Carte grise (French vehicle registration) for an imported car in France
You bought a car in Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands or Spain, and now you need French plates. We prepare and submit the carte grise application online, check every document before it reaches the ANTS, and get you a provisional certificate so you can drive while the plastic card is printed. No queue at a préfecture, no French paperwork you have to decode alone.
Just bought a car in France? The registration is only half the job — and the insurance cannot wait for it. Our step-by-step page covers the documents, the real cost line by line and the six things that get a file rejected: registering a car you just bought in France. If you live in France on a foreign licence, start here instead: car insurance with a US, UK or Canadian licence.
Step 1 — Your details
Before opening the tool, leave us your details
That way, if your file gets stuck or you have a question, an adviser can contact you directly — no starting over.
The tool isn't showing? Open the vehicle registration process in a new tab →
3 steps, 100 % online
Enter your vehicle
Number plate or type of request: the registration tax is calculated automatically.
Attach your documents
ID document, proof of address, previous registration document… uploaded securely.
Get your instant provisional certificate
The provisional certificate lets you drive straight away. The final registration document arrives within 2-3 days.
Registering a foreign or imported vehicle in France
- Who this is for — expats settling in France and EU nationals who have just brought a car across the border and can no longer keep driving on the old foreign plates.
- EU import route — for a car from Germany, Belgium, Spain or the Netherlands you need the foreign registration document, proof of purchase, a certificate of conformity (COC) and a quitus fiscal from the tax office confirming VAT is cleared.
- Documents on your side — a valid passport or ID, a proof of address in France under three months old, and, for a car more than four years old, a valid contrôle technique (roadworthiness test).
- Timeline — once the file is complete the online application is usually validated within a few days; the printed card is posted to your French address, which is why the provisional certificate matters.
- Drive before the card arrives — the certificat provisoire d'immatriculation lets you use the vehicle straight away, and it pairs with temporary WW plates if the car has no French plates yet.
- Insure it on day one — you cannot register or drive without cover, so start with short-term insurance for an imported vehicle and swap to an annual policy once the carte grise is issued.
See our temporary car insurance prices in France — from €43 for 1 day.
Frequently asked questions
How do I register an imported car in France?
You submit an application to the ANTS online with the foreign registration document, proof of purchase, a certificate of conformity, a quitus fiscal, your ID and a proof of address. We assemble the file, check it, and send it for you so it is not bounced back for a missing piece.
Can a foreigner get a carte grise in France?
Yes, as long as you have a proof of address in France and a valid ID or passport. Your nationality does not block the registration; what matters is that the vehicle documents and the tax clearance are in order.
How do I register a German car in France?
A German car needs its Fahrzeugschein/Fahrzeugbrief (Zulassungsbescheinigung), the bill of sale, a COC and a quitus fiscal. Cars from Germany usually have a COC on file, which speeds things up; we handle the ANTS submission and the French plates.
What documents do I need for an imported vehicle carte grise?
Foreign registration document, proof of purchase, certificate of conformity, quitus fiscal, ID, proof of address under three months old, and a valid contrôle technique if the car is over four years old. Miss one and the ANTS rejects the file.
What is a quitus fiscal and do I need one?
It is a tax clearance from the French tax office confirming VAT is settled on a vehicle brought in from another EU country. You cannot register an EU import without it. We explain how to obtain it on our quitus fiscal page.
What is a certificate of conformity (COC)?
It is a manufacturer document proving the car meets EU type-approval standards, which France requires to register an imported vehicle. If you don't have one, see our COC page for how to request it from the maker.
How long does the carte grise take?
When the file is complete, the online application is generally validated within a few days, and the physical card is posted to your French address shortly after. Delays almost always come from a missing document, which is exactly what we check upfront.
Can I drive before the carte grise arrives?
Yes. Once the application is accepted you receive a certificat provisoire d'immatriculation, valid for one month, that lets you drive legally while the card is printed. You still need insurance in place before you take the wheel.
Do I need insurance before registering the car?
You cannot drive or register without valid cover. A practical route is a short-term policy for an imported vehicle that covers you from day one, then a yearly contract once the carte grise is done.
The car still has foreign plates, how do I drive it legally?
Foreign plates are only tolerated for a short period after import. Pair the provisional certificate with temporary WW plates so the car is clearly identified while your definitive French plates are produced.
How much does a carte grise cost?
The state fee depends on the region, the fiscal horsepower and the CO2 rating of the vehicle, so there is no flat figure. We give you the exact amount for your specific car once we have its details, on top of our handling fee.
Can you do the whole registration for me?
That is the point of the service. You send us the documents, we verify them, submit the ANTS application, sort out the provisional certificate and follow up until the carte grise lands at your address, so you are not fighting the French portal in a second language.