How can an expat return to France with his vehicle?

Verified 10 January 2025 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

If you are an expatriate and return to France with your vehicle, you must register it within the deadline 1 month. We explain the steps of the process.

Step-by-step approach

The list of documents to be submitted differs depending on whether the vehicle was previously registered in a country of the European Union (EU) 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 official vehicle ownership
  • 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.
    The roadworthiness test must be less than 6 months old on day of application carte grise from: if the deadline is exceeded, a new check will have to be performed 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: titleContent was paid in France. The certificate is not required for a trailer or semi-trailer.
  • Technical justification for conformity corresponding to the vehicle situation:
    • European Certificate of Conformity (COC) issued by the manufacturer. It may be issued in the form of a digital document.
    • Or certificate of identification of the vehicle with the Community type issued by the manufacturer or his representative in France or Dreal: titleContent
    • Or, if you have a final harmonized EU registration certificate issued by another EU country, certificate of verification of technical data issued by Dreal
    • Orin all other cases, isolated receipt (RTI) issued by Dreal

For further information on vehicle type-approval and compliance, please contact your Dreal.

Who shall I contact

If you're doing it for someone else, you have 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.

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.
    The roadworthiness test must be less than 6 months old on day of application carte grise from: if the deadline is exceeded, a new check will have to be performed 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 (COC) 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 Isolated Receipt Report (ISR) issued by Dreal

For further information on vehicle type-approval and compliance, please contact the Dreal.

Who shall I contact

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.

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

The cost carte grise of the variable. 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 simulator :

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

You must complete the procedure on the Internet 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 helped by digital mediators if you have problems using the Internet.

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

Who shall I contact

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

You can also be accompanied in your approach by a authorized motor vehicle professional.

Warning  

Carte grise It is no longer possible to request a referral from the prefecture or sub-prefecture.

An online service is provided to monitor the progress of the process:

Carte grise Follow your application for a certificate of registration (ex-

You will receive the final certificate of registration, sent by La Poste in letter followed, at your home in a period which may vary.

You must pay attention to the address you provide in the online procedure. It must be as complete as possible (building number, apartment number, mailbox number, floor, hallway, staircase, "resident", etc.).

Your mailbox must contain your first and last name.

You can track the shipment of your ticket either with the registration number or with the tracking number of the Post Office. This tracking number was sent to you by email or SMS if you provided your mobile phone number.

With registration number
With mail tracking number

Follow-up of the dispatch of a letter or parcel on the website laposte.fr

Please note

Carte grise You must keep the old certificate of registration (ex- for 5 yearsand then destroy it.

Who can help me?

Find who can answer your questions in your region

  • carte grise 34 00 - Information on the

    Carte grise National interactive voice server providing automated answers regarding the following:

    Carte grise If the user does not get the answer to his question about the taking of the vehicle or the driving license, he will be put in contact with an advisor of the National Agency for Secure Titles (ANTS).

    By telephone

    From the metropolis:

    34,00 (cost of a local call)

    From overseas:

    09 70 83 07 07

    From the foreigner:

    +33 9 70 83 07 07