I purchased my vehicle in a foreign country: how do I register it in France?

You have purchased the car of your dreams abroad. Now that you’ve returned to France, there is still one last step you need to complete: registration. What course of action should you follow to obtain your vehicle registration certificate (formerly called “carte grise”)? Follow our guide!

Registering your vehicle online

You have one month from the date of purchase to complete the registration process.

Registration of your new or used vehicle purchased abroad is only available online, via the website ants.gouv.fr. You no longer need to complete this step in-person. You will receive your certificate of registration (“carte grise”) directly at your French home address. While you wait for this document to arrive, you should print out the provisional registration certificate which is valid for one month. The validity gets extended to 4 months if you get a CPI WW. This type of certificate is delivered for new or used imported vehicles for which the application for registration is incomplete or under examination.

Documents required to register your imported vehicle in France

Depending on which vehicle you purchase, whether new or used, you will need to submit several original documents at the time of registration.

Good to know: if you have purchased a trailer or caravan that weighs more than 500kg in Europe, you must register it before you can drive it in France. The procedures for this are identical to those used to register a car. However, for this process, a tax receipt is not required.

What documents do I need to register a new vehicle?

  • A request for certification of vehicle registration: cerfa form n°13750*05
  • Proof of address from within the last 6 months
  • Certificateof sale or invoice issued by the seller
  • Certificate of Conformity (issued by the manufacturer, to be checked with the seller before the sale. The seller isn’t legally obliged to provide it.)
  • A tax receipt (“quitus fiscal”) issued by your tax office
  • You may need a certificate of "deregistration" if your vehicle was registered in the country from which you purchased it

What documents do I need to register a used vehicle?

  • A request for certification of vehicle registration: cerfa form n°13750*05 (it may consist of two parts)
  • Proof of address from within the last 6 months
  • A tax receipt issued by your tax office
  • The vehicle’s foreign registration certificate
  • Proof of technical inspection, either by France or another country within the EU, completed within the last 6 months if your vehicle is more than 4 years old 
  • A European certificate of conformity, or, if you do not have one, a certificate of identification issued by the manufacturer

Is a European Certificate of Conformity compulsory?

The European Certificate of Conformity is a document provided by manufacturers of new vehicles to demonstrate their conformity to European norms and directives. It is generally necessary when registering a foreign vehicle in France. Find out before you purchase your vehicle, as the seller is not legally obligated to provide this certificate at the time of purchase.

Attention: the COC cannot be issued for vehicles that were not manufactured under European specifications (ex. vehicles manufactured to be sold in the United States, Japan, etc.) or for vehicles made before 1996. If this is the case for your vehicle, please refer to section K on your registration certificate. This will enable you to check whether the vehicle has been granted EC type-approval ("e*…" type number)

If you do not have a COC for your vehicle, and if the registration certificate has not been sufficiently completed, you will need to provide a certificate of identification. To obtain this, you should:

  • Submit a request from the manufacturer or its representative in France. Note that certain manufacturers charge up to 160 euros for this certificate.
  • Or submit an application for individual approval to the directorate for the environment, planning and housing in your region (“DREAL” in French).

How do I obtain a tax clearance?

A tax clearance is a required document when registering your foreign vehicle in France. This certificate indicates that your vehicle is VAT-registered.

The tax clearance, which you can file with your local French tax office, has a deadline of 15 days following the delivery of your vehicle. To find out who to contact, select "quitus fiscal" followed by your department on the “direction générale des finances publiques” website.

After submitting your request by email to the relevant department, you should present photocopies of the following original documents:

  • The vehicle registration certificate.
  • The purchase invoice (purchase from a company) or the contract/purchase agreement (purchase from an individual) or power of attorney with a copy of your ID, if you are not the buyer.
  • Form n°1993-PART-D-SD.
  • The European certificate of conformity from the manufacturer.
  • The buyer’s ID (only for new vehicles).
  • Proof of address.

Good to know: For a new vehicle (less than 6 months or less than 6000km), you will need to pay VAT in France. Buyers of used vehicles (more than 6 months and more than 6000km) do not need to make this payment.

Practical information on car registration by country

Are you attempting to register your vehicle in Germany, Spain, or Luxembourg? Registration procedures differ between countries. We have gathered helpful information regarding vehicle registration in other European countries for your use.

Click on the country* in which you wish to register your car and consult the associated file.

*dated from 2015

Problems with vehicle registration: Contact SOLVIT

If you encounter a problem with registering your foreign vehicle, you should submit a request through SOLVIT (free service).