What are the requirements for registering a vehicle purchased abroad?

Verified 12 November 2021 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

Pre-Requisite

To drive in France, a vehicle must comply with the safety and construction rules laid down in the highway code. This obligation applies to vehicles acquired abroad, in the European Union or in the departments and communities overseas.

Upon entry into France, the vehicle must have valid registration plates. If they're not, you're in danger ofimmobilization of the vehicle by the police forces.

Some countries issue temporary plates for export. When the plates are no longer valid, the vehicle must be driven with a special registration certificate WW.

Other countries require the removal of the vehicle from their national registers and/or the return of registration plates before leaving their territory.

To find out the rules specific to each country, contact the consulate of the country concerned in France.

Customs and tax formalities

You will have to go through customs and tax formalities.

These formalities differ according to the origin of the vehicle, depending on whether it comes from a overseas department, a overseas collectivity, of a country of the European Union (EU) or another country.

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New or second-hand vehicle from an overseas department or local authority

You don't have to pay any tariffs.

However, you must pay the VAT: titleContentwith the company Tax Office (SIE) in your home.

Contact your EFA beforehand to find out the authorized methods of payment (cash, classic check or bank check, bank card,...).

New vehicle from an EU country

You don't have to pay any tariffs.

However, you must pay the VAT: titleContentwith the company Tax Office (SIE) in your home.

Contact your EFA beforehand to find out the authorized methods of payment (cash, classic check or bank check, bank card,...).

Used vehicle from an EU country

You don't have to pay any tariffs.

However, you must present a tax discharge. For this, go to the company Tax Office (SIE) of your home.

Vehicle from a non-EU country

General case

You must pay the customs duties and the VAT: titleContent at a customs office.

You must obtain an Isolated Receipt Report (ISR) from the Dreal: titleContent competent according to your domicile if you do not have one of the following documents:

  • Certificate of conformity to a type EC: titleContent
  • Certificate of identification to an EC type

These 2 documents are provided by the manufacturer at the time of the initial sale of the vehicle. They can also issue copies (usually for a fee). The certificate of conformity may be issued in the form of a digital document.

Who shall I contact
Departments 75, 77, 78, 91, 92, 93, 94 and 95

You must pay the customs duties and the VAT: titleContentat a customs office.

You must obtain an Isolated Receipt Report (ISR) if you do not have one of the following:

  • Certificate of conformity to a type EC: titleContent
  • Certificate of identification to an EC type

These 2 documents are provided by the manufacturer at the time of the initial sale of the vehicle. They can also issue copies (usually for a fee). The certificate of conformity may be issued in the form of a digital document.

The request for an RTI report shall be made to the regional vehicle approval platform of the DRIEE Ile de France: titleContent.