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Brexit: back to square one for importing vehicles from the UK

Brexit: back to square one for importing vehicles from the UK

Brexit: back to square one for vehicle imports.

The United Kingdom's departure from the European Union — Brexit — has turned back the clock for anyone importing a new or used vehicle purchased on British soil into France.

The UK formally left the European Union on 31 January 2020 under an orderly withdrawal. Throughout that transition year, vehicle imports and the paperwork for updating the registration certificate (carte grise) stayed exactly the same.

Since 1 January 2021, however, the procedure is the same as for any other country outside the European Union, and owners now face more expensive formalities.

  • Customs duty:

Just like vehicles arriving from the United States, for example, going through French customs is now mandatory if you want to buy a new or used vehicle from the United Kingdom.

Before Brexit, there was no customs or import duty to pay on a vehicle bought in the UK. The tax clearance certificate (quitus fiscal) was all that was needed to prove the tax and import situation was in order.

Today you must pay 10% of the vehicle's value to obtain the customs clearance certificate 846A. This document is compulsory for the registration file in France.

  • VAT:

Some vehicles coming from within the European Union are subject to VAT when imported into France. You should check with the seller whether VAT was already paid in an EU country when the vehicle was first put on the road.

If it wasn't, you will have to pay 20% VAT when you apply for the tax clearance certificate (quitus fiscal) — whether the vehicle comes from Italy, Germany or any other EU country.

For the United Kingdom, you will now pay 20% VAT if you buy or import a British vehicle. Since Brexit, the change lies in how the VAT is calculated: it is now based on the value of your vehicle.

  • The certificate of conformity:

To register a foreign vehicle in France, you must provide a certificate of conformity, commonly known as the COC. This certificate must be issued by the vehicle's manufacturer.

For vehicles from outside the EU, it is possible to obtain a partial conformity document from the manufacturer, but that alone is not enough to prove your vehicle meets European standards. In that case, your vehicle must be inspected by the DREAL (Direction Régionale de l'Environnement, de l'Aménagement et du Logement — the regional environment and planning authority).

That said, the certificate of conformity may be sufficient on its own if your vehicle is recent and was built before Brexit took effect. Only an accredited professional or an ANTS (national agency for secure documents) agent can confirm this for your specific case.

The DREAL runs tests and checks to verify that the imported vehicle meets European standards. The tests most commonly carried out cover noise levels, rear visibility, electromagnetic interference suppression, braking and emissions.

The DREAL may also ask you to have additional checks performed by the UTAC (Union Technique de l'Automobile, du motocycle et du Cycle — the French vehicle testing body).

The UTAC then carries out these complementary tests. If your vehicle passes, the DREAL issues an individual approval report known as the RTI (réception à titre isolé). If it doesn't pass, the UTAC and the DREAL will tell you which modifications are required.

  • British vehicles more than 30 years old:

If you are buying an older British vehicle — a classic — it is not possible to obtain a certificate of conformity. As with all classic vehicles, the application goes through the FFVE (Fédération Française des Véhicules d'Époque — the French federation for historic vehicles).

By submitting a file with a form and several photos, the FFVE issues an attestation that acts as proof of conformity for vehicles more than 30 years old. This route is available for cars and two-wheelers alike.

Documents to include with your registration application:

  • The complete original British registration document (V5),
  • A French roadworthiness test (contrôle technique) report less than 6 months old,
  • The transfer certificate (certificat de cession) or purchase invoice,
  • The customs clearance certificate 846A,
  • The individual approval report (RTI),
  • A valid insurance certificate,
  • Proof of address less than 6 months old (water, electricity or phone bill),
  • Your driving licence,
  • Your identity card or passport,
  • The registration certificate application form (cerfa 13750),
  • The mandate form (cerfa 13757) if you delegate the application to a professional service provider.