Registering a Foreign Vehicle in France

Share | Print

Registering a Foreign 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). See this page for information on the Carte Grise Vehicle Registration Document.

Before being able to register a foreign vehicle - motorcar or motorbike - 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 what you could expect to have happen - although it is by no means a sure thing - the system has recently undergone a change.

Note: A car may be driven in France duty- and tax-free for six months. 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 or 6,000km prior to entry into France. Customs Duty will be payable if the owner sells the car in under two years after 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.

The process is different (and can be simpler) for classic and collectable vehicles. See Registering Collector's Vehicles on this page: Carte Grise Vehicle Registration Document

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

Vehicles from the European Union

1. Take the vehicle's original registration documents and receipt of sale to the Centre d'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.
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 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 (passport or carte de séjour)
• Proof of your residence (EDF or telephone bill)
• 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 d'Impots)
• Côntrole technique certificate if required.

Your documents may be sent to the Service des Mines or DRIRE which verifies that your 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 made and fitted.

For further information see:
EU Information Vehicle Registration
EU Information: Vehicle Tax

Vehicle from a non-European Union country

1. Take the vehicle's original registration documents and receipt of sale to the Centre d'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 (passport or carte de séjour)
• Proof of your residence (EDF or telephone bill)
• 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 d'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.

The DRIRE 

(Directions Régionales de l'Industrie, de la Recherche et de l'Environnement)

• PACA (Provence Alpes Côte d'Azur) DRIRE website click on "véhicules" on the left menu

You must go in person to the Service des Mines - otherwise known as DRIRE. Take with you:

• Your car
• Proof of your identity (passport or carte de sejour)
• Proof of your residence (EDF or telephone bill)
• A copy of the foreign registration certificate
• A copy of the certificate of purchase and customs clearance certificate (issued by the Centre d'Impots)
• Driving licence
• Cheque book.

Your 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) 

• 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:
  Land Rover France SA
  Rue Ambroise Croizat
  BP 71
  95101 Argenteuil Cedex 
  Tel: 01 39 98 56 22
  Send copy of UK registration document (V5). 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. Document proving headlights have been adapted to driving on the right (bill or attestation from garage). 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
  Paris Nord II - Meuble le Raspail Hall C
  22 ave des Nations
  BP 50433 Villepinte
  95944 Roissy Ch de Gaulle
  Write to request a "Fiche d'Identification d'un vehicule importé en France" form. Complete this as stipulated on the form and post back. There is a charge and check payment will need to accompany your completed dossier.
• 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. 
• 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.
• Volkswagen:
  Tel: 03 23 73 81 77 
  Call to obtain a form and return it with registration documents and payment.
• 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

Click on the text to go to the websites:

• French Government Web site
• DRIRE
• French Department of Transport
• French Customs

Information on manufacturers provided by Thierry Marcq of AGF
Thanks to AngloINFO users Yvonne and Michael for their contributions.