Temporary car insurance to import a car to France
Buying a used car in Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Czechia, Switzerland or Portugal and bringing it to France? We insure it immediately while you complete the import — certificate of conformity (COC), tax clearance (quitus fiscal), temporary WW plates and the French registration (carte grise). One contact for everything.
Calculate your price and subscribe online · instant certificate.
It takes about three minutes, and your certificate is emailed to you as soon as you have paid.
Would you rather not fill in a French form? Send us your driving licence and your registration document on WhatsApp and an English-speaking adviser completes it for you.
The calculator doesn't show? Open in a new tab →
Germany, Belgium, Spain, Italy… You generally need a certificate of conformity (COC) and then the French registration document. In the meantime, short-term insurance covers you immediately and a temporary WW plate lets you drive.
Customs formalities also apply (customs clearance). Short-term insurance covers the vehicle throughout the whole process; an adviser tells you the exact documents required depending on the country of origin.
Already have the vehicle but not the final registration document yet? Short-term insurance (1 to 90 days) covers you straight away, until your registration application is completed.
Your sign-up in 3 steps
Step 1: your situation and duration
Tell us your vehicle and the duration you need, online or by phone.
Sign-up
Price and subscription online, or an adviser does it with you.
Step 3: instant certificate
Instant proof of cover by email. We also handle your paperwork.
Why short-term insurance for an imported vehicle?
An imported vehicle cannot be driven in France without insurance, even before its final registration — and French registration takes several steps. Whether the car comes from Germany (by far the biggest source of used-car imports to France), the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, Czechia or Switzerland, short-term insurance covers you straight away while you sort things out: collecting the vehicle, driving or transporting it to France, passing the roadworthiness test and building the registration file.
Conditions to insure an imported vehicle
Duration of 1 to 90 days, renewable · driver aged 21 to 90 · French or foreign licence held for more than 2 years · non-EU licences accepted with a residence permit, or a passport carrying entry stamps · drivers whose previous policy was cancelled accepted · France, Corsica, EU & French overseas territories.
We also handle your paperwork
Beyond insurance, we handle your paperwork: vehicle registration, temporary WW plates and certificate of conformity. One single contact, from insurance to the final registration document.
Why choose us
Importing from Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands…?
- Germany — the number-one source of used cars imported to France: premium models at competitive prices.
- The Netherlands & Belgium — popular for well-kept, low-mileage cars close to the border.
- Spain & Portugal — good value; just watch the COC and the quitus fiscal.
- Czechia & the wider EU — increasingly common sources for imports.
- Switzerland (non-EU) — a special case: customs clearance and VAT (quitus) when the car enters France.
- Buying in France to re-export? Romanian and Balkan buyers who purchase a car in France to send home need cover to drive it out — see our border insurance.
See also: registering a car in France · transit insurance · See also: living in France with a foreign licence · See also: Export to North Africa · Foreign licence · Registration (carte grise)
Frequently asked questions
Can I insure a car I've just imported before it's registered in France?
Yes. You cannot legally drive an imported car in France without insurance, even before the carte grise is issued. Short-term insurance covers the vehicle straight away — to collect it, transport it, pass the technical inspection and build your registration file — for 1 to 90 days, renewable.
How do I import a car from Germany to France, and insure it?
Germany is the biggest source of used cars imported to France. Once you've bought the car, you drive or transport it to France, get the certificate of conformity, the quitus fiscal if required, then register it. We cover the vehicle for the whole period — give us the start date and duration and your proof of cover is emailed in minutes.
What about a car bought in Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain or Portugal?
Same principle. Cars from Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain and Portugal are very common imports, and within the EU the paperwork (COC, sometimes a quitus fiscal) is similar. We insure the car from the moment you take possession until it is registered in France.
Importing from Switzerland — what's different?
Switzerland is outside the EU, so the import also involves customs clearance and VAT (the quitus fiscal / customs receipt) when the car enters France. The insurance side is the same: we cover the vehicle short-term while you complete the formalities.
Do I need a certificate of conformity (COC) to insure and register the car?
The certificate of conformity (COC) proves the car meets EU standards and is needed for the French registration. It is not required to take out short-term insurance — we cover you while you obtain it — and we can help you get both the COC and the registration.
What is the quitus fiscal (tax clearance) and when do I need it?
The quitus fiscal is a tax-clearance certificate from the French tax office confirming VAT is settled; you need it to register an imported vehicle. It does not affect your insurance, which starts immediately — and we can handle the quitus for you.
Can you give me temporary WW plates to drive the car?
Yes. For a freshly imported car we can arrange temporary WW plates so you can drive it legally while the definitive carte grise is processed, with matching insurance.
Is my foreign driving licence accepted?
French or foreign licences held for more than 2 years are accepted. A non-EU licence is accepted with a valid residence permit, or a passport carrying entry stamps — useful for many people importing a car soon after arriving in France.
How long does the cover last while I register the car?
From 1 to 90 days, renewable. You pick the duration based on how long your registration will take, and if the paperwork drags on the cover can be extended.
I bought a car in France to export it to Romania or the Balkans — can you insure the drive out?
Yes, but that is a different journey. To take a car bought in France out to Romania, the Balkans or another country you need cover to drive it across the border — this is our border insurance, usually with temporary WW plates. Tell us the destination and we set it up.
How fast do I get my proof of insurance?
Your attestation d'assurance (proof of cover) is emailed as soon as you subscribe and pay — usually within minutes — so you can move the car right away.
How much does it cost, and can a cancelled driver be covered?
The price depends on the vehicle, the duration and the driver — we never quote at random. Previously cancelled (résilié) drivers can often be covered. Leave your details and an adviser confirms your case with no obligation.