Changing the registered owner of a vehicle in France
You have just bought a vehicle: you have 1 month from the date of the sale to put the registration certificate (carte grise) in your name.
This procedure — which is the new owner's responsibility — can be completed online through the ANTS website or through a service accredited by the French state.
Here is the list of documents required for the change of ownership:
- The vehicle's registration certificate, crossed out and marked "Vendu le" (sold on) followed by the date and time — or "cédé le" (transferred on) followed by the date and time in the case of a transfer for scrapping,
- Your driving licence, both sides,
- Your identity card (or passport), both sides — plus the co-owner's ID if the certificate is to carry a co-owner,
- The transfer certificate (certificat de cession, cerfa no. 15776*02), signed by both the seller and the buyer, showing the date and time of the sale,
- Proof of address less than 6 months old (water, electricity, phone or home-insurance bill, or income-tax notice),
- The roadworthiness test (contrôle technique) less than 6 months old — unless the vehicle is less than 4 years old. Two-wheelers, trailers, caravans, quads and licence-free cars are not subject to the roadworthiness test,
- A valid insurance certificate,
- The registration certificate application form (cerfa no. 13750*05).
Plus, depending on your situation:
- The purchase declaration (déclaration d'achat) if you bought the vehicle from a motor trade professional,
- A Kbis extract (company registration document) if you are buying as a business,
- A signed mandate if a state-accredited service is handling the procedure for you,
- If you bought a foreign vehicle, see our dedicated article on registering it in France.
The cost of the registration certificate varies: it depends on the vehicle's characteristics and the region you live in.
Once your application has been validated and paid, the registration certificate is printed and sent by registered post directly by the state services. Allow 3 to 5 working days for it to arrive at your postal address.
The wait can sometimes be longer if the application is incomplete or needs to be reviewed by the processing office.
Good to know: converting an old-format registration number (such as 123 AB 01, known as an FNI number) to the current SIV format has no effect on the validity of the roadworthiness test. The test report itself is what counts.
If the vehicle you are registering carries an old-format number, at the end of the procedure you will receive a provisional registration certificate (CPI — Certificat Provisoire d'Immatriculation) together with a new SIV-format registration number. Print this document: it allows you to drive while you wait for the definitive certificate, and it is also what you use to order your new number plates.
If you are out when the postal worker calls, a delivery notice will be left for you. You then have 15 days to collect the document from La Poste (or authorise someone else to collect it for you). After that deadline, the certificate is returned to the sender and you will have to contact the ANTS to have it re-sent.
Please note: you must keep the old registration certificate for 5 years, then destroy it.