Company name change on the carte grise 2026: Kbis update
Updated November 2026: when a company changes its legal name (raison sociale) — or a legal form recorded on the Kbis — without selling the vehicle, the French registration certificate must follow. This is not a private sale or a classic change of ownership: you update the corporate keeper with a recent Kbis extract. This guide covers documents, cost, frequent mix-ups (trade name, registered office, merger) and filing via an accredited professional.
Fresh Kbis in hand? Route the file via other procedures (accreditation No. 188573) or write through contact for a document pre-check.
Why update the carte grise after a company name change?
The SIV stores the keeper as registered with the commercial court. If field C.1 still shows the old legal name, the company hits concrete blockers:
- Roadside checks / fines — mismatch between the title and company papers;
- Fleet insurance — endorsements or claims slowed when names diverge;
- Resale — the transfer declaration and Cerfa 15776 need a coherent keeper;
- Pro flows — W garage, purchase declaration or manager mandate refused if the Kbis and title disagree.
The other procedures hub keeps this reason separate from a classic change of ownership.
Kbis: which version and how recent?
Authorities and accredited pros require a readable Kbis extract (or RCS / registry equivalent) that shows:
- the old and new legal names, or a clear modification mention;
- the SIREN / SIRET and registered-office address useful for the file;
- a recent extract date — in practice, a Kbis older than 3 to 6 months is often refused or must be renewed.
Letterhead, an invoice or a website screenshot does not replace the Kbis. For Cerfa 13750 / 13757 forms, use CERFA forms or the document generator.
Do not confuse
- Legal name (raison sociale) — the legal entity name on the Kbis.
- Trade name / brand — may differ; only the legal name belongs on the title.
- Registered-office move — if the keeper’s address changes, also plan a change of address (or both reasons if the Kbis stacks modifications).
- Vehicle sale — sale or transfer to another party = mutation via change of ownership, not a simple Kbis update.
Documents to prepare (accredited path)
- Recent Kbis (or equivalent extract) mentioning the change;
- Current carte grise in the old legal name;
- ID of the legal representative (or proxy);
- Proof of address / registered office consistent with the Kbis (less than 6 months old);
- Cerfa No. 13750 signed / stamped for the legal entity;
- Cerfa No. 13757 (mandate) if you use Office Carte Grise;
- Valid roadworthiness test if the vehicle is subject to it.
On the ANTS / France Titres portal, the reason often sits under “other requests” tied to the keeper’s situation. A wrong reason flips into an unnecessary Y1 mutation — an accredited pre-check avoids that trap.
How much does it cost in 2026?
In the typical case “same legal entity, new name”, this is a title update, not a full change-of-keeper tariff. Exact taxes depend on the SIV reason retained; the agency fee is added. Estimate any regional taxes with the registration cost calculator and the tax calculator if the file is reclassified as a mutation (merger, contribution, new SIREN).
| Situation | Title logic (indicative) | Typical path |
|---|---|---|
| Legal-name change only (same SIREN) | Update / fees by reason | Other procedures |
| Registered-office change on the title | Often address logic + Kbis | Change of address + contact |
| Vehicle sale / new buyer | Y1 tariff + transfer | Change of ownership |
| Merger / universal transfer / contribution with a new entity | Often treated as a mutation | Contact with deeds + Kbis |
ANTS / France Titres or accredited professional?
| Criterion | ANTS / France Titres | Office Carte Grise |
|---|---|---|
| Choosing the reason | “Other request” path to identify alone | Other procedures hub + Kbis reading |
| Kbis quality | Frequent rejection if the extract is old or unreadable | Freshness, SIREN and manager-signature pre-check |
| Trade name / office / merger mix-ups | Wrong reason risk (Y1 or rejection) | We sort legal name vs sale vs address |
| CPI / title tracking | Personal account | Tracking through delivery — see delays and CPI 2026 |
Office Carte Grise expert view
“Kbis / company name” files get hard as soon as you leave a simple renaming. Here are the 2026 angles we see most:
- Holding / secondary establishment — the trade name or operating site is not the legal name; only the RCS keeper belongs on the title.
- Merger / absorption — deeds (agreement, minutes) join the Kbis; this is no longer a label-only update.
- Fleet and leasing — if C.1 is a lessor, this is not a user Kbis case: see leasing LOA / LLD 2026.
- Related pro paths — an up-to-date Kbis is also required for W garage and the professional purchase declaration; this hub does not replace those flows. Also see the purchase declaration.
- Import / WW — a company can keep a French title or a WW, but the Kbis does not skip the foreign vehicle path if the vehicle is not yet in the SIV.
- Duplicate — a duplicate reprints the title as is; it does not fix an obsolete legal name.
FAQ — company name and Kbis 2026
Is a company name change a vehicle sale?
No, as long as the same legal entity remains the vehicle owner. You update the keeper’s label with the Kbis. As soon as another SIREN or a buyer appears, file a transfer then a change of ownership.
How recent must the Kbis be?
Aim for an extract less than 3 months old (often accepted up to 6 months depending on the channel). A blurry or cropped scan is refused like an expired extract. Have it checked via contact.
Can I complete the process fully online?
Yes, through an accredited professional: file on other procedures or send the Kbis + Cerfa forms via contact. Useful forms are listed in the documents and Cerfa section.
Take action
Do not let an old legal name block insurance, a roadside check or a resale: file your company-name / Kbis update with Office Carte Grise (No. 188573), or contact us for a pre-check. Need the wider divorce / leasing / correction frame? Also read other procedures 2026.