Does anyone know if there is a French equivalent of the AA/RAC who will carry out a technical check of a vehicle before you buy it? ta
The seller should have a Contrôle Technique report that’s less than 6 months old for the vehicle.
Indeed, but a CT just shows the vehicle met the standards to be roadworthy on the day of the test. It won’t tell you that (for example) the aircon is on its way out, or that there are signs of water ingress in the boot, or that an engine bearing is on the verge of failure.
For an independent inspection, I’d ask a local, trusted garagiste. If you don’t know one, you could contact BCA Expertise. They carry out pre-purchase inspections but I’m not sure what areas they cover.
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Thank you Brian. Another organisation that does it is https://www.dekra-norisko.fr/.
Unfortunately, as is so often the case in France, they don’t want you to email them they want you to ring them up, which is a problem for me because my French is crap. So I have reached an impasse.
You could try searching for Dekra Norisko or BCA on Google Maps to see if they have a local centre then call in.
hmm that’s an idea …
I’ve used Dekra a few times for more thorough checks when buying a car in France. They do a detailed inspection that’s pretty much the French equivalent of what you’d expect from the AA or RAC. Regular Contrôle Technique centers can handle basic safety and emissions checks, but if you’re looking for something more specific before buying, a local mechanic or Dekra is usually a safe bet.