Administrative documents

To register a vehicle purchased in a European Union country other than France using the online service on our site, you need to obtain a tax clearance. This document certifies that the vehicle is in good standing with regard to value-added tax (VAT).

 

How do I get a tax clearance?

Individuals can apply for a tax clearance online.

Once your request has been processed by the tax authorities, you will receive a tax clearance number which you should enter in the "Specify request" box online.

In practical terms?

• You’ll need to download Form no. 1993-PART-D available on the tax agency website.
• Once completed, this form must be e-mailed (with the supporting documents required for the request) to your assigned tax agency.

 

A lien release, known in French as a certificat de situation administrative or CSA, is a document issued by the Ministry of the Interior indicating, on the date of issue, whether or not a vehicle has been pledged as collateral or whether there is anything to obstruct a change of ownership.

The "detailed" CSA contains all the information relating to the vehicle's status (collateral, theft, dangerous to drive due to an accident, etc.).

It can only be obtained by the registrant or a person they have authorised. It is issued automatically when certain procedures are carried out online from the ANTS user account.

 

How do I get it for free?

To obtain a CSA directly online and free of charge, visit the HISTOVEC website:  https://histovec.interieur.gouv.fr/ and be sure to have:

• The vehicle registration (plate) number
• The date of first registration
• The certificate number (found on the vehicle registration certificate/carte grise)
• The last and first name of the registrant, or company name if a legal entity
• The SIREN number if the registrant is a legal entity

 

The persons and authorities referred to in articles L. 330-2 to L. 330-4 of the French Highway Code may request that certain information be recorded in the vehicle registration system. In most cases, communication can take place via dedicated interfaces or contact points.

How do you go about it?

To request information that cannot be provided elsewhere, you must:

• Log in the Agency's website using FranceConnect
• Click on “New Request”
• Select the "Registration”, then select the “Make another request" service 
• Select the section "Obtaining a receipt or refund"
• Send all your supporting documents in digital format
• Tick the commitment boxes and pay any fees by credit/debit card

If you inherit a vehicle following the death of a close relative and you wish to keep it, you must have a new registration certificate (also known as a "carte grise") issued in your name.

If you wish to sell it or give it to a third party, you must also have a new registration certificate issued in the name of the heir(s).

 

Exceptions:

• the sale takes place less than 3 months after the death of the registrant
• since the death of the owner, the vehicle has not been driven on roads open to public traffic.

 To find out more about what to do if you inherit a vehicle: https://www.service-public.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F1480

 

To apply to the Ministry of the Interior to register a vehicle following a death or inheritance:

1. Log in the Agency's website using FranceConnect
2. Click on “New Request”
3. Select the "Registration”, then select the “Make another request" service
4. Select the section "Reporting a change in your personal status" 
5. Send all your supporting documents in digital format
6. Tick the commitment boxes and pay any fees by credit/debit card 

What documents should I send?

In all cases:

• Proof of address less than six months old
• An application for a vehicle registration certificate (cerfa no.13750)
• The previous vehicle registration certificate
• Proof of heirship, which may be:
  • A certificate from the notary responsible for settling the estate certifying that Mr., Mrs. ..., born on ... in ..., died on ... in ... and that there is a vehicle in the estate (stating the make, registration number and identification number of the vehicle), or
  • an affidavit drawn up by a notary, or
  • A death certificate accompanied by a statement signed by all the heirs certifying that there is no will, that there are no other heirs to the deceased, that there is no marriage contract and that there are no legal proceedings or disputes pending concerning heirship or the composition of the estate.

 

In the case of joint heirs:

• A letter of disclaimer from all the other heirs in favour of the person applying to register the vehicle, or
• A certificate from the notary stating their agreement to assign the vehicle to one of them.

If the application for registration is made on behalf of a third party to the estate (a person who is not on the list of successors):

• A certificate of transfer (Cerfa no.15776) drawn up with the heir(s) 
• A sworn statement from the heir(s) who had legal custody of the vehicle certifying that the vehicle has not been driven since the death of its registrant
• Proof of roadworthiness.

Why should I apply for a vehicle identification form?

The Vehicle Identification Form (FIV) is used to carry out certain administrative procedures when the vehicle does not have a registration document (carte grise):

• To submit a vehicle for the roadworthiness test, in particular when requesting a duplicate in the event of loss or theft 
• To export of a damaged used vehicle whose registration document has been withdrawn
• To sell the vehicle at auction or by the estates department

This is a document issued by the Ministry of the Interior which lists the vehicle's technical specifications. It does not authorise the vehicle to be driven.

 

How do I get it?

The application is filed online.

If you need assistance, you can take your supporting documents to a Point Numérique, where someone will help you through the process.    

 

You must:

1. Log in the Agency's website using FranceConnect
2. Click on “New Request”
3. Select the "Registration”, then select the “Make another request" service
4. Select "Obtaining a receipt or refund"