How to import a classic car in France?
Publié par Eplaque-4 min de lecture ⏳
Le 24/01/2023-Mis à jour le 23/08/2023

Car registration in France can be confusing, even for locals. If it’s true for standard procedure, it’s natural to be lost when trying to import a classic car in France. Are you in such a position? Do not worry! Eplaque, your French car registration expert in English, explains everything you need to know about importing a vintage car in France, and registering it!
Classic car: French criteria
Before going into the details, let’s defineclearly what a classic car is according to French law. It is:
- A vehicle that is at least 30 years old (first registration)
- A car that is not produced anymore
- Finally, a car that is in its original state (no heavy modifications, such as a modern engine under the hood)
When a vehicle fulfills those 3 conditions, it is eligible to a classic car registration certificate.
Classic car registration: definition
In France, classic cars don’t get a special car registration certificate as such. They simply get an additional mention, “collection”, visible in the Z field of the “carte grise”. However, this word make a huge difference, since such vehicles enjoy many perks:
- Exemption of rules regarding low emission zones (Paris, Lyons, Marseilles…)
- MOT every 5 years, instead of 2 (even total exemptions for vehicles < 1960)
- Such vehicles can use vintage plates (black background)
- VAT and duties: 5.5% instead of 30%
- No need for an individual approval (RTI) to be registered
Importing a classic car to France and registering it: how-to
Now that we have clarified those important topics, let’s go to the heart of the matter: how to import a classic car in France, then register it. The procedure depends on the country of origin from a fiscal point of view.
How to import a classic car in France from the EU?
When a vintage vehicle is imported from a country part of the EU, there is no need to go through French customs. You simply need a “quitus fiscal”. It is a special certificate provided by the tax authorities that ensures that the VAT is paid. In the context of a car imported from the EU, it is only due when a vehicle is considered as new (older than 6 months & mileage higher than 6,000 km). In principle, vintage cars don’t fall in such a category. We had, however, a reader who explained he had to pay VAT because his vintage car had less than 6,000 km… It’s the exception that confirms the rule.
Where to get your quitus fiscal? Contact your “service des impôts des entreprises” (SIE), you can find yours thanks to this resource. Application methods vary per office (online, in person, by mail).
Import a classic car to France from outside the UE (UK, US, etc.)?
If your classic car comes from a country not belonging to the European union, you’ll need a 846A certificate from the French customs. That means that you will have to pay VAT and duties. There is however good news: instead of paying 30%, you’ll pay 5,5% on the value of the vintage car. Moreover, if you import a classic car in France in the process of moving in to take permanent residency in the country, those will be completely waived. You must get this 846A certificate in the days following the arrival of the classic car in France.
How to get the “classic car” classification on the carte grise?
In order to get the “mention collection”, you must provide a certificate that proves that the car is eligible to that status. It is called an “attestation de datation et de caractéristiques”. You have 2 options to get yours:
- From the manufacturer, if it still exists, and in France (mostly for local brands such as Citroen, Renault, Peugeot…)
- From the FFVE (Fédération française des véhicules d’époque): it costs EUR 60
Applications are to be sent by mail. You’ll find the application form and the instructions on the FFVE website. They are working on an online request tool, but in January 2023 it was still not available for individuals (beta test ongoing). It should be before the end of the year.
Classic car import: what about the certificate of conformity?
There is no available European certificate of conformity for vintage cars, since that document appeared in the end of the nineties. The general rule is that such s vehicle should get an individual approval (called RTI) to be registered. However, most vintage cars don’t need it thanks to the attestation de datation et de caractéristiques.
How to register an imported classic car in France?
Once you have the quitus fiscal or 846A certificate, you are almost good to go to register your imported classic car in France. Here are the standard documents one should provide when registering a car in France:
- Original car registration certificate or alternative official document that identifies the car
- Driving licence
- Proof of address
- Proof of identity
- Technical inspection/MOT (not older than 6 months)
- Proof of insurance
- Registration certificate form duly filled
A problem ? Eplaque will assist you!
