Temporary WW plates 2026: drive legally while waiting for your carte grise
You have just bought or imported a foreign vehicle and the definitive registration file will take several weeks? A temporary WW registration (provisional certificate in the format WW-123-XX) lets you drive legally in France for 4 months, non-renewable, while you gather tax clearance, conformity papers and the definitive carte grise. This 2026 guide explains how WW plates work, which documents you need, the cost, common pitfalls, and how to chain the other Office Carte Grise procedures.
Need to drive now? Start your file on the temporary WW plates page — accredited professional of the French Ministry of the Interior.
What is a temporary WW registration?
A WW provisional certificate is a temporary French registration issued for a vehicle that does not yet have its definitive carte grise (usually an import). It takes the form of a WW-xxx-xx number to engrave on temporary plates. It does not replace the registration file: it buys you time to assemble it properly.
Key points:
- Duration: 4 months, non-renewable.
- Use: drive in France and make it easier to obtain a French insurance certificate.
- Next step: complete foreign vehicle registration before the deadline.
Do not confuse
- Temporary WW — private buyer / importer waiting for the definitive carte grise (4 months).
- W garage — professional certificate (repairers, dealers, etc.) with removable plates, renewed each year (French-site pro procedure).
- CPI (provisional certificate after some SIV filings) — a different provisional document tied to an already transmitted request.
When should you apply for temporary WW plates?
| Situation | WW useful? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| EU / non-EU purchase, long file (tax clearance, COC, roadworthiness) | Yes | The legal 1-month window is often too short |
| Moving to France with a foreign-registered vehicle | Yes | Time to build the SIV file |
| Vehicle already registered in France, simple ownership change | No | Use change of ownership |
| Trade professional testing / moving stock | No (other regime) | W garage (pro procedure on the French site) |
In practice, WW plates are the safety net whenever an import takes more than a few days: roadworthiness testing, tax clearance (quitus), COC or isolated type approval can easily consume the “official” four weeks.
Documents required for temporary WW plates
- complete foreign registration certificate (all parts if the title is multi-part);
- valid photo ID;
- proof of address less than 6 months old;
- proof of purchase: transfer certificate (private seller) or invoice (business);
- valid driving licence for the vehicle category;
- Cerfa application (13750) and mandate (13757) if you use an accredited professional.
On our temporary WW plates journey, Cerfa forms can be generated and documents uploaded online after payment.
How much do temporary WW plates cost in 2026?
At Office Carte Grise, temporary WW registration is offered around €41 incl. VAT (service fee + fixed state taxes — indicative amount shown on the procedure page). This is not the price of the definitive carte grise: regional tax Y1 (fiscal horsepower) is paid at definitive registration. Estimate it with the registration cost calculator or the tax calculator, and check the 2026 fiscal horsepower rates.
Five steps to obtain your WW plates
- Confirm your case is an import / first French registration.
- Gather foreign title, ID, address proof and purchase proof.
- Order on temporary WW plates.
- Upload your scans; we check and transmit the file.
- Engrave WW plates and advance the definitive file in parallel.
After the WW: tax clearance, COC and definitive registration
WW plates do not close the file. During the 4 months, gather the missing pieces:
1. Tax clearance (quitus) for EU purchases
The quitus fiscal confirms VAT has been handled for a vehicle bought in the European Union. Outside the EU (and the UK after Brexit), you usually need the 846A customs certificate instead. We can help via the tax clearance service.
2. European certificate of conformity (COC)
The COC proves the vehicle meets European standards. Without a manufacturer COC, isolated type approval (RTI / DREAL) or an FFVE certificate (classic cars) may be required. Order support for a certificate of conformity.
3. Full foreign-vehicle file
Once documents are ready, start foreign vehicle registration to obtain the definitive certificate before the WW expires.
Import CTA
Do not wait until month four: start definitive registration as soon as tax clearance and conformity are ready. WW plates cannot be renewed.
Vehicle identification form (FIV): unblocking the roadworthiness test
Without a usable French title, a roadworthiness test may be impossible. The vehicle identification form (FIV) then serves as the identification document to take the test — also useful before a duplicate carte grise (loss / theft) when the test has expired. If your import is blocked on testing, start the FIV alongside the WW.
Professionals: W garage and purchase declaration
Motor-trade professionals follow a different path from private importers:
- W garage — annual certificate with removable plates for professional tests / movements (French-site pro procedure).
- Purchase declaration (PRO) — SIV recording at purchase for resale (see also our purchase-declaration article).
- Vehicle transfer declaration — to protect the seller after a sale.
WW plates vs other common procedures
| Need | Procedure |
|---|---|
| Drive 4 months during an import | Temporary WW plates |
| Put the carte grise in your name (French vehicle) | Change of ownership |
| Moving house | Change of address |
| Lost / stolen / damaged title | Duplicate |
| Classic / 30+ years mention | Classic registration + FFVE |
Common pitfalls
- Waiting until the last minute — WW is not renewable; start the definitive file early.
- Incomplete foreign title — some certificates (BE, NL, DE…) have several parts.
- Forgetting quitus / 846A or COC — WW does not waive these for the next step.
- Confusing WW and W garage — different regimes and audiences.
- Blocked roadworthiness test — use the FIV.
FAQ — temporary WW plates
Are WW plates renewable?
No. 4 months maximum. Plan definitive registration via foreign vehicle registration.
Can I get insurance with a WW?
Yes — that is one of the main benefits: insurers generally accept a WW to issue a certificate.
WW and Brexit / United Kingdom?
The path resembles a non-EU import (846A, conformity). Also see Brexit and vehicle imports.
How long to obtain WW plates?
After a complete file and transmission, the provisional certificate is usually much faster than a definitive carte grise — readable scans are essential.
Can I apply alone on the ANTS portal?
Yes. An accredited professional such as Office Carte Grise simplifies Cerfa forms, document checks and follow-up, especially if you are new to the import path.
Take action
Do not stay grounded without French plates: order your temporary WW registration, then continue with tax clearance, COC and definitive registration.
Office Carte Grise also handles change of ownership, change of address, duplicates, FIV and classic registration.