire.gouv.fr/

The missions of the DRIRE in terms of vehicles include : (1)

  • The initial conformity check of new vehicles having been subjected to a bodywork when the bodybuilder does not have the quality of “skilled operator “. ( ex initial technical visit). This check can take place on the vehicle, either before its first registration, either within two months of this first registration.
  • The issuance of a fitting-out certificate for public passenger transport vehicles (this certificate replaces the purple card)
  • The issuance of documents authorizing the entry into service of vehicles for specific use :
    • white cards for specialized breakdown vehicles,
    • certificates of approval for vehicles transporting dangerous goods.
  • Reception of road vehicles : (our case…)
    • new
    • modified
    • or imported
  • Supervision of bodies approved for technical inspections of vehicles.

These missions are carried out under the authority of the Ministry responsible for transport.

So let's see the reception of road vehicles…

The DRIREs are responsible for ensuring that a new design vehicle, amended, rebuilt or imported complies with regulatory technical requirements regarding safety and nuisances. This operation is called reception. (we no longer say homologation)

Reception may be granted :

  • by type to a manufacturer, on the basis of a representative prototype of a mass-produced vehicle (new vehicles only),
  • on a stand-alone basis to a developer or an individual, for a given vehicle (new, modified or transformed).

It is an essential prerequisite for obtaining the registration certificate from the prefectures.

This is where it all gets complicated, let's say the following lines are simple, but they don't teach us much ! I cut the page a bit, to simplify…

RECEPTION OF NEW VEHICLES

Generally, the vehicles are produced in series and have been type-approved by the manufacturer. You can obtain a copy of the receipt document by contacting this one (list of manufacturers) (Interesting !)

For vehicles built individually, you must contact the DRIRE in your region who will inform you of the corresponding modalities.

For the file to be made for the registration of this new vehicle at the prefecture, refer to the site service public

RECEPTION OF A TRANSFORMED VEHICLE

Any significant transformation of a vehicle must be approved by the DRIRE.

Among the transformations concerned, we can cite :

  • the interior design of a vehicle (Caravan, atelier…)
  • the equipment of a vehicle for operation with LPG
  • the transformation of a private car into a van
  • the transformation of a van into a private car

The best is that :

For all other cases of vehicle conversion, contact the DRIRE in your region before to carry out the planned modification.

Let's start by transforming a 4×4 classic in 6 wheels, let's say a Range Rover. I am from Château Thierry, therefore Picard, I contact the DRIRE Picarde :http://www.picardie.drire.gouv.fr/ I find a vehicle link there, then a single vehicle reception link (Importation, transformation, etc.). I am on the right page :

Individual vehicle identifications or approvals

Motor vehicles can only be put into service if they comply with the safety and construction rules of the Highway Code. For new production vehicles, the manufacturer or the importer takes care of the necessary certificates. In some isolated cases : vehicle import ; vehicle transformation ; artisanal construction ; used vehicle rebuilt ;etc., this compliance must be established, following an individual acceptance of the vehicle by the territorially competent DRIRE or identification for vehicles imported from the European Economic Area (EEE) and not covered by a community reception.

Simplified procedure for the registration at the Prefecture of imported vehicles that have been the subject of Community type-approval. (I drop this link)

To help you prepare your request for identification or acceptance of a single vehicle 2 DRIRE services. (missing a comma after isolated 🙂)

A – Phone call

Users can dial the information telephone number “vehicles” of the department of their domicile. A secretary will ask you the necessary questions to identify your situation. She will immediately be able to send you by fax or mail a document giving various recommendations. ; the composition of the appropriate identification request or RTI file on (where the) adapted forms to be sent to the DRIRE.

Aisne : 03.23.59.96.00
Oise : 03.44.10.54.20
Sum : 03.22.38.32.00

The telephone information service is open Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m..

