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Importing a car in France - Herault Region

by Zoe Stimpson

The general principals of this process are the same across France but this article is specifically regarding our area of Herault with Beziers being our Sous-Préfecture. This information is gained from my personal experience of registering 4 UK vehicles in France and from helping others register their own cars here. The system has changed a little over the course of the 5 years that we have lived here but the core process is the same. This is not an exact process for all vehicles and there are other steps that may be required if the vehicle is pre 1995 (approx) or an unusual vehicle or a grey import. Each vehicle is individual and some can be near impossible to register if they are not standard specification.

As a general rule, if you cannot get a Certificate of Conformity as mentioned later then the process will take a very long time and be a very difficult process. If the vehicle is a european make that is less than 15 years old and it should be the following process that you need to follow.

1. Attestation de conformité (certificate of conformity)

This step is probably the most important step of all.

If you cannot get a C of C the whole process is a great deal more complicated and the car will need to be tested by the DRIRE. You may have problems if you vehicle is a commercial vehicle (van, small or large) or if it is older than pre 1995 (approx) (this depends on the manufacturer)

Request an attestation de conformité (certificate of conformity) from the vehicle manufacturer or a certified representative. This identifies that the vehicle is of a recognised type in France or in the European Union. Some manufacturers charge for this but some do not.

Probably the easiest way to contact a vehicle manufacturer is to go tho their website and see if the address for the "service homologation" that you will need to write to is held on the website, some manufacturers have a form to complete on their site or the address listed. If not, then send them an email and inform them of your requirements and they should then send you further information. They will need a copy of your log book and proof of address.

Cost of this = €0 - €500. Some manufacturers issue this for free but one vehicle that I registered was €450. A general average cost for this is around €100-150

2. Centre des Impots.

Take the vehicle's original registration documents and receipt of sale to the Centre des Impots. You will be issued with a fiscal certificate or tax clearance form. In some instances, there are customs and Tax charges payable, depending on the age/mileage of the car but your car is old enough that it wont incur any. The address for the Centre des Impots in Beziers is as follows:

9 Avenue Pierre Verdier, 34500, BEZIERS

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At the large cross-roads where you turn right for Auchan you need to turn left on to Avenue Pierre Verdier. Just after the little roundabout it is on your right.

Cost of this = €0 (generally for most second hand vehicles from within the EU)

3. Côntrole technique.

If the car is more than four years old it will need to pass a côntrole technique. The is basically the same as a UK MOT but it is done every 2 years. The law has recently changed and you will need an Attestation de conformité (certificate of conformity) before you can have the Côntrole technique done. Most will not do the Côntrole technique without it. Don't forget you will need to have left hand drive headlights for this! You can get these via eBay or a local scrap yard if you are lucky

Cost of this = €65. Obviously if your vechicle doesnt pass there are the costs to repair also and if you require lefthand drive headlights this increases this cost.

4. Demande d'immatriculation

Ok, now you have all your documents you have to go the Sous-Prefecture. This is the final step in obtaining the Carte Gris. Apply to the motor registration department at the Sous-Préfecture in Beziers for a demande d'immatriculation (cerfa form n°13750*03. This replaces cerfa No. 10672, which is no longer in effect. Access to the Information Folder cerfa n°51291#01). You can download this form Here with more information or directly Here for the form.

The address for the Sous-Préfecture is as follows:

Boulevard Edouard Herriot, BP n° 742, 34 526 BEZIERS Cedex

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The opening hours are Monday-Friday 8:30 - 11:00 am but they get very busy early. You need to get to the prefecture before 8:30am and stand in the queue to the left hand side of the door. When you go in take a ticket and wait. Be sure to get the early as there can be a long queue and the parking around the Sous-Préfecture is difficult and take some change for the parking meters as all the streets in the vicinity have meters

Supply them with:

Proof of identity

Proof of your residence (property title deeds, rental contract, utility bill, insurance certificate). Must be less than 3 Months old.

Copy of the UK registration certificate (log book)

Copy of the attestation de conformité. They may insist on the original so take a copy for yourself.

Copy of the certificate obtained in step 1. from Centre des Impots.

Côntrole technique certificate - Must be less than 6 Months old.

Fee for immatriculation.

After you have given all the documentation the clerk will enter all the information in to the computer and you will go along the corridor a short way and wait. After a few minutes you will be issued with a Carte Gris provisoire. The Original of the Carte Gris will then be sent to you via courier within the next 10 days. The last car I registered arrived the day after!

Admittedly you can also give all the forms to your local Mairie and they will send it to the Préfecture for you. I have tried this on a couple of registrations and the dossier has always taken 15-20 days to come back with silly minor issues. I have then sent it back and it has come back (after another 15-20 days) with other silly minor issues. One dossier that I did took so long that the Côntrole technique became older than 6 months and I had to have the vehicle retested at a cost of over €60! Even though it is a drag it is usually far quicker to go directly to the Préfecture.

Cost of this = This cost is variable based on the vehicle. A general average cost for this is around €150 but a recent car that I registered was €380 because of its engine size. You can find the costs of initial registration HERE (In french)

5. Number Plates

Once you have the Carte Gris provisoire you can have the plates made, you do not need to wait for the original of the Carte Gris. I have found that if you wish to fit the plates yourself Brico Marche is priced very well and under 20 euros for 2 plates. Norautos also have a good service and fit them for you.

Cost of this = from €20.

6. Insurance company and Export slip from UK log book

Once you have changed the plates don't forget to send your insurance company a copy of the new Carte Gris so that they can amend your policy. Also you can now send the export slip from the UK log book to DVLA. I would NOT recommend sending this back before you have the French Carte Gris because you will not have a vehicle that is legally registered in any country and selling the vehicle would also cause difficulties as the above documentation requires the person on the UK Log book to go through the process to gain French registration. If you have sent the export slip back and then sell the vehicle the new owner would have great difficulties in registering the car in France or may have to go back to the UK to get new registration for the vehicle.