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What formality must an expatriate who returns to France with a vehicle do?

Verified 24 January 2020 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

An expatriate returning to France with a vehicle must register it within one month.

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

Apply for a gray card for a used vehicle with a foreign registration

You must identify yourself through France Connect..

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

Of numeric points (with computers, printers and scanners) are available in each prefecture and in most sub-prefectures. You can accomplish the process, helped by mediators if you encounter difficulties with the use of the Internet.

You can also be accompanied in your walk in a house of services to the public.

Who shall I contact

Warning  

it is no longer possible to request a gray card from the prefecture or the sub-prefecture.

You have 1 month to do the walk. After that, you risk a fine of up to €750 (in general, lump sum from €135). However, even after this period, your request will be processed.

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

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Vehicles registered in an EU country

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

  • Original gray card, without any special mention, or an official part of ownership of the vehicle
  • If the gray card has been kept by the administrative authorities of the foreign country, present:
    • an official document indicating that,
    • or a valid international motor vehicle certificate issued by those authorities
  • Proof of domicile less than 6 months (or, in the case of joint holders, proof of the person whose address will appear on the gray card)
  • Form cerfa n°13750*05
  • Proof of technical inspection, if the vehicle is more than 4 years old and is not exempt.. The check must be less than 6 months old (when countervisit has been prescribed, the time allowed to carry out it must not be exceeded) and must have been carried out in France or in the European Union if the vehicle was registered there. The technical inspection must be less than 6 months old on the day of the gray card application: if the deadline is exceeded, you will have to carry out a new check at your expense.
  • Unless the application for registration is endorsed by the tax authorities as an exemption, tax deduction issued by the main revenue of taxes attesting that the VAT was paid in France. The clearance shall not be provided for a trailer or semi-trailer.
  • If the old foreign gray card cannot be provided or does not correspond to the imported vehicle or does not identify it or does not contain all the required data, additional supporting documentation corresponding to your situation:
    • European certificate of conformity issued by the manufacturer, published if necessary in a language other than French. It may be issued as a digital document.
    • Certificate of identification to a Community type
    • Isolated report of receipt (RTI) by a Dreal: titleContent

If you're going to do it for someone else, you need a digital copy of the mandate signed and identification..

You must certify on the honor that the gray card applicant has

  • a vehicle insurance certificate
  • and a driving license corresponding to the category of the registered vehicle.

You do not have to attach a digital copy (photo or scan) of the driver's license. However, you may be asked to do so when you are examining your file.

Regulation gray card amount must be made by credit card.

At the end of the procedure, you will get:

  • a file number,
  • an acknowledgement of your application
  • and an Interim Certificate of Registration (ICC), which you must print out. The CPI allows you to travel for 1 month, only in France, waiting to receive your gray card.

You will receive the final gray card under secure fold at home a delay that may vary.. You can follow the progress of its manufacture online:

Follow your gray card request

Vehicle registered in another country

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

  • Original gray card, without any special mention, or an official part of ownership of the vehicle
  • If the gray card has been retained by the administrative authorities of the foreign country,
    • official document indicating it,
    • or valid international motor vehicle certificate issued by those authorities
  • Proof of domicile less than 6 months (or, in the case of joint holders, proof of the person whose address will appear on the gray card)
  • Form cerfa n°13750*05
  • Proof of technical inspection, if the vehicle is more than 4 years old and is not exempt.. The check must be less than 6 months old (when countervisit has been prescribed, the time allowed to perform it must not be exceeded) and must have been carried out in France or in a country of the European Union. The technical inspection must be less than 6 months old on the day of the gray card application: if the deadline is exceeded, you will have to carry out a new check at your expense.
  • Certificate of customs clearance 846 A, unless the application for registration is endorsed with an exemption mark issued by customs
  • Technical certificate of conformity corresponding to the situation of the vehicle:
    • 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 Dreal: titleContent
    • or certificate of receipt in an isolated capacity issued by a Dreal

If you're going to do it for someone else, you need a digital copy of the mandate signed and identification..

You must certify on the honor that the gray card applicant has

  • a vehicle insurance certificate
  • and a driving license corresponding to the category of the registered vehicle.

You do not have to attach a digital copy (photo or scan) of the driver's license. However, you may be asked to do so when you are examining your file.

Regulation gray card amount must be made by credit card.

At the end of the procedure, you will get:

  • a file number,
  • an acknowledgement of your application
  • and an Interim Certificate of Registration (ICC), which you must print out. The CPI allows you to travel for 1 month, only in France, waiting to receive your gray card.

You will receive the final gray card under secure fold at home a delay that may vary.. You can follow the progress of its manufacture online:

Follow your gray card request

The cost of the gray card varies. It depends in particular on the characteristics of the vehicle and the region in which you live.

You can estimate the cost of your gray card using this simulator:

Calculate the cost of the greycard