An interpretation from the French Ministry of Transport of what is a ‘new vehicle’ will generate a change of behaviour for used vehicles arriving in France. Two national associations reported to the European Agricultural Machinery Industry Association (CEMA) the recent issues met for the registration of used vehicles when arriving in France.
Agricultural vehicles:
entered into service, i.e. already operated in the Union, but never registered before, and
previously registered in the Union, but not covered by a French approval
are considered as ‘new vehicles’ according to the French authorities, and need to comply with the latest technical requirements set in the French Regulation dealing with approvals of agricultural vehicles for road circulation (Arrêté du 19 décembre 2016).
This led CEMA to organise an action towards the French Ministry of Transport with the support of AXEMA. Through an exchange of views, it appears that the starting point for the French authorities is the French Regulation dealing with registrations (Arrêté du 9 février 2009).
To be recognised as a second-hand vehicle, a vehicle must be already registered and be covered by an existing French approval. For other cases, the vehicle is considered as a new vehicle with a need to comply with the requirements of the French Arrêté du 19 décembre 2016:
from 1 January 2019 for vehicles covered by a new type for the French authorities
from 1 January 2020 for all other new vehicles; 8 additional months were exceptionally given to farmers to have their vehicles registered under previous technical requirements set in Arrêté du 22 novembre 2005.
To avoid such issues in the future, it is advised that:
the manufacturer ensures that the used vehicle, when it is sold in France, is covered by a French national approval;
the vehicle is already registered (in France or in another country of the Union).
A further meeting is planned to check the possibility to have vehicles registered in France in advance and the use of individual approvals of vehicles previously registered in France for used vehicle arriving in France.
