Road traffic control: what papers should be presented?
Verified 01 June 2021 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
General case
When checking the road by the police (police, gendarmerie), you must present the following documents in paper form (electronic version not accepted):
- Driving license or, if you have just obtained it and have not yet received the license, a certificate of examination of the driving license (CEPC) with the endorsement
- Carte grise vehicleeven if the vehicle does not belong to you (a photocopy for a rental vehicle). You can present instead the Provisional Certificate of Registration (PIC).
- Certificate of insuranceeven if the vehicle does not belong to you
Carte grise and driving licenses
Carte grise Failure to show the driver's license at a roadside check is punishable by a fine of up to €38. It is payable in all cases.
You are asked to justify within 5 days carte grise that you have the driver's license. If you don't do so, you risk a fine of up to €750.
Insurance
Failure to comply with the obligation to affix the certificate of insurance (green butterfly) on his vehicle (PTAC: titleContent up to 3.5 tons) shall be punished by a fine of up to €150.
If you are asked to present your insurance proof to the police or gendarmerie within 5 days, you must meet this deadline or face a fine of up to €750.
Warning
these rules concern passenger cars (VP) and Utilities of less than 3,5 tons. If you are traveling with another type of vehicle, specific rules apply.
Startup-Lock Test settled
When checking the road by the police (police, gendarmerie), you must present the following documents in paper form (electronic version not accepted):
- Driving license or, if you have just obtained it and have not yet received the license, a certificate of examination of the driving license (CEPC) with the endorsement
- Carte grise vehicleeven if the vehicle does not belong to you (a photocopy for a rental vehicle). You can present instead the Provisional Certificate of Registration (PIC).
- Certificate of insuranceeven if the vehicle does not belong to you
- Documents attesting that your vehicle is equipped with an approved start-stop breathalyzer (EAD) and that the functioning of the device has been verified
Carte grise and driving licenses
Carte grise Failure to show the driver's license at a roadside check is punishable by a fine of up to €38. It is payable in all cases.
You are asked to justify within 5 days carte grise that you have the driver's license. If you don't do so, you risk a fine of up to €750.
Insurance
Failure to comply with the obligation to affix the certificate of insurance (green butterfly) on his vehicle (PTAC: titleContent up to 3.5 tons) shall be punished by a fine of up to €150.
If you are asked to present your insurance proof to the police or gendarmerie within 5 days, you must meet this deadline or face a fine of up to €750.
Warning
these rules concern passenger cars (VP) and Utilities of less than 3,5 tons. If you are traveling with another type of vehicle, specific rules apply.
- Order of 9 February 2009 on the procedures for the registration of vehicles
- Highway Code: Articles R233-1 to R233-3Behavior in the event of a roadside check
- Insurance Code: Articles R211-14 to R211-21Certificate of insurance
FAQ
- Carte grise: what is the Interim Certificate of Registration (IPR)?
- Who should drive with an alcohol interlock test (EAD)?
- Can you drive a 3-wheel scooter or a 125 motorcycle with the B license?
- Road traffic control: what is the fine for driving without insurance?
- Road traffic control: what penalties should be imposed in the event of driving without a license?
- Carte grise (Certificate of Registration)Service-Public.fr
- Motor insurance (vehicle)Service-Public.fr
- Traffic offensesService-Public.fr
- Compulsory car equipment: safety vest, triangle...Service-Public.fr
- Certificate and certificate of insuranceService-Public.fr