Driving
Register a vehicle (carte grise)
certificat d'immatriculation (carte grise)
What is it
The registration certificate, still widely called the carte grise, that puts a vehicle in your name. Every vehicle on the road must have one.
Do I need it
Yes, if you buy a vehicle in France or bring one in from abroad — the certificate has to be put into your name, not the seller's.
When
Within 1 month of buying a second-hand vehicle.
Where · online
Online, on the ANTS vehicle registration portal. You sign in with FranceConnect rather than an ordinary ANTS account. Prefectures no longer take these applications.
Documents
The cession code and certificat de cession from the seller
Proof of identity
Proof of address
A valid contrôle technique where the vehicle needs one
The completed cerfa application form
For a vehicle brought from abroad: its foreign registration document, a quitus fiscal, a certificate of conformity, and customs clearance if it comes from outside the EU
How long
A few days, or several weeks for a more complicated file.
Cost
The cost varies — it depends on the vehicle's characteristics and on the region. Service-public.gouv.fr publishes an official simulator to estimate it.
What happens next
Apply for a carte grise on ANTS →
- You can download a certificat provisoire d'immatriculation (CPI) straight away, valid 1 month and only in France.
- The definitive certificate then reaches you by registered post.
SOURCE: SERVICE-PUBLIC.GOUV.FR
CHECKED 18.09.2026