To find information and administrative procedures, first consult the French embassies and consulates in your country. Embassy websites provide essential and correct information. You should always prioritize them. If necessary, call the services that concern you or request an appointment. Other sites like that of allolafrance are there to help you see things more clearly, to find links, translations which are still absent from government sites, and to find more personal recommendations and tips. Remember, you must consult all the information on administrative procedures on the official website: Service-Public.fr   

CODE DE LA ROUTE & CONDUITE

Sur la route pensez à votre sécurité et à celle des autres

Vous revenez en France avec votre permis de conduire encore valable? Vous avez pu échanger votre permis de conduire d'un pays étranger pour un permis de conduite français? Vous pouvez conduire en France avec votre permis étranger? Quelle chance, vous économisez temps et argent. Seulement voilà, le Code de la route évolue, les règlementations changent, et la conduite en France n'est pas forcément la même qu' à New York, Londres, Rome ou Tokyo. En lisant les commentaires d'étrangers sur les réseaux sociaux, nombreux sont ceux qui mentionnent des accidents aux ronds-points, sur les autoroutes, dans les villages... Leurs remarques soulignent leur absence de connaissance du Code de la route ou des règlementations en France. Passer quelques heures à consulter le code de la route, les différentes reglementation en place en France, ou même quelques cours de mise à jour avec un conducteur expérimenté ou un instructeur dans une école, ne peuvent être que bénéfiques. 

Highway Traffic Code & Driving Practice

Are you returning to France with a driving license still valid? Were you able to exchange your driver's license from a foreign country for a French driver's license? Can you drive in France with your foreign licence? What luck, you have saved time and money. However, the highway code evolves, regulations change, and driving in France is not necessarily the same as in New York, London, Rome or Tokyo. By reading the comments of foreigners on social networks, many  mention accidents at roundabouts, on motorways, in villages... Their remarks underline their lack of knowledge of the highway code or regulations in France. Spending a few hours consulting the highway code, the different regulations in place in France, or even a few refresher courses with an experienced driver or an instructor in a school, can only be beneficial.

When you return to France with your car, you must also be in order concerning the import tax and other customs formalities.

Please note that if you are returning from a member country of the European Union, you have no customs tax to pay and no need to go through customs. Indeed, your vehicle will only be subject to the "normal" ecological tax which corresponds to the first registration in France, i.e. the price of the gray card and a possible malus.

On the other hand, if you are an expatriate from outside the EU and own the car (gray card in your name), you will have to go through customs to complete the customs formalities in order to obtain the 846a certificate. You will not have VAT (20%) or customs tax (10%) to pay if you meet the following conditions:

• the vehicle is included in the inventory of your property;
• the vehicle must not be a utility vehicle;
• the taxes of the country of provenance or origin have been paid;
• be the owner of the vehicle and have used it for more than 6 months (not compulsory if you live in a French overseas department);
• You do not resell or transfer this vehicle for 1 year from the date of customs clearance.

Registration of a second-hand vehicule 

You want to bring your own vehicle to France? You buy one second-hand vehicle (car or motorcycle for example) in France or abroad and you want to register it ? 

To request a vehicle registration for a used vehicle with a foreign registration, the steps depend on the country of registration of this vehicle. The process will be done online.

The process is mandatory if you are moving to France and you declare your primary residence there.

You must register your vehicle within one month of your return to France. Afterwards, you risk a fine of up to €750 (generally a fixed fine of €135). But even after this time, your request will be processed. You must complete the process online.

You are an expatriate returning to France with a vehicle Excerpt from service-public.fr

You must identify yourself via France Connect: Connection with the username and password of one of the following accounts: Impots.gouv, Ameli, Iidentité numérique (laposte), Yris, MSA or Alicem or with an email address of your choice .

You are a foreigner and you are moving to France with a vehicle (Excerpt from service-public.fr)

The process is mandatory if you move to France and declare your main residence there: Housing occupied at least 8 months a year (except for professional obligation, health reason or force majeure), either by the tenant or the person with which he lives, or by a dependent (child, ascendant over 65, disabled parent), regardless of your nationality.

The process must be done within 1 month after your installation.

The address appearing on the gray card will be that of your domicile in France. Check with the consulate of your country of origin in France: some countries require specific formalities (for example, handing over old license plates to the local authorities).

You must complete the procedure online by using or creating an account on ANTS : National Securities Agency. (Agence nationale des titres sécurisés.)

Documents required and obtaining the vehicule registration

A  - The vehicle has a EU registration

You must bring a digital copy (photo or scan) of the following documents:

Costs to expect to bring your vehicle back to France

The customs duties that apply to a car outside the European Union represent 10% of its purchase price. The French tax authorities also levy a VAT which is equivalent to 20% of the sum. It is also necessary to foresee the VAT of the country from which the automobile is imported and which sometimes turns out to be higher than its French version.

If you are returning from a European country, there is no customs tax to pay, your vehicle will be taxed like any new vehicle entering the French system (first registration in France, therefore possible malus and Carte grise).

Vehicle Insurance

Your credit card may cover some risks, but whether it is for a rental of a few days or long-term use, you are obliged to subscribe to the basic coverage. The cost is to be expected!

This cost will seem high to you whether it is per day or per year but if you have an accident, you will be the first to appreciate it.

• All risks: insures your vehicle as a whole, ideal for a new or recent car,
• Third party: partially insures your car, ideal for older vehicles or when the driver rarely uses the car

Buying a new car

Buying your car is economically interesting. Depending on your status, your professional situation and your finances, you can buy it in cash or use a loan.

Purchasing a new or used car via consumer credit is more economical than leasing with an option to purchase. However, the maintenance of the vehicle remains your responsibility and the credit is due even if your car is damaged or stolen.

In addition, if you are aiming to resell the vehicle, be aware that when purchasing a new car, it will lose between 20 and 25% of its value in the first year and up to 50% in three years.

Car leasing

Many automobile manufacturers and agents offer to lease a new or used vehicle instead of purchasing it –rental with the option to purchase, called leasing. This allows you to rent a vehicle without a personal contribution. The rental period varies between 2 and 5 years. You can change cars regularly, without a deposit and avoiding the costs inherent to resale. Furthermore, vehicle maintenance costs are often included in the rental contract: your monthly budget is thus fixed and smoothed. Finally, the monthly rent is lower than the monthly due rate of a loan. However, you must ask that the mileage be unlimited.

Rental with a purchase option (LOA), also called leasing, also consists of renting a vehicle, but you have the possibility of acquiring it at the end of the contract if the experience is conclusive. If you want to keep the car, you will have to pay the rental company a final rent corresponding to the residual value of the vehicle at that time. The latter is fixed at the time of signing the contract.

Buying a used car

Buying a new or used car via consumer credit is more economical than a lease with an option to buy.  You can estimate a vehicle online for free, whatever its brand and without obligation on the official Argus website.

Car rental

Car rental agencies are plentiful. There really isn't a better car rental agency. However, you can choose based on the price or options. Use online comparators and read user reviews.

Car rental from manufacturers and agents

Not ready to buy a new car? Many dealers offer month-to-month rentals at very competitive prices. Often less expensive than renting a car from a car rental agency.

À retenir 

To remember