To buy a minibus in France?

[MagW]

Hi all,
we live in Sweden but visit Landes-Gironde twice a year since many years. It would be easier to have a minibus standing e.g somewhere in the neighbourhood of Bordeaux airport. In the bus we could have a quiver of boards for french conditions, which are much different from the Swedish waves. Then we could go by air instead of 2000km(!) one way by car.

Are there any special things to consider if we want to buy a french minibus?

[coolas]

To store it, the cheapest options are trailer parks (google: "gardiennage caravanes"), such as
https://stockly.fr/hivernage-gardiennag ... gironde-33
http://www.palace-caravanes.fr/gardienn ... andes.html

If you leave the gear inside, a windowless body may be best, not to tempt people.

The only thing I see is that you will have to pass a technical control ("contrôle technique") each year after the 4th year. Just plan to do it during one of your trips.

And if you buy one with some non-removable enhancements (bed, any hole in the body, kitchen, cupboards), it must have a specific agreement ("VASP") and the agreed features are checked at each technical control, so it would be problematic to have some enhancements made after you buy it. Extensive board racks such as in mine are no problem however.

[MagW]

Thx Colas,
I didn't know about the trailer parks.

What about the car insurance if your not a french citizen?

We wouldn't have any installments inside other than board racks.

[coolas]

What about the car insurance if your not a french citizen?

I guess you should ask your insurance company, they probably work also in France (maybe via partnerships with a French company)