Registration & procedures > Importing and registering a foreign vehicle
Importing a car from Germany, Belgium or a non-EU country triggers four distinct steps: tax clearance certificate (quitus fiscal), certificate of conformity, temporary WW registration plate and final registration. This guide helps you identify which apply to your situation, the order to follow, and the costs to budget before signing the purchase.
In short: four documents, one goal—driving legally in France with a car bought abroad.
- The tax clearance certificate proves VAT has been paid: mandatory before registering any vehicle from another EU country.
- The WW plate never exceeds 4 months—it only allows you to drive while waiting for the final registration document.
- Without a certificate of conformity (COC) or individual approval report, the registration application is almost always rejected.
The tax clearance certificate: the gateway for vehicles from an EU country
A vehicle bought in Germany, Belgium or any other EU country operates under a special VAT regime. Before issuing the French registration document, the authorities verify that VAT has been paid—either in the country of purchase or in France upon import. This proof is called a tax clearance certificate (quitus fiscal). Car dealers and leasing companies sometimes follow a different process, with documents specific to their status. Our dedicated page on the tax clearance certificate for foreign vehicles explains who needs to request it, which tax office to contact, and which documents to include.
The certificate of conformity (COC): the document ANTS requests first
The European certificate of conformity confirms the vehicle meets French technical standards: emissions, dimensions, lighting, braking. Without it, final registration for a vehicle imported from an EU country is impossible. The manufacturer provides it on request—sometimes within days via an online portal, sometimes after several weeks depending on the brand and model age. A duplicate usually costs a few dozen euros, so order it early to avoid delays. Our page on the European certificate of conformity (COC) explains how to request it and what to do if the manufacturer doesn’t respond.
The WW plate: a temporary registration with a strict time limit
Between purchase abroad and obtaining the French registration document, the vehicle needs to be road-legal. The WW plate fills this gap: it authorises driving in France for a limited period while waiting for the final registration. After this period, no legal driving is possible without the final registration document. The temporary WW plate remains valid for 4 months—enough time to secure the certificate of conformity and finalise the tax clearance certificate.
From temporary plate to final registration
Once you have the tax clearance certificate and the certificate of conformity, only one step remains: applying for final registration with ANTS (Agence Nationale des Titres Sécurisés). The application follows the standard vehicle registration system (SIV) process, but with additional documents specific to imports. Our guide on registering an imported vehicle lists all required documents and the most common reasons for rejection.
What the prefecture checks before approving the application
Before approving an import application, ANTS cross-checks several details. The chassis number on the foreign documents must match exactly the one engraved on the vehicle. The declared mileage must align with previous MOT (contrôle technique) records from the country of origin. No outstanding liens, theft reports or accident declarations should apply to the vehicle. Even a minor discrepancy between the foreign registration document and the physical vehicle can block the application. It’s better to verify these three points with the seller before purchase rather than discovering them when submitting the application.
Vehicle from an EU country or outside the EU: the document changes
A vehicle registered in another EU country requires a certificate of conformity to prove compliance with French technical standards. A vehicle from Switzerland, the UK or a non-EU country generally doesn’t have one—instead, it needs an individual approval report (procès-verbal de réception à titre isolé), issued after inspection by the DREAL (Regional Directorate for Environment, Planning and Housing). In both cases, keep the original plates valid or an export certificate until the French registration document is obtained. A roadside check without this proof can result in the vehicle being immobilised on the spot.
Which step to start with depending on your situation
The starting point varies depending on the vehicle’s origin and its administrative status at the time of purchase.
A vehicle still registered and insured in its country of origin, bought from a private seller within the EU, almost always begins with the tax clearance certificate—without it, neither the certificate of conformity nor the final registration can proceed. A vehicle bought from a dealer handling the export paperwork sometimes arrives with the COC already in hand, allowing you to skip straight to the WW plate and then the final application.
A vehicle from outside the EU starts with customs clearance and an inspection by the DREAL for the individual approval report—before even considering the tax clearance certificate, which doesn’t apply in this case.
The order to follow for these steps
Order matters. Swapping two steps often adds weeks to the process, especially when the certificate of conformity takes time to arrive from the manufacturer.
- Gather the vehicle’s original documents: foreign ownership title, purchase invoice, foreign registration document.
- Request the tax clearance certificate if the purchase was in an EU country.
- Obtain the certificate of conformity (COC) or the individual approval report, depending on the origin.
- Drive with a WW plate until the final application is approved.
- Submit the final registration application on the ANTS website.
How long it takes and how much it costs
According to ANTS, a standard registration after buying a used car costs at least €13.76 (€11 fixed fee plus €2.76 delivery charge), plus the regional tax based on fiscal horsepower, with processing taking 7 to 10 days if the application is complete. An import adds the CO₂ emissions tax and sometimes fees for the certificate of conformity. The total cost often exceeds €300 to €500 depending on the vehicle’s power and country of origin.
The final amount depends mainly on three factors: the vehicle’s fiscal horsepower, the new owner’s region of residence, and the CO₂ emission rate on the technical data sheet. Two applications for the same model can differ by several hundred euros based on these criteria.
| Step | Estimated time | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Tax clearance certificate | Varies by tax office | Usually free |
| Certificate of conformity (COC) | A few days to several weeks from the manufacturer | Depends on the manufacturer—request early |
| Temporary WW plate | Maximum 4 months | A few dozen euros |
| Final registration | 7 to 10 days via ANTS | From €13.76 + regional tax and CO₂ tax |
Overall budget: the costs people often overlook
The cost of importing a vehicle rarely stops at the registration fee. A vehicle from outside the EU incurs customs duties and sometimes VAT on entry, calculated on the declared value. Documents in a language other than French often require a sworn translation, charged per page. The insurance policy must also switch to French coverage before the first drive on French roads—an oversight that can lead to a fine during a routine check. Adding up these extra costs before buying the vehicle avoids unpleasant surprises when finalising the application.
Mistakes that delay or block the application
The same deadline rule applies to all registrations: once the registration document is issued, it must be recorded within one month to avoid a fine, as ANTS reminds all new owners (from €135 to €750). Some mistakes crop up more often than others in import applications.
- Driving with the original plates after their expiry date, without a valid export certificate.
- Applying for final registration without a certificate of conformity or individual approval report: the application is rejected.
- Forgetting the CO₂ emissions tax in the budget—it’s automatically added for imported vehicles.
- Confusing the old departmental registration system with the current SIV: since 2009, the number no longer changes when moving, but this rule doesn’t apply to importing a foreign vehicle, which follows its own procedure.
Special cases: companies, leasing and electric vehicles
A company importing a vehicle for its fleet follows the same process, with one extra document: a SIREN extract less than three months old to include with the ANTS application. A vehicle still under a long-term lease or leasing contract cannot be imported without written consent from the lessor, who remains the legal owner until the contract ends.
Electric and hydrogen vehicles receive different treatment for the CO₂ emissions tax: the amount applied is zero or significantly reduced compared to an equivalent petrol or diesel model, which noticeably lowers the total cost of importing.
A complete application first time avoids most back-and-forth with the prefecture or ANTS. Each page linked above details the exact documents required for each step, in the order that prevents rejections.