France is a Left Hand Drive country and a part of European Union.
France has the world’s fourth largest industrial economy, with an annual GDP about one‑fifth that of the United States. The disposable income of France’s 60 million population averages around $20,000 per capita, and memberships in the G‑7, European Union, World Trade Organization, and OECD confirm the status of France as a leading economic player in the world.
France has an excellent system of highways providing easy access to Belgium (3 hours), Germany (5 hours), and the Riviera (8–10 hours from Paris). Tolls are high on major roads. Heavy traffic on weekends and during holidays can cause considerable inconvenience. Secondary, two‑lane roads, passing through the centers of small towns, are often more picturesque and interesting. The roads are well marked and detailed maps are readily available.
The immatriculation is a vehicle's registration. The details of a vehicle's registration are carried in the Carte Grise (grey card).
Before being able to register a foreign vehicle in France and receive the Carte Grise registration document, the vehicle must conform to the French road standards. The simplicity of the process can vary depending on the make, age and country of origin of the vehicle. Below are the basics of the process that can be expected.
The process is different (and can be simpler) for classic and collectable vehicles; it can be far more complicated for modified vehicles. Please enquire at the Préfecture.
It is not obligatory to register a foreign vehicle in France unless the owner is resident in France. A resident is someone who is domiciled in France for more than six months (183 days) per year, or who is employed in France.
Under EU law, a private vehicle may be temporarily imported and used on French roads for up to six months in any 12 months. The vehicle must be re-registered in France if it is owned and used by a resident of France.
It is against the law for the resident of an EU country, while in that country, to drive any vehicle registered in another EU country. So a person who is a resident of France may only drive a French-registered car while they are in France (with the exception of cross-border workers).
An EU-registered vehicle must satisfy the legal roadworthiness requirements of its country of registration to be legal to drive elsewhere in the EU.
No duty is payable on a used vehicle imported for personal use, provided that VAT has been paid in the EU country where it was bought and it has belonged to the registered owner for over six months and driven 6,000 Km prior to entry into France.
For a new vehicle bought in another EU member state, the TVA must be paid in France unless the French Fiscal Services are provided with the original receipt stating that VAT has been paid and, and you have proof of a valid foreign registration of the vehicle.
Take the vehicle's original registration documents and receipt of sale to the Centre des Impots. You will be issued with a fiscal certificate or tax clearance form. In some instances, there are customs and Tax charges payable, depending on the age/mileage of the car.
Request an attestation de conformité (certificate of conformity) from the vehicle manufacturer or a certified representative. This identifies that the vehicle is of a recognised type in France or in the European Union.
If the car is more than four years old it will need to go through a côntrole technique, the French roadworthiness test; this must have occurred less than six months previously (two months if a contre-visite or re-test is required). Roadworthiness certificates from other countries are not acceptable as an alternative - the car must go through a French côntrole technique.
Apply to the motor registration department at the Préfecture or Sous-Préfecture for a demande d'immatriculation (Cerfa form n°10672). This initiates the process of registration. A dossier will be opened.
There is a fee due based on the CV engine power of the vehicle.
Documents should be sent to the Service des Mines or DRIRE which verifies that the vehicle: make, year and chassis number correspond to French homologation standards, La fiche d'homologation. This process can take two or three weeks.
If all goes well, you will be notified when you should return to the Préfecture or Sous-Préfecture, where your registration document, the Carte Grise and new registration number will be issued. All that remains is to have new number plates (plaques d'immatriculation) made and fitted.
Apply to the motor registration department at the local Préfecture or Sous-Préfecture for a demande d'immatriculation. This initiates the process of registration. A dossier will be opened.
French Côntrole technique certificate if the car is more than four years old; this must have occurred less than six months previously (two months if a contre-visite or re-test is required).
The applicant will have to complete a déclaration de mise en circulation and a form for additional information about the vehicle. Your dossier will be sent to the DRIRE, which will send notification by mail when to present the vehicle for examination at the DRIRE testing centre.
If it passes the test, DRIRE will issue a statement of approval. Take this and the other documents to the local Préfecture or Sous-Préfecture, which will release the Carte Grise and new registration number. All that remains is to have new number plates made and fitted.
The vehicle will be inspected and verified that the make, year and chassis number correspond to French homologation standards, la fiche d'homologation. This process can take two or three weeks. If your car conforms to these standards, there will be a fee to pay, varying on the vehicle.
Note: Even if the vehicle is homogene, there are certain things that may need changing because, for example the engine you have does not have the same number as the one in the French homologation fiche, or the optics are not the same. You may, therefore, be required to have the changes made and to take your vehicle back to the Service des Mines to be re-inspected and approved. You will be permitted to drive your vehicle in the interim.
Any used, privately owned vehicle imported and registered in France from 1 January 2008.
Note: It might not be possible to issue any Right Hand Drive vehicle built before April 1997 with a Certificate of Conformity. Vehicles before this date and back to August 1978 can instead be issued with a National Type Approval Certificate.
Call to obtain a form and return it with registration documents and payment.
Send copy of registration document (both sides). Invoice/purchase contract confirming that you own the vehicle. Information on manufacturer's plaque. Number of speeds. Number of seats. Proof of your identity (passport or similar). Payment made payable to Automobiles Citroen to cover administrative fees (approx €100+, ask for the exact amount).
Send (both sides) copy of registration document.
Call to obtain form - ask for "service homologation".
Call to request a form. Then send copy of registration document. Information on manufacturer's plaque on vehicle. Type of bodywork. Number of doors. Number of seats. Tyre dimensions. Owner's name, and address in France. Bill or attestation from garage (if relevant). Payment made to Land Rover France SA.
Call to discuss the request for a certificat de conformité (some telephone agents speak English).
Call to obtain form to fill and return it with registration documents and payment.
Send a copy of purchase invoice, or if second-hand, a hand-written private sale document and if UK registered, a copy of UK V5. Payment.
Write to request a certificate, enclosing a copy of your registration document.
Write with a copy of the registration document. There may be a charge.
Call to request appropriate forms. Vehicle details and copy of registration papers are required. There is a fee payable.
Article from the European Union Enterprise and Industry on the simplification of registration procedures.
Duty structure and rules are the same as in the EU with the exception of VAT rate.
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