We are an approved French car registration company since 2009. We provide a fast and efficient car registration service to locals and foreigners alike. We can handle your request in English to facilitate the issuance of your classic car registration in France. Please note, however, that we cannot help you with the steps regarding the quitus fiscal or the 846A.
Les questions des utilisateurs
Charlie
17 avril 2025
And how do the technical inspectors assess a car they will have no knowledge of. As far as I know, there isn't a single variation of my Australian classic car in Europe.
Eplaque
18 avril 2025
PaulJjiggins
14 avril 2025
Eplaque
15 avril 2025
Andy Bristow
26 mars 2025
Eplaque
27 mars 2025
Alan Bird
2 mars 2025
Eplaque
3 mars 2025
Bristow Alan
2 janvier 2025
Eplaque
3 janvier 2025
gerasimos stathatos
4 décembre 2024
Eplaque
4 décembre 2024
Paul Aldridge
28 octobre 2024
Eplaque
29 octobre 2024
About the COC, the easiest way to solve that is getting an "attestation de datation et de caractéristiques" from ffve.org. It can replace the COC, and the car will be eligible to the special "classic" classification (MOT every 5 years instead of 2, LEZ rules exemption, etc.).
Yaniv rottenberg
21 octobre 2024
Please contact me by email
Eplaque
22 octobre 2024
Bradley Allen
19 octobre 2024
Eplaque
21 octobre 2024
IAN DEMPSTER
18 septembre 2024
Eplaque
19 septembre 2024
Julius Weidema
18 septembre 2024
Audi 80 B4
01-10-1993
4130 cm3
260kW.
Is it possible to get this car on a french license plate, as I am living in north of France?
Eplaque
19 septembre 2024
Robert Alan Doyle
12 septembre 2024
I own a house in France but I am not a resident of France.
I own a Ferrari 328 GTS from 1987 on English number plates and I want to put it on French number plates and pay 5.5 percent in taxes. Can you help me with that ?
Eplaque
13 septembre 2024
Alan Bird
10 septembre 2024
second home owner , He brought it here a few years ago, so the English MOT has expired. Does the car need to be taken back to UK for a new mot before it can be registed in france as Veh. de Collection????
Thank you Alan Bird
Eplaque
11 septembre 2024
Lise
26 août 2024
Eplaque
26 août 2024
Lise
28 août 2024
Eplaque
29 août 2024
We just provide a service to register the car online, we are not in a position to help with customs or for getting paperwork.
Colin Wills
24 août 2024
I would like to register the car in France to keep it at our home in Megeve. what do I need to do and can you do this for me.
Eplaque
26 août 2024
Mel Alcock
20 août 2024
Eplaque
21 août 2024
Steve Browning
22 juillet 2024
Eplaque
23 juillet 2024
Suzie Vacher
3 juillet 2024
I have just sent all the documents to change the carte grise of a Renault 4CV 1958 into my name. They have emailed back saying ...
Since 2009, the conversion of Gray Cards to the old format (known as FNI) to the new format (known as SIV) has been compulsory. The conversion occurs as soon as the owner carries out a procedure linked to the Carte Grise.
You have contacted our services. Following submission of your file to the Vehicle Registration System (SIV), the information present on the Registration Card in the old format (known as FNI) is not convertible to the new format (known as SIV).
Where do I go from here?
Suzie vacher
Eplaque
4 juillet 2024
Philip Esposito
29 juin 2024
I've lived in France for almost 15 years and want to import my old 1937 Austin 7 car that my father has been using in my absence.
I have read and am aware of the various legalities, and there's no problem there...however...the car's existing UK registration number is what we know in UK as a 'cherished number', is as old as the car (87 years), and would seriously devalue the vehicle if it were to be replaced by a French numberplate.
I had read somewhere that such very old vehicles could be registered in France with their old and original numberplate, despite the fact that it would be a UK set of numbers.
Cab you help please?
