What formalities must an expatriate return to France with a vehicle?

Verified 07 July 2021 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

Expatriate returning to France with a vehicle must register it within the period of1 month.

You must complete the online process using the following online service:

Carte grise Request the sale of a used vehicle with a foreign registration

You must identify yourself via France Connect.

A digital copy device (scanner, digital camera, smartphone or tablet equipped with a photo function) is required.

Of numeric dots (with computers, printers and scanners) are available in each prefecture and in most sub-prefectures. You can do the walk there. You can be assisted by digital mediators if you have difficulties using the Internet.

You can also be accompanied in your approach by a France Services house :

Who shall I contact

Warning  

carte grise it is now no longer possible to request a referral from the prefecture or sub-prefecture.

You have 1 month to make the move. After that, you may be fined up to €750 (in general, flat-rate fine of €135). But even after that, your application will be processed.

The parts list differs depending on whether the vehicle was previously registered in a country of the European Union or in another country.

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Vehicle registered in an EU country

You must provide a digital copy (photo or scan) of the following:

  • Carte grise original, without special mention, or an official vehicle ownership document
  • Carte grise If the person concerned has been retained by the administrative authorities of the country foreigner:
    • official document indicating this
    • or valid international motor vehicle certificate issued by those authorities
  • Proof of domicile carte grise less than 6 months old (or, in the case of joint holders, proof of the person whose address is to appear on the
  • Form cerfa no. 13750
  • Proof of roadworthiness, if the vehicle is more than 4 years old, and is not exempt from it. Control must have less than 6 months (when a counter-visit has been prescribed, the time allowed to carry it out must not be exceeded). it must have been carried out in France or in the European Union if the vehicle was registered there. Carte grise The roadworthiness test must be less than 6 months old on the day of the request for : if the deadline is exceeded, a new check shall be carried out at your expense.
  • Except where the application for registration bears a reference to exemption granted by tax authorities: tax discharge issued by the main revenue from taxes proving that the VAT: titleContentwas paid in France. The certificate is not required for a trailer or semi-trailer.
  • Carte grise If the old foreign vehicle cannot be provided or does not match the imported vehicle or does not allow to identify it or does not contain all the mandatory data, additional proof corresponding to your situation:
    • European certificate of conformity issued by the manufacturer, if necessary in a language other than French. It may be issued in the form of a digital document
    • Certificate of identification to a Community type
    • Isolated Receipt Report (ISR) prepared by a Dreal: titleContent

If you're doing it for someone else, you need to have a digital copy of the mandate signed and of identity document.

Carte grise You must certify on the honor that the applicant of the vehicle has a certificate of insurance of the vehicle and a driving license corresponding to the category of vehicle registered.

You do not have to attach a digital copy (photo or scan) of the driver's license. However, this may be requested when your file is being examined.

The Rules of Procedure of carte grise amount of must be made by credit card.

At the end of the procedure, you get the following 3 items:

  • File Number
  • Acknowledgement of registration of your application
  • Provisional Certificate of Registration (PIC), which you must print. The CPI allows you to circulate for 1 month, only in France, carte grise while waiting to receive your

Carte grise You will be given the definitive secure fold at your home in a period which may vary.

You can follow the progress of its manufacture on the Internet:

Carte grise Follow your request to

Vehicle registered in another country

You must provide a digital copy (photo or scan) of the following:

  • Carte grise original, without special mention, or an official vehicle ownership document
  • Carte grise If the person concerned has been retained by the administrative authorities of the country foreigner:
    • official document indicating this
    • or valid international motor vehicle certificate issued by those authorities
  • Proof of domicile carte grise less than 6 months old (or, in the case of joint holders, proof of the person whose address is to appear on the
  • Form cerfa no. 13750
  • Proof of roadworthiness, if the vehicle is more than 4 years old, and is not exempt from it. Control must have less than 6 months (when a counter-visit has been prescribed, the time allowed to carry it out must not be exceeded). It must have been carried out in France or in a European Union country. Carte grise The roadworthiness test must be less than 6 months old on the day of the request for : if the deadline is exceeded, a new check shall be carried out at your expense.
  • Customs clearance certificate 846 A, unless the application for registration is endorsed with a waiver issued by the customs services
  • Technical justification for conformity corresponding to the vehicle situation:
    • European certificate of conformity issued by the manufacturer
    • or certificate of identification of the vehicle with the Community type issued by the manufacturer or his representative in France or by a Dreal: titleContent
    • or Isolated Receipt Report (ISR) issued by a Dreal: titleContent

If you're doing it for someone else, you need to have a digital copy of the mandate signed and of identity document.

Carte grise You must certify on the honor that the applicant of the vehicle has a certificate of insurance of the vehicle and a driving license corresponding to the category of vehicle registered.

You do not have to attach a digital copy (photo or scan) of the driver's license. However, this may be requested when your file is being examined.

The Rules of Procedure of carte grise amount of must be made by credit card.

At the end of the procedure, you get the following 3 items:

  • File Number
  • Acknowledgement of registration of your application
  • Provisional Certificate of Registration (PIC), which you must print. The CPI allows you to circulate for 1 month, only in France, carte grise while waiting to receive your

Carte grise You will be given the definitive secure fold at your home in a period which may vary.

You can follow the progress of its manufacture on the Internet:

Carte grise Follow your request to

Carte grise The cost of treatment varies. It depends in particular on the characteristics of the vehicle and the region in which you live.

Carte grise You can estimate the cost of the

Carte grise Calculate the cost of the certificate of registration (ex-