Register a foreign vehicle in France: 2026 guide
Updated September 2026: the full file (EU / non-EU, taxes, detailed FAQ) and the online order are on the foreign vehicle registration page. This article dates the 2026 framework (ANTS / France Titres, tax clearance, COC, WW) for buying abroad and moving to France. To anticipate cost, also read ecological malus / CO₂ tax 2026 and use the registration cost calculator.
Buying new or used outside France, or relocating with foreign plates, can still pay off — if you build the right file in the first month. Prefecture counters are closed for these procedures: everything goes through the ANTS / France Titres portal or an accredited professional (e.g. Office Carte Grise, accreditation N°188573).
File ready? Start foreign vehicle registration online — document checks, SIV transmission, follow-up until the title arrives. Need to drive while the file is built? Apply for temporary WW plates.
Two situations in 2026
- Purchase abroad (EU, non-EU or United Kingdom) of a new or used vehicle.
- Moving / living in France with a vehicle already registered abroad.
In both cases you should in principle start French registration within one month (purchase or settling date). The definitive title often takes longer — hence temporary WW registration.
Legal deadline and temporary WW plates
The one-month deadline is about starting the file, not necessarily receiving the title. In the meantime:
- Temporary WW — drive and insure for 4 months, non-renewable;
- finish the French title before the WW expires;
- use an accredited pro or the ANTS portal (no prefecture desk for carte grise).
2026 tip
Build tax clearance / 846A and conformity (COC, individual approval or FFVE) in parallel with the WW so you are not title-less at month four. Order temporary WW plates, then continue on foreign vehicle registration.
Documents for a French carte grise
For foreign vehicle registration, prepare in particular:
- French proof of address less than 6 months old;
- ID (and co-holder if any);
- driving licence;
- French roadworthiness test when required (often from 4 years, with two-wheeler rules);
- valid insurance certificate;
- proof of purchase / ownership (invoice, bill of sale, foreign transfer certificate);
- foreign registration document;
- tax clearance (quitus) (EU) or customs form 846A (non-EU / UK);
- proof of conformity: COC, individual approval (RTI) (DREAL) or FFVE certificate (classic).
Forms and mandates: use Cerfa forms or the document generator before upload on foreign vehicle registration.
Tax clearance (EU) or form 846A (non-EU / UK)
Purchase in the European Union
The tax clearance certificate (quitus fiscal) proves VAT was handled correctly. It is issued by the tax office (SIE) for your French address, usually with the invoice and foreign title. If VAT was never paid (company / lease vehicle), you may need to pay it before obtaining the quitus.
Dedicated guide: EU vehicle tax clearance (quitus).
Purchase outside the EU or in the United Kingdom
After Brexit the UK is a third country: French customs clearance, duties / VAT where due, then form 846A. See also UK import after Brexit.
Certificate of conformity (COC), RTI or FFVE
- European COC — core document for an EU-homologated vehicle; order from the manufacturer / homologation desk. Service: certificate of conformity.
- Individual approval (RTI) — if there is no COC (non-EU market vehicle, modifications): DREAL file + vehicle inspection.
- FFVE (30+ years) — common path for classics: FFVE certificate then possibly classic registration.
Related article: COC and registration.
| Origin | Tax / customs | Conformity | Typical path |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU | Tax clearance | COC (or RTI / FFVE) | Foreign vehicle (+ WW) |
| Non-EU / UK | Customs 846A | COC, RTI or FFVE | Same + UK guide |
| Classic 30+ years | Quitus or 846A | Often FFVE | Import + classic |
Moving to France with foreign plates
If you settle in France as your main residence, you should in principle register the vehicle within one month. Keep foreign plates only if you can prove residence outside France for about 8 months a year (second home / multi-residence); otherwise you risk fines and insurance issues.
Documents (French address, ownership, quitus or 846A, conformity) match the purchase path. Unsure about residency / tax status? Contact us before ordering.
Office Carte Grise expert view
“Standard” EU files with a COC and quitus in the right name usually flow well. In 2026 the cases that really stall are:
- Quitus in the wrong name — invoice in the foreign seller / company name with no clear link to the applicant: fix before SIV filing.
- Expiring WW — 4 months, non-renewable: do not start WW too early if COC / 846A is not yet ordered.
- UK / USA / Japan import — 846A + conformity (often RTI) heavier than a Germany / Belgium purchase; plan time and cost.
- CO₂ malus (Y3) — may apply on the first French registration of a recent vehicle: simulate with the calculator and read malus 2026.
- Classics — pair import with classic vehicle registration / FFVE rather than chasing a missing COC.
- Crit’Air / LEZ — after the French title, the sticker conditions urban driving: see Crit’Air and low-emission zones 2026.
- Co-holder, lease, inheritance — missing signatures / mandates: other procedures or contact.
FAQ — foreign vehicle registration
What is the deadline to register a vehicle bought abroad?
You should in principle start the procedure within one month of purchase (or of settling in France). The definitive title may arrive later: use temporary WW plates (4 months) to drive legally while the file is built, then finish via foreign vehicle registration.
Tax clearance (quitus) or form 846A: which do I need?
EU purchase: tax clearance (quitus). Non-EU purchase (including UK): form 846A after customs clearance. Without one or the other, the SIV blocks French registration.
Can I drive without a French carte grise while the file is pending?
Yes, with temporary WW plates valid for 4 months and non-renewable, or under the strict rules of living mostly outside France. Otherwise, driving on foreign plates while resident in France can lead to a fine.
Take action
Do not let quitus, COC or 846A delay your title: order foreign vehicle registration online, upload your documents after payment and receive your carte grise at home. Need WW plates, tax clearance, a COC or an FFVE certificate? Our team can also help via contact.