Export dilemma

I am currently trying to acquire a Certificate of Conformity for my 1995 Defender 300Tdi, which I have exported to France after inheriting it from my father-in-law, who has sadly passed away.

His Defender had not been driven for almost four years due to his ill health, so when he died my motherin-law spent almost £2000 to get it Mot’d so that my wife could collect it and drive it to our home in France.

That was just over a year ago and that MOT has now expired, but when I went to the French testing station for a Control Technique (French equivalent of the MOT) I was told that as it was over 20-years old I would need a Certificate of Conformity.

Unfortunately, every person I have spoken to since has told me it is impossible to get a Certificate of Conformity for my Land Rover because it is over 20 years old!

That seems very odd to me. I can’t believe I am the first person to export a 20 years-plus vehicle to France and come up against this situation.

I have contacted Land Rover and spoken to a Mr Mike Bishop, who said he would try to help me, but as yet there is still no Certificate of Conformity. That was six weeks ago and I have heard nothing since.

I am writing to LRM in case one of your readers has had the same problem as me and found a solution. I have every sympathy after the experience of importing my own Defender from South Africa. If anyone can help, let us know at LRM and we will forward your contact details to Paul – Ed.