B- Download documents

Then, stupor, nothing goes, a click on the downloads and we return directly to the point (1) , on the base site… Pity, everything seemed so crystal clear…

Waiting, I am looking at the registration of a modified vehicle, there is article R322-8 of the Highway Code which stipulates :

Article R322-8

(Decree nº 2003-1186 of 11 December 2003 art. 11, art. 13 II Official Journal of 13 December 2003 effective January 1 2004)

Any transformation made to a vehicle subject to registration and already registered, whether it is a significant transformation or any other transformation likely to modify the characteristics indicated on the registration document, must give rise on the part of its owner to a declaration addressed to the prefect of the department of the place of registration accompanied by the vehicle registration document for the purpose of modifying the latter. The owner keeps, if it exists, the duly completed detachable coupon.
This declaration is established in accordance with the rules set by the Minister in charge of transport and must be made within one month of the conversion of the vehicle..
The fact, for any owner, not to make the declaration or not to observe the deadline, provided for in this article, is punished with the fine provided for fourth class contraventions.

Nothing special about allowed changes… A priori, for everything related to the rules, one site, Legifrance In the Home tab, click on Codes, then “TRAFFIC LAWS”, then “Regulatory part”.
BOOK III, TITLE I is dedicated to everything related to the vehicle, weight and dimensions, lighting, tires, braking, etc.
In TITLE II you will find, for example, the texts on reception and approval… But also article R322-8 above.

It's all very interesting, but there are no technical details, on the other hand in braking, there are provisions for animal drawn vehicles…

I look further ahead and I come across European regulations and more particularly France on the site EUR-Lex. On this page, we accessdefinitions of motor vehicles and a very detailed information sheet that must be submitted for reception. This is already a step forward, let's say real information. Look at the other articles, much better done than on the French site.

First article

By vehicle we mean, within the meaning of this directive, any motor vehicle intended for use on the road, with or without bodywork, having at least four wheels and a maximum design speed exceeding 25 km/h, as well as its trailers, with the exception of vehicles that travel on rails, as well as tractors and agricultural machinery.

APPENDIX I

MODEL INFORMATION SHEET (a)

0. GENERAL 0.1. Mark (social reason)
0.2. Type and trade name (possibly specify the variants)
0.3. Genre
0.4. Vehicle Category (b)
0.5. Name and address of manufacturer
0.6. Name and address of any representative of the manufacturer
0.7. Location and method of affixing regulatory plates and inscriptions: 0.7.1. On the frame
0.7.2. On the body
0.7.3. On the engine
0.8. On the chassis the numbering in the type series begins at the number…

1. GENERAL VEHICLE CONSTITUTION (Here we are !)
(attach photos 3/4 before and 3/4 back)
(attach dimensional drawing of the whole vehicle)
1.1. Number of axles and wheels (possibly tracks or treads)
1.1.1. Number of axles with twin tires (eventually)
1.2. Driving wheels (Name, location, interlocking of another axle)
1.3. Frame (in case there is) (descriptive diagram of the whole)
1.4. Spar materials (c)
1.5. Engine location and layout

etc.

I believe we are really there, it's very technical, ready-made forms exist, but the filling does not seem that obvious.

Reading pages and pages on my screen, it finally seems quite normal to me that there is no “common thread” simple, given the complexity of a single vehicle. It is also obvious that the safety standards change every day and that this leaves room for a huge stack of laws on the subject..

I think I have given you the main features and the main pages to better be able to collect information on the legislation in force, now, It's up to you.

If you have additional information, do not hesitate to let me know.

Marc

Founder of mm2 France, oto6, then from Sixmania. The 6 wheels and more have always been a passion for me. It started in 1980 thanks to a certain Christian de Léotard, you know ?

2 thoughts on “Legislation

  1. Go elsewhere, you will need to obtain authorization from the builder or his representative for the modifications you plan to make,

    Also note that you will be asked for tests to prove that your vehicle thus transformed meets the standards of:

    – Retrovision
    – Antiparasitage ( except for diesels)
    – Static and dynamic braking
    – Sound level

    These tests, which will not all be asked of you depending on the changes you plan to make, cost around 1600 euros, last half a day and there is only one center in France.

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