NEWS MOTORING: IT’S A DIGITAL WORLD W
hile the traditional French pink paper driving
license is valid until 19 January 2033, if you’d like to replace it now with the new credit card- sized version, you can – helping you to avoid getting stuck in a backlog of applications as the deadline approaches. To request the replacement
go to the site permisdeconduire.
ants.gouv.fr – the formality is free of charge, apart from the cost of taking the passport- type photo. Also, for added practicality, if you have the new credit-card size CNI-e (carte national d’identité) and an NFC-enabled phone (the type that allows you to make contactless payments) you can load your digital driving license onto your phone. Follow the procedure on the site
mespoints.permisdeconduire.
gouv.fr to obtain your Relevé d’Information Restreint (RIR), after which you will obtain a QR code that you can scan with the France Identité app on your phone, and you’re ready to roll.
AU REVOIR TO
THE GREEN CARD As of 1 April 2024, French motorists will no longer be required to display the green
insurance card on their vehicle’s windshield. This change aims to simplify and modernise the insurance system, reduce fraud and eliminate the need for a physical document. The green vignette, which
has been in use since 1986, is a physical document that verifi es a driver’s insurance coverage. However, with the advent of digitalisation, the need for a physical document has become increasingly obsolete. The new system will replace the green card with digital records, making it easier for authorities to verify insurance coverage in real-time, thus contributing to waste reduction too. Motorists are advised to
ensure that their insurance information is up to date and to be cautious of potential scams.
NEWS IN BRIEF
n As the world’s gaze turns towards Paris in July, how about this for a top spot to base yourself in for the Olympics – this beautiful houseboat (right) has two bedrooms and is moored close to the Olympic Village on the Île St-Denis. Built in Germany in 1952 (as part of the post-war reparations deal), the Freycinet class barge is equipped with a Baudouin DK6 motor, and is connected to mains water and electricity. The price is €395,000.
n It’s ‘All Eyes on France’ according to luxury holiday provider Scott Dunn in its Spring 2024 Travel Trends Report. “France has been named the number one holiday
(25%) of these were travelling to France for the fi rst time, a good sign that the country is attracting new visitors.
Your base for the Olympics?
destination for 2024”, it says, “as UK holidaymakers hop across the English Channel for sun, scenery, shopping, sports, champagne and so much more”. In a survey of 2,000 UK adults, a third (34%) were planning to take a holiday in France this year. A quarter
n Although house prices have been falling across France, fi ve cities have bucked the trend, according to Notaires de France data. The fi ve highest year-on-year increases in house prices were in Montpellier (+9%), Reims (+4.7%), Dijon (+3.7%), St-Etienne (+2.7%) and Caen (+2.6%). In contrast, the fi ve cities with the biggest losses were Metz (-13.1%), Châteauroux (-10.3%), Lyon (-9.7%), Amiens (-9.5%) and Lille (-7.5%). Despite the general fall in prices, average values remain higher in the larger
cities, above €400,000 – the top three priciest cities are Montpellier (€448,700), Lyon (€425,900) and Marseille-Aix- en-Provence (€402,100).
n The latest foodie Tiktok trend involves a croissant stuff ed and topped with cookie dough – eh voilà, the ‘crookie’ craze has been born! It fi rst emerged at Boulangerie Louvard in Paris, created by baker Stéphane Louvard. It joins other croissant hybrids including the Cronut and Cruffi n. Bon app’!
n Two French cyclists rode over 2,000km to draw the fi ve Olympic rings on their GPS! The 10-day journey started and ended at the Eiff el Tower.
From now on, insurers will keep a fi le of insured vehicles (fi chier des véhicules assurés or IVF), which can be consulted by the police or gendarmes. In a roadside check, it will no
longer be necessary to produce insurance papers. The offi cer will use the vehicle’s license plate number to check on the IVF whether the driver is actually insured. This change is part of a
broader eff ort to adapt to digitalisation of documents and improve the effi ciency of the insurance system. Note that the penalty for
driving without insurance can amount to a fi ne of €750, to which may be added additional penalties such as suspension or cancellation of the driving license and immediate immobilisation of the vehicle.
AMERICANS PARIS
Americans’ enduring love for Paris is evidenced by their signifi cant presence in the city’s real estate market at present. US buyers are spending on average €715,000 when buying a property in Paris, according to a recent study by Notaires de Grand Paris. This represents a quarter of all property purchases made by non-residents in the capital. The study reveals that American buyers prefer central Parisian neighborhoods where prices tend to be the highest, rather than the more peripheral arrondissements or the suburbs.
US buyers head for the heart of the capital
4 FRENCH PROPERTY NEWS: May/June 2024 11
©PHILIPPE DEVANNE /SHUTTERSTOCK
©SHUTTERSTOCK
©ULYSSEPIXEL/SHUTTERSTOCK
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