Is the LEGO Technic McLaren P1 overpriced in France vs. the USA?

Table of Contents

• The 2026 AFOL Hype
• US Retailers vs. French Stores: A price comparison
• Shipping Estimates for Model 42172
• How to forward packages to France
• Understanding French Import Tax

The 2026 AFOL Hype

Collectors in France are currently fixated on the LEGO Technic McLaren P1 (Model 42172). As a pinnacle of the 1:8 scale supercar series, this model represents the peak of Technic engineering in 2026. While the set is technically available within the European Union, the pricing discrepancy between the US market and the French market remains a point of contention for many Adult Fans of LEGO (AFOLs).

Start Your Buy For Me Request for LEGO Technic McLaren P1 (Model 42172)

Merchant LEGO Store US Target Walmart

Ship To Afghanistan Albania Algeria American Samoa Andorra Angola Anguilla Antarctica Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Aruba Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Bouvet Island Brazil British Indian Ocean Territory Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cabo Verde Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia Comoros Congo Congo, The Democratic Republic of the Cook Islands Costa Rica Croatia Cuba Curaçao Cyprus Czechia Côte d'Ivoire Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Eswatini Ethiopia Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Greece Greenland Grenada Guadeloupe Guam Guatemala Guernsey Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti Heard Island and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras Hong Kong Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Isle of Man Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jersey Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macao Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania Mauritius Mayotte Mexico Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Niue Norfolk Island North Korea North Macedonia Northern Mariana Islands Norway Oman Pakistan Palau Palestine, State of Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Pitcairn Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Romania Russian Federation Rwanda Réunion Saint Barthélemy Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Martin (French part) Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Sint Maarten (Dutch part) Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands South Korea South Sudan Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Svalbard and Jan Mayen Sweden Switzerland Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Timor-Leste Togo Tokelau Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Türkiye Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States United States Minor Outlying Islands Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela Vietnam Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands, U.S. Wallis and Futuna Western Sahara Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe Åland Islands

Your Email

Product Url ^*

Product Name ^*

Unit Price (USD)^*

EST Service Fee: $45.0 $22.5

Quantity ^*

Color

Size

Instructions

Submit your proxy shopping order now and enjoy 50% OFF the service fee.

Plus, get 10% OFF international shipping on your first shipment.

Submit Order

US Retailers vs. French Stores: A price comparison

The primary reason enthusiasts look toward the United States is the discrepancy in MSRP and the frequency of high-value gift-with-purchase (GWP) promotions. In France, the retail price often includes a significant markup compared to the USD equivalent. Furthermore, US retailers like LEGO, Amazon, and Walmart frequently bundle exclusive sets or double points offers that are rarely mirrored in European storefronts. When you shop us store sites, the initial price tag is often 15-20% lower than what you will find at a retailer in Paris or Lyon.

Gift with Purchase Value

By using a tax-free us address, French buyers can access US-exclusive promotions. These bonus items can often be sold separately to recoup a portion of the original purchase price, making the import route even more attractive for savvy collectors.

Shipping Estimates for Model 42172

Before you commit to an international purchase, you must understand the physical profile of the LEGO Technic McLaren P1. This is not a small box, and the shipping costs will reflect its premium size.

Volumetric Warning: Because LEGO boxes are sturdy and contain a fair amount of air space, you will likely be charged based on volumetric weight rather than actual weight. To avoid surprises, use a shipping calculator to get a precise quote before the item reaches the warehouse.

How to forward packages to France

Since most US retailers do not ship directly to international addresses, you will need a freight forwarder. This service provides you with a US-based address to receive your LEGO set. Once the package arrives, the parcel forwarding service handles the international export documentation and shipping to your French residence.

Using comGateway allows you to consolidate multiple purchases into one box, which is a practical way to lower the cost per item if you are also buying smaller Technic sets or parts. Check our guide on prohibited items to ensure you aren't adding restricted goods like specialized cleaning fluids or certain electronics to your shipment.

Understanding French Import Tax

When the McLaren P1 arrives in France, it will be subject to customs clearance. You must account for the French VAT, which is typically 20% for toys and collectibles. This tax is calculated based on the declared value of the item plus the cost of shipping. You might also like our detailed breakdown of import duties to see how these fees are calculated by French customs authorities.

In most cases, even after paying for package forwarding and customs tax, the total cost of the McLaren P1 remains competitive with local French pricing, especially when accounting for the US-exclusive bonuses. If you are a collector who values box condition, ensure your freight forwarder offers extra padding or double-boxing services to protect the 42172's premium packaging during its journey across the Atlantic.