Importing car with LPG-installation

Hello Everyone!

This is my first post on this forum and I would really appreciate your advice: Currently, I am considering moving to Geneva and taking my car along with me which has an LPG-installation fitted. I initially did not think much about bringing my car, yet then I recalled posts on a German LPG forum in which some chap wrote about how he had been trying to import his LPG-vehicle from Germany to Switzerland and how it would have cost EUR5,000 to get the required Swiss emissions test certificate. Even worse, it was also for some reason not possible to have the LPG-installation "officially" removed from his car so he could drive on petrol and he ended up not being able to drive for four years.

Clearly, I do not wish to end up in the same position and wonder whether anyone has successfully imported an LPG-vehicle into Switzerland?

Right now I am exploring the possibility of living in France and commuting across the border. This scenario would not mean registering the car in Switzerland, but in France. Does anyone know whether importing an LPG-car into France would pose problems? If push comes to shove, how much would it cost to have a new LPG-system installed in France into a car with a V6 engine assuming my car would "fail" the French import inspection?

Thanks a lot in advance!

Fabio Montale

Acceptability hangs on whether the car was with an LPG when new, or whether it was adapted after delivery. You need good paperwork.

The Swiss have no concerns about fuel costs/consumption and wouldn't dream of installing LPG.

Sell the car and buy something when you arrive.

It is after all a V6 - how much fuel can it use?**

**Unless it is the PRV engine OR the V6 diesel in the Discovery

The car was fitted with an LPG-installation in Poland (even though I am not Polish - I only considered Poland since I could get a V6-installation for EUR850) and was subsequently imported into another West European country. It just sailed through the import inspection and was told by the mechanic doing the import "MOT" that it looked "really nice".

I am aware that the difference between Swiss petrol and LPG prices is tiny, yet I reckon LPG is going to be interesting for me in my road trips through France. I love that car and selling really is not an option. Maybe I am being too fussy. Who cares? With a "Swiss" salary, I'll just have to work for two weeks to earn my emissions certificate.

Does anyone know about the intricacies of having an LPG-vehicle registered in France?