Registering an Imported Vehicle in France

The immatriculation is a vehicle's registration. The details of a vehicle's registration are carried in the Carte Grise (grey card). 

Before being able to register a foreign vehicle in France and receive the Carte Grise it must conform to the French road standards. The simplicity of the process can vary depending on make, age and country of origin of the vehicle. Below are the basics of the process that can be expected.

The process is different (and can be simpler) for classic and collectable vehicles. 

The process can be far more complicated for modified vehicles. Please enquire at the Préfecture.

Using a Foreign Car in France 

It is not obligatory to register a foreign vehicle in France unless the owner is resident in France. A resident is someone who is domiciled in France for more than six months (183 days) per year, or who is employed in France.

EU legislation

Under EU law, a private vehicle may be temporarily imported and used on French roads for up to six months in any 12 months. The vehicle must be re-registered in France if it is owned and used by a resident of France.

It is against the law for the resident of an EU country, while in that country, to drive any vehicle registered in another EU country. So a person who is a resident of France may only drive a French-registered car while they are in France (with the exception of cross-border workers).

An EU-registered vehicle must satisfy the legal roadworthiness requirements of its country of registration to be legal to drive elsewhere in the EU. 

Vehicles from the European Union

No duty is payable on a used vehicle imported for personal use, provided that VAT has been paid in the EU country where it was bought and it has belonged to the registered owner for over six months and driven 6,000km prior to entry into France.

For a new vehicle bought in another EU member state, the TVA must be paid in France unless the French Fiscal Services are provided with the original receipt stating that VAT has been paid and, and you have proof of a valid foreign registration of the vehicle.

1. Take the vehicle's original registration documents and receipt of sale to the Centre des Impots. You will be issued with a fiscal certificate or tax clearance form. In some instances, there are customs and Tax charges payable, depending on the age/mileage of the car.
2. Request an attestation de conformité (certificate of conformity) from the vehicle manufacturer or a certified representative. This identifies that the vehicle is of a recognised type in France or in the European Union.
   Note: If the vehicle has a recently-issued registration document which states the type approval number, a certificate of conformity may not required
3. If the car is more than four years old it will need to pass a côntrole technique. This checks: vehicle identification, brakes, tyres, emission and noise levels, lights, steering and chassis condition. Only if it passes on all requirements, will you be given the certificate.
4. Apply to the motor registration department at the Préfecture or Sous-Préfecture for a demande d'immatriculation  (cerfa form n°10672). This initiates the process of registration. A dossier will be opened.

Supply them with:

• Proof of identity
• Proof of residence/address (property title deeds, rental contract, utility bill, insurance certificate)
• A copy of the foreign registration certificate
• Copy of the attestation de conformité (issued by the manufacturer or their agent)
• A copy of the certificate of purchase and customs clearance certificate (issued by the Centre des Impots)
• Côntrole technique certificate if required.

There is a fee due based on the CV engine power of the vehicle. 

Documents should be sent to the Service des Mines or DRIRE which verifies that the vehicle: make, year and chassis number correspond to French homologation standards, La fiche d'homologation. This process can take two or three weeks.

If all goes well, you will be notified when you should return to the Préfecture or Sous-Préfecture, where your registration document, the Carte Grise and new registration number will be issued. All that remains is to have new number plates (plaques d'immatriculation) made and fitted. 

• See the website of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs for more: Click here (in French)

Vehicle from a non-European Union country

1. Take the vehicle's original registration documents and receipt of sale to the Centre des Impots. You will be issued with a fiscal certificate or tax clearance form. There are customs and Tax charges payable, depending on the age/mileage of the car. You will be issued with certificat de dédouanement 846A
2. Apply to the motor registration department at your Préfecture or Sous-Préfecture for a demande d'immatriculation. This initiates the process of registration. A dossier will be opened.

Supply them with:

• Proof of your identity
• Proof of your residence (property title deeds, rental contract, utility bill, insurance certificate)
• A copy of the foreign registration certificate
• Copy of the attestation de conformité (issued by the manufacturer or their agent)
• A copy of the certificate of purchase and customs clearance certificate (issued by the Centre des Impots)
• Côntrole technique certificate if required

You will have to complete a déclaration de mise en circulation and a form for additional information about your vehicle. Your dossier will be sent to the DRIRE, which will notify you by mail when to present your vehicle for examination at the DRIRE testing centre.

If it passes the test, DRIRE will issue a statement of approval. Take this and the other documents to your Préfecture or Sous-Préfecture, which will release your Carte Grise and new registration number. All that remains is to have new number plates made and fitted.

• See the website of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs for more: Click here (in French)

The DRIRE 

Go in person to the Service des Mines (also known DRIRE)

• To find a local DRIRE office: Click here and refer to the country map on the right, once the local DRIRE website opens, select "véhicules" on the left menu

Take:

• The vehicle
• Proof of identity
• Proof of residence (property title deeds, rental contract, utility bill, insurance certificate)
• A copy of the foreign registration certificate
• A copy of the certificate of purchase and customs clearance certificate (issued by the Centre des Impots)
• Driving licence
• Cheque book to pay the fee

The vehicle will be inspected and verified that the make, year and chassis number correspond to French homologation standards, la fiche d'homologation. This process can take two or three weeks. If your car conforms to these standards, there will be a fee to pay, varying on the vehicle.

