Do you need to register your foreign vehicle in France?
As is often the case, whether to register your vehicle in France can seem a grey area. This short article should clarify things.
Quite simply, it you live in France (i.e. it is your primary residence) you are required by law to formally register and plate your foreign (including UK-registered) vehicle in France. This is called ‘immatriculation’, though many people refer to getting your ‘grey card’ aka ‘carte grise’ in French.
French law states that a foreigner who settles in France must register their vehicle in France within one month of ‘declaring’ residency i.e., within one month of your French home being regarded as your primary residence.
The registration can be a somewhat complex and lengthy paperwork process, but, for most modern cars, perfectly doable; and, with a significant difference in price for a similar vehicle in France, it is often worth it for many people. The one-month deadline is virtually impossible to achieve, so, provided you have started the process within a month, the authorities have always (anecdotally) accepted this.
Am I a French resident?
French law defines primary residence as a home you occupy for at least 8 months of the year. The fact that many expatriates living in France still drive around on foreign plates is not a sign that it is legally acceptable – more that they have simply not yet been caught (nor had an accident and found their insurer potentially refuse a claim). There are cases of French-residents returning from the UK to their primary residence in France having their car impounded by customs.
For those British citizens arriving in France on a long-term visas leading to residency (VLS-TS), once you have undertaken the correct customs formalities and brought over your personal goods and pre-owned car into France, you are deemed to have the clear ‘intention’ to establish residency and need to start the process of registration within a month; as discussed in the French Wordsmith PDF / DIGITAL Guide: Bringing your UK-registered car into France (stage 1 customs and conformity).
Does my UK or foreign car insurance work if I’m a French resident?
Do check your UK or foreign insurance is valid once French resident; or get a three-month temporary cover with a French insurer while sorting out registration. And do take care to check the differing rules for commercial vehicles, camping cars and kit cars as these will require more hoops to jump through (and may not be worth bringing over).
And the good news is that, provided you have owned the car for at least 6 months prior to importing it (moving to France permanently), the vehicle will not be subject to custom duties or taxes.
For a second-home owner, coming back and forth to France for less than 6 months a year, with their primary home in UK or elsewhere, you are not required to register your vehicle in France (but check the small print of your car insurance to be sure you are covered for long-stays abroad).
You can check these rules and any updates on the French government public service website (there is an online translator into English – though watch out for mis-translations!): www.service-public.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F10519
If you decide to bring your pre-owned car over to France you might like to purchase the FW GUIDE: How to import your UK-registered car into France: stage 1 (customs and conformity)
Thinking of Bringing your UK Registered Car to France?
Check out this how to guide to avoid common mistakes
Other blog posts that you’ll find useful
Note to the reader: As ever, I’ve done my utmost to give you the facts and clear explanations prior to publication, but you’ll need to keep an eye on updates as they become available by checking the links provided.
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As this blog article is freely available you are permitted to pass on the link to the article for third parties to read without altering its contents in any way. However, the contents are owned and copyrighted by Jenifer Smith© EI, French Wordsmith© of www.frenchwordsmith.fr. Any illegal modification and subsequent distribution to third parties will result in a claim made against the individual or business as an infringement of French Wordsmith rights.
