Paying VAT twice?

We bought a van in the UK with the intention of importing it to France. We paid VAT on the purchase. Now 5 months later in France we are being asked for another 20% of the purchase price for VAT in France. Can we claim back the VAT charged for the initial purchase?

Hi,
If you have purchased VAT on a vehicle in the UK which you have now exported to france there would unfortunately be no procedure to recover the UK VAT on this.
Thank you.