Bringing a car to France, and registering it
The paperwork for putting a foreign car on French plates: what the process is called, what you need, and the two things that catch people out.
6 min read
If you move to France with a car, you are expected to register it here. The process is done online and the vocabulary is the hardest part.
This is an outline of how the system works, not legal advice. Rules and deadlines change. Confirm current requirements on the official ANTS site before starting.
The words you need
- Carte grise — the registration document. Officially the certificat d’immatriculation.
- ANTS — the national agency that runs the online process. All registration now goes through its site.
- Quitus fiscal — a tax clearance certificate from the local tax office, confirming VAT has been settled.
- Contrôle technique — the roadworthiness test, equivalent to an MOT.
- Certificat de conformité — a document from the manufacturer confirming the vehicle meets EU type approval.
The rough sequence
- Establish residence and get proof of address.
- Obtain the quitus fiscal from the tax office for your area.
- Obtain the certificat de conformité from the manufacturer or its French importer.
- Pass a French contrôle technique if the car is over four years old.
- Apply on the ANTS site with the above, the foreign registration document, proof of identity and proof of address.
- Pay the registration tax, which varies by region and by the car’s fiscal power and emissions.
A temporary certificate arrives by email; the card itself follows by post.
The two things that catch people out
The certificat de conformité. Manufacturers charge for it, take weeks, and some no longer issue them for older models. If they will not, you need a réception à titre isolé — an individual approval inspection through DREAL, which is slower and more expensive. Start this step first, not last.
Right-hand drive headlights. A UK car needs headlights that dip to the right to pass the contrôle technique. Beam deflectors are a temporary fix for a visit, not a permanent one — the test wants the correct units or a proper adjustment.
Insurance
You must insure with a French policy once the car is on French plates. Insurers will ask for your relevé d’information — the no-claims record from your previous insurer. Ask for it before you cancel the old policy, in writing, and keep it.
If you are only visiting
None of the above applies. A foreign-registered car may be driven in France on its home registration and insurance for a temporary stay. Carry the registration document, insurance certificate and your licence.