A practical guide to buying a used car in France from a private seller: checks before you sign, papers the seller must hand over, the transfer declaration, and your new carte grise. General information, not legal advice.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. It describes a sale between private individuals. Rules and rates change: always check the current edition of the forms and your region's rates on service-public.fr and on France Titres (formerly ANTS) before you sign.
Used cars in France are listed on Map Syndicat by city, with their price and characteristics. This guide covers only the paperwork, not the cars themselves.
Before you sign: check the car
Before any payment, ask for the vehicle's Histovec report. This free public service traces changes of ownership, roadworthiness test results, and any lien on the vehicle. Never pay without having seen the car and its papers.
The seller must tell you about defects they know of and accidents the car has had. After the sale, the garantie des vices cachés (hidden defects warranty, articles 1641 and following of the Civil Code) can be invoked if a serious defect was hidden at the time of sale.
Papers the seller must hand over
Without these papers, you cannot register the vehicle in your name. Ask for all of them on the day of sale:
- The crossed-out carte grise: the seller crosses it out, writes “Vendu le” followed by the exact date and time, then signs. The detachable coupon lets you drive for one month while you wait for your new carte grise.
- The certificat de situation administrative (CSA, formerly certificat de non-gage): it proves no lien and no opposition blocks the change of ownership. It must be less than 15 days old at the time of sale and is free via Histovec.
- The contrôle technique report: required for a vehicle over 4 years old sold to a private individual, it must be less than 6 months old, or less than 2 months if a re-test was prescribed. A sale to a private individual is impossible in case of a critical defect. No roadworthiness test is required for a sale to a professional.
The sale: the certificat de cession
The transfer of ownership uses the certificat de cession, form Cerfa 15776*02. It is filled in twice, one copy for the seller and one for you, and must be signed by both parties. The date and time of the transfer are mandatory: the time fixes the moment the seller's liability ends.
The form has no field for the sale price. Always check you are using the current edition of the form on service-public.fr: an old version can be refused when filing online.
The seller declares the sale within 15 days
After the sale, the seller has 15 days to declare the transfer online, only on France Titres (formerly ANTS), via FranceConnect, France Identité or a user account, or via an accredited professional (cerfa 13757). They then receive a code de cession, valid 15 days, which they must give you.
Without this code, you cannot apply for your new carte grise. If the seller declares late, they face a €135 fine and remain liable for fines incurred with the vehicle.
You apply for the new carte grise within 1 month
You have one month from the date of transfer to apply for your carte grise, online only, on France Titres (section “Changement de titulaire”, Cerfa 13750*07). Prepare an identity document, proof of address, and the code de cession given by the seller.
Since 6 November 2017, there is no counter at the préfecture and no postal route for this process: everything is done online.
How much does the carte grise cost?
There is no single price: the amount depends on your region and the vehicle's fiscal horsepower. The formula is: (fiscal horsepower × your region's cheval fiscal rate) + €11 management tax + €2.76 delivery fee. The €13.76 fixed fees apply everywhere in France; the regional rate is voted each year by each regional council and so varies by region. A malus (CO₂ or weight) can apply depending on the vehicle, and reductions exist in some cases (older vehicles, clean vehicles).
Calculate your exact amount with the official simulator on service-public.fr before paying. Do not trust a single price seen elsewhere.
Where to check
Service-public.fr: current forms (Cerfa 15776*02, Cerfa 13750*07) and the carte grise cost simulator. France Titres (immatriculation.ants.gouv.fr): all online processes. Histovec: free vehicle report.
If a paper is missing, a deadline has passed, or anything in this guide does not match your situation, talk to a professional before you sign.