Note: Even if the vehicle is homogene, there are certain things that may need changing because, for example the engine you have does not have the same number as the one in the French homologation fiche, or the optics are not the same. You may, therefore, be required to have the changes made and to take your vehicle back to the Service des Mines to be re-inspected and approved. You will be permitted to drive your vehicle in the interim.

To obtain a certificate (certificate de conformité, COC) 

• Audi/Volkswagen:
  Tel: 03 23 73 81 77 
  Call to obtain a form and return it with registration documents and payment.
• Citroën:
  Attestation CO10 (Service Attestation Technique Citroen Immeuble Colisée)
  12 Rue Fructidor
  75835 Paris Cedex 17
  Tel: 01 58 79 71 48 or 01 58 79 70 29 (14:00 to 17:00)
  Send copy of registration document (both sides). Invoice/purchase contract confirming that you own the vehicle. Information on manufacturer's plaque. Number of speeds. Number of seats. Proof of your identity (passport or similar). Payment made payable to Automobiles Citroen to cover administrative fees (approx €100+, ask for the exact amount). 
• Chrysler Daimler Mercedes: 
  Service Homologation
  Parc de Rocancourt
  BP 100
  78153 Le Chesnay Cedex. 
  Tel: 01 39 23 56 00
  Send (both sides) copy of registration document.
• Fiat, Alfa Romeo & Lancia:
  Tel: 01 30 16 70 00
  Call to obtain form - ask for "service homologation".
• Ford:
  34, Rue Croix de Fer
  78122 St Germain en Laye cedex 
  Tel: 01 61 01 61 01
  Send both sides copy of registration documents. Information on manufacturer's plaque (could be found on the radiator). Bill proving adjustment of lights to French standard. Payment to FMC Automobiles SAS
• Honda: 
  Service Homologation
  Honda France
  Parc D'Activités Parisest
  Allée du 1er Mai
  BP46 Roissy Bourbour
  77312 Marne la Vallée Cedex 02
  Tel: 01 60 37 30 00
  Write or call to obtain form
• Land Rover/Range Rover:
  Land Rover France
  Service Homologation
  34 Rue de la Croix de Fer
  78127 St-Germain-en-Laye Cedex
  Tel: 01 61 01 62 61
  Fax: 01 61 01 62 63
  Call to request a form. Then send copy of registration document. Information on manufacturer's plaque on vehicle. Type of bodywork. Number of doors. Number of seats. Tyre dimensions. Owner's name, and address in France. Bill or attestation from garage (if relevant). Payment made to Land Rover France SA.
• Mazda:
  Mazda Automobiles France SAS 
  ZI Moimont 2 
  1 rue Eugene Pottier Marly-la-Ville 
  95476 Fosses Cedex 
  Tel: 01 34 72 13 00 Fax: 01 34 72 27
• Mitsubishi:
  Mitsubishi France
  3 Avenue Hoche
  75008 Paris
  Tel: 01 34 35 84 00 
  Call to discuss the request for a certificat de conformité (some telephone agents speak English).
• Opel, Vauxhall:
  1 Avenue du Marais
  95100 Argenteuil 
  Tel: 01 34 26 30 00 
  Call to obtain form to fill and return it with registration documents and payment. 
• Peugeot - Automobiles Peugeot:
  DCFP/IVP Case Courrier GA 213 
  75809 PARIS CEDEX 17 France 
  Send a copy of purchase invoice, or if second-hand, a hand-written private sale document and if UK registered, a copy of UK V5. Payment. 
• Porsche France 
  122 Ave du General-Leclerc, Boulogne Billancourt, , France
  Tel: 0820 800 911, 
  Fax: 01 55 19 91 11 
  Call for instructions
• Renault:
  Service Homologation Centre Technique Renault 
  J.P. Gavard/P. Choffy 
  CTL L11 0 35 1 allee Cornuel 
  91510 Lardy
  Tel: 01 76 87 73 10
  Fax: 01 76 87 80 83 
  Send or fax a copy of original registration document.
• Suzuki:
  Suzuki France SA
  Servive Après-Vente Auto
  BP 136
  78196 Trappes Cedex 
  Write to request a certificate, enclosing a copy of your registration document.
• Triumph:
  Jean Louis Picot
  Triumph France
  19 Rue Georges Bidault
  Roissy Bourbourg
  77437 Marne La Vallée Cedex 02 
  Tel: 01 64 62 38 38
  Write with a copy of the registration document. There may be a charge.
• Toyota: 
  Toyota France
  Service Homologation
  20 Bld de la République
  92420 Vaucresson
  Tel: 01 47 10 81 00
  Fax: 01 47 10 81 81
  Call to request appropriate forms. Vehicle details and copy of registration papers are required. There is a fee payable. 
• Volvo:
  Volvo Automobiles France
  Service Homologation
  34, rue de la croix de fer
  78128 Saint-Germain en Laye
  Tel: 01 61 01 62 59
  Fax: 01 61 01 62 63

Further Information

• French Government Web site
• DRIRE
• French Department of Transport
• French Customs
• Article from the European Union Enterprise and Industry on the simplification of registration procedures. 
• Information from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Click here (in French)

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