Many thanks and regards,
However
Eplaque
1 juillet 2024
Sim
14 juin 2024
I feel I know the answer to this but if you could give me the benefit of your knowledge it would be most appreciated.
I'm resident in France for 3 years now.
I have a toyota hilux 4x4 pick-up 1992 in the uk, originally built as a diesel.
It has a popular conversion of the time of a rover 3500 engine and runs on LPG.
It was a purpose manufactured adaptor kit, made by Milner Conversions, at that time (their name is cast into the parts).
The conversion was not made in the 90's, only being finally registered with DVLA in the last few years.
Am I right in thinking there is no way that this can be imported as a classic vehicle?
(and assuming this is so, is there also no way I can legally drive this vehicle here, even for a few months a year, as I am a resident?)
Thank you for any information,
Regards
Sim
Eplaque
17 juin 2024
Andrew Jaggs
11 juin 2024
I am about to import a classic car from the UK. It is a 1971 Triumph TR6, made in the UK, sold in California USA, but reimported to the UK in 2010 with all documentation. It is the lower powered USA specification with carburettors not fuel injection. It is left hand drive so very suitable for use in France. It is in original condition with no modifications. I see no problems to import it for my personal use in Herault, France, where I have been living permanently for 23 years. Please confirm that all this sounds OK to you and that you can help to secure the registration document as a Voiture de Collection.
Merci
Eplaque
11 juin 2024
Peter Enderby
5 juin 2024
It was registered in France in 1975 and spent most of its life in France until 2015,when it was taken to Spain.
It is in beautiful original condition and covered only 41800Km.
We have a house in Normandy but are not permanently based there as yet.
Can we still bring the car home and get it registered in France?
Thank you
Peter
Bonjour, j'achète une Citroën 2CV Dyane 6 d'Espagne et je voulais l'utiliser comme voiture à Barenton, en Normandie. Elle a été immatriculée en France en 1975 et a passé la majeure partie de sa vie en France jusqu'en 2015, date à laquelle elle a été emmenée en Espagne. Elle est dans un bel état d'origine et n'a parcouru que 41 800 km. Nous avons une maison en Normandie mais nous n'y sommes pas encore installés de manière permanente. Pouvons-nous toujours ramener la voiture à la maison et la faire immatriculer comme voiture de collection en France ? Merci
Peter
Eplaque
5 juin 2024
Peter
12 juin 2024
Viveca Hulley
6 mars 2024
We brought it into France a few years before Brexit
It was used here and then stored in a barn for a few years
Last year it passed Ct current and is insured
We really want it to be French registers
But can’t follow the paperwork involved
Could u help us
We have all the necessary paperwork
We understand
Eplaque
7 mars 2024
Kevin Roach
6 mars 2024
40 years old
Eplaque
6 mars 2024
Chris
7 février 2024
Eplaque
8 février 2024
Chris
8 février 2024
Eplaque
9 février 2024
Jack
5 février 2024
Eplaque
6 février 2024
Oliver Fenton
1 février 2024
Eplaque
2 février 2024
Michael
1 février 2024
I’m planning to retire (relocate) to France sometime next year and would like to bring along a restored 1967 Mustang convertible register and keep as a classic car in France. However, can someone please clarify what is meant by “no heavy modifications”? I assume things like modern tires, shocks, and paint are ok. However, is a replacement engine of similar design, still carbureted (no modern fuel injection, for instance) allowed? Is a replacement transmission but now with overdrive ok? Is an upgrade from drum brakes to disk brakes allowed if there was an option when the car was new? Obviously a great many possibilities exist and most maintenance brings along some newer technology. I’m restoring the car now so obviously wish to avoid getting it all the way to France and being denied the ability to import it.
Best Regards,
Michael
Eplaque
1 février 2024
Notable transformations are those which contravene its characteristics: engine of a different model, different brakes, different bodywork, etc. On the other hand, changing the original color of the vehicle or replacing the engine with an identical engine is not a significant transformation.
