
After having obtained the approval of the FFVE, having obtained the missing Quitus Fiscal and all I needed to do was making the request by the ANTS, it became more complicated; it all needs to be online, using their website, which I suppose hasn’t really foreseen the request of a vehicle that is as a) a motorbike (and not a car), b) importation and c) requesting a collectors mention. All three at the same time, which would have been my corresponding case, didn’t go as smoothly; it already started with the elements/papers/proof the website requested (some applied to cars, some papers are normally impossible as the Dutch RDW took them in upon export and you don’t have them any longer) and needed elements the website did *not* request.
Which of course led to a 4 weeks wait and following answer that my request was incomplete (…). After some exchanges back and forth the "missing" elements were provided. And behold, finally, the request was approved and I got my license plate number and corresponding papers.
Just that… The paper I received was incorrect and wasn’t what I requested.
As everything has to be done through their website, simply calling them to signal an error isn’t possible; the foregoing request was handled, delivered and closed. So only possibility is to open a new request and refer to the previous request number to signal the error. Again a 4 weeks wait (…)
I had already called their helpdesk meanwhile who at first explained that there was no error, I had omitted to provide the FFVE statement (?). No no, please, look closely, it should be really there in the ticket. Ah, yes, I see, they must have made a mistake. (Nooooo ??)
Thing is, though I had the license plate number and paper, I still wouldn’t be able to use the bike; now it was, on paper, just an old bike, from before 2004, which… Is no longer allowed on the road in and around Paris due to anti-pollution measures. The paper was missing the important mention that it concerns a historical collector’s item (for which exceptions are made). Neither could I have requested to produce the physical license plate. It makes all the difference.
Then finally, I received just an SMS from the ANTS inviting me to pay for the requested modification. When I connected, I had to pay 0,00 euros (and was already scared their website would error on it, as it is difficult to pay 0,00) but low and behold, that wasn’t an issue, it simulated the payment request and passed on to the next stage, new paperwork in production 🙂
Three days later I received the new paper, now all is in order and I could request the physical license plate :))))
New french license plate
Then I still needed to find an insurance for the Norton. Most regular insurances don’t provide insurance for historical vehicles. Which was my insurance company’s case. I had already asked the Norton Owners Club France members for advice. The Norton now has insurance since 27/01/2023.
Norton fitted with new license plate
As it had been 4 months I was eager to go for a short ride, despite the cold. The Norton started at the 4th or 5th kick, no kicking back, no strange things. Though the Norton is now French and no longer Dutch, she still performed well. Only the tires needed some air. The only "incident" I encountered on the way was the mirror;
Norton’s mirror came loose
But that was quickly fixed 🙂