Bodywork : must be identical to that mentioned on the registration document. A sedan (Sedan for example) cannot be transformed into a convertible.
Type of fuel: A change in fuel type is a notable modification. To be accepted into the collection, the modification must have been accepted more than 30 years ago (for example, a Jeep or Dodge with a gasoline engine transformed with a diesel engine at the time).
Number of seats : It is not authorized to modify the number of places registered on the registration document unless an error is corrected with proof of the original state.
Before making a move, we suggest you liaise with the "FFVE", since they are the ones who decide: https://www.ffve.org/
Fernando
5 janvier 2024
Eplaque
8 janvier 2024
Andrew West
29 novembre 2023
Eplaque
30 novembre 2023
Laure
21 novembre 2023
Eplaque
22 novembre 2023
Kerris Humood
19 novembre 2023
Kerris
Eplaque
20 novembre 2023
P Aldridge
9 novembre 2023
Eplaque
10 novembre 2023
Colin Barthelmy
20 octobre 2023
Is there a penalty as it’s been here off road for over 12 months
Eplaque
23 octobre 2023
Jonathan Harrison
8 octobre 2023
Eplaque
9 octobre 2023
Alaric Perry
1 octobre 2023
Eplaque
2 octobre 2023
Patrick
13 septembre 2023
Eplaque
14 septembre 2023
Bishop
9 septembre 2023
Eplaque
11 septembre 2023
Tim
8 septembre 2023
I have a 1978 BMW R80 motorbike originally from the UK. It was imported to Hong Kong in 2018. Now I would like to take it to Lyon. There is no modification to the engine, but there are some bigger cosmetic modifications, with the seat in particular.
In your experience, would it qualify for import?
Thank you!
Eplaque
11 septembre 2023
Zane
31 janvier 2024
Eplaque
1 février 2024
Colin Bishop
4 septembre 2023
Eplaque
4 septembre 2023
Laurence Hilton-Ash
27 août 2023
Please help me register my recently imported classic car (US to France) .
I respond to emails promptly.
Regards
Eplaque
28 août 2023
Paul Niwano
21 août 2023
We are considering purchasing a UK registered 1960 Porsche 356 Roadster convertible.
We are French fiscal residents and plan to keep the car in a garage in the south of France. Are you able to help us with this? And if so, how much do your services cost?
We plan to do the occasional rally and 'Sunday afternoon drive' with the car but it will not be used on a 'day to day basis.
The car is valued at between 100-120,000 Pounds Sterling.
Kind regards.
PAUL NIWANO.
Eplaque
22 août 2023
Michael Williams
6 août 2023
Eplaque
7 août 2023
MO PARKIN
5 août 2023
THANKS IN ANTICIPATION!
Eplaque
7 août 2023
Ron Wales
3 août 2023
Eplaque
4 août 2023
Mervyn Edwards
28 juillet 2023
Many Thanks
Mervyn Edwards
Eplaque
31 juillet 2023
Martin O'Grady
15 juillet 2023
Eplaque
17 juillet 2023
Peter St Clair-Braudé
4 juillet 2023
Et pouvez vous le faire pour moi, à quelle prix ?
Merci beaucoup. Cordialement
Eplaque
5 juillet 2023
Peter St Clair-Braudé
5 juillet 2023
Merci pour votre réponse. Est-ce que le 5.5% calculé sur le prix que je paie ?
Eplaque
6 juillet 2023
David Ward
23 juin 2023
Before I apply for the 846a and then come back to you could you answer 2 questions please.
1) Am I correct in saying that although I have owned my car for 30 years I still need to pay 5.5% vat on its current value ?
2) I have never had a sales invoice , will I need one?
Regards
Eplaque
26 juin 2023
2. As far as your name is on the car registration certificate, no, no problem. If you had to pay duties/VAT, they will calculate it based on the market value of the car
We remain at your service!
Geoff Turner
18 mars 2023
Eplaque
20 mars 2023
Panagiotis Maroulidis
6 mars 2023
Eplaque
7 mars 2023