What does it cost to register an imported car in France?
Enter the car you have your eye on and see straight away the malus, carte grise, VAT and customs duty France will charge. From inside or outside the EU.
In short
France charges no registration tax as such, but two malus taxes bite hard on imports: the malus écologique on CO₂ (up to €80,000) and the malus au poids from 1,500 kg — both reduced by 10 % per year of age. Add the carte grise, priced per cheval fiscal by region.
- 2–4 weeks — typical, EU car with COC
- 108 g/km — where the CO₂ malus starts (2026)
- −10 % / year — malus reduction for used imports
- 43 – 60 €/CV — carte grise by region
Taxes
Registration & paperwork
Not included: insurance, the quitus fiscal (free, at your service des impôts) and adaptations for non-EU cars.
Registration tax by CO₂ band
| CO₂ g/km | General | Canarias | Increased* |
|---|---|---|---|
| ≤ 120 | 0 % | 0 % | 0 % |
| 121 – 159 | 4,75 % | 3,75 % | 4,75 % |
| 160 – 199 | 9,75 % | 8,75 % | 9,75 % |
| ≥ 200 | 14,75 % | 13,75 % | 15 – 16 % |
* Asturias, Balearic Islands, Catalonia and Valencia: 16 %; Cantabria 15 %; Murcia 15.9 %. Ceuta and Melilla: 0 % in every band.
Hacienda depreciation table (Orden HAC/1501/2025)
| Age | Value | Age | Value |
|---|
Worked examples: what does it cost in practice?
Two typical cars, calculated with this tool for a purchase in Germany. Change any detail in the calculator above to see your own figure.
Volkswagen Golf 1.5 TSI (petrol), 2023, 60,000 km, 125 g/km CO₂
Purchase price: €22,000 · Transport (indicative): €400–€750
| VAT (intra-EU acquisition) | €0 |
| Malus écologique (CO₂) | €378 |
| Malus au poids | €0 |
| Carte grise (taxe régionale + fixed fees) | €398 |
| Contrôle technique | €90 |
| ANTS registration & plates | €30 |
| Number plates | €0 |
Taxes & fees on top: €896
BMW X5 xDrive30d (diesel), 2021, 90,000 km, 185 g/km CO₂
Purchase price: €48,000 · Transport (indicative): €400–€750
| VAT (intra-EU acquisition) | €0 |
| Malus écologique (CO₂) | €30,623 |
| Malus au poids | €7,000 |
| Carte grise (taxe régionale + fixed fees) | €893 |
| Contrôle technique | €90 |
| ANTS registration & plates | €30 |
| Number plates | €0 |
Taxes & fees on top: €38,636
Importing a car into France
France charges no registration tax as such, but two malus taxes bite hard on imports: the malus écologique on CO₂ (up to €80,000) and the malus au poids from 1,500 kg — both reduced by 10 % per year of age. Add the carte grise, priced per cheval fiscal by region.
Before you buy
- Run the CO₂ through the calculator: at 150 g/km the 2026 malus is €4,279 before the age reduction; at 170 g/km €22,380.
- Check the kerb weight (G.1 on the registration): from 1,500 kg the weight malus adds €10–30 per kg.
- Ask for the COC; without it the French importer of the brand issues an attestation d'identification (€100–250).
- Cars over 4 years need a French contrôle technique less than 6 months old before registration.
Documents you will need
- Foreign registration certificate (original) and proof of deregistration where issued
- Invoice or purchase contract (cerfa 15776 if from a private seller)
- Quitus fiscal (certificat 1993-VT) from your service des impôts — mandatory for every EU car, free
- COC or attestation d'identification; non-EU: RTI from the DREAL
- Contrôle technique (under 6 months) if the car is over 4 years old
- Proof of identity and address, insurance
- Non-EU: customs certificate 846A and proof of duty and VAT paid
Step by step
- Buy and bring the car in
Drive it on export plates or transport it. Non-EU cars clear customs first: 10 % duty and 20 % VAT, and you receive the certificate 846A that ANTS will ask for.
- Quitus fiscal
Go to the service des impôts des entreprises of your area with the invoice and the foreign registration. For a used car they issue the quitus for free; for a new car (under 6 months or 6,000 km) you pay 20 % VAT first.
- Contrôle technique and conformity
Book a contrôle technique if the car is over 4 years old. Get the COC or the attestation d'identification; non-EU cars without EU approval go through a réception à titre isolé at the DREAL.
- ANTS registration
File the demande d'immatriculation online at ANTS (or via a professionnel habilité). You pay the taxe régionale (CV × regional rate, halved for cars over 10 years, exempt for EVs), the €11 management fee, €2.76 delivery, and the malus CO₂ and malus au poids reduced by 10 % per year of age.
- Plates and carte grise
A provisional certificate lets you drive immediately; the carte grise arrives by post within days. Have plates made (€25–40).
Traps
- Forgetting the quitus fiscal — ANTS rejects the file without it, even for a used car with no VAT due.
- The malus is calculated on the WLTP CO₂ of the car's own registration; an NEDC-only figure on an older document triggers a conversion and often a higher value.
- Heavy SUVs from Germany or the US: the weight malus can exceed the CO₂ malus — check both.
Official sources
Run this route in the calculator with the 2026 malus grid, weight malus and your region's carte grise rate.
Calculate for France →Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to import a car into France?
2–4 weeks — typical, EU car with COC
Which taxes do you pay when importing a car into France?
France charges no registration tax as such, but two malus taxes bite hard on imports: the malus écologique on CO₂ (up to €80,000) and the malus au poids from 1,500 kg — both reduced by 10 % per year of age. Add the carte grise, priced per cheval fiscal by region.
Which documents do you need to import a car into France?
Foreign registration certificate (original) and proof of deregistration where issued; Invoice or purchase contract (cerfa 15776 if from a private seller); Quitus fiscal (certificat 1993-VT) from your service des impôts — mandatory for every EU car, free; COC or attestation d'identification; non-EU: RTI from the DREAL; Contrôle technique (under 6 months) if the car is over 4 years old; Proof of identity and address, insurance; Non-EU: customs certificate 846A and proof of duty and VAT paid.
What are the most common mistakes when importing a car into France?
Forgetting the quitus fiscal — ANTS rejects the file without it, even for a used car with no VAT due. The malus is calculated on the WLTP CO₂ of the car's own registration; an NEDC-only figure on an older document triggers a conversion and often a higher value. Heavy SUVs from Germany or the US: the weight malus can exceed the CO₂ malus — check both.
Do I pay VAT or customs duty when importing a car into France from another EU country?
EU country: no customs duty, no import VAT (new cars: 20 % French VAT). The malus and the carte grise are due on registration; a quitus fiscal from the tax office is required for every EU car.
What applies when the car comes from outside the EU?
Outside the EU: customs value = price + transport + insurance; 10 % duty and 20 % VAT on top, plus malus and carte grise on registration.
What should I check before buying a car to import into France?
Run the CO₂ through the calculator: at 150 g/km the 2026 malus is €4,279 before the age reduction; at 170 g/km €22,380. Check the kerb weight (G.1 on the registration): from 1,500 kg the weight malus adds €10–30 per kg. Ask for the COC; without it the French importer of the brand issues an attestation d'identification (€100–250). Cars over 4 years need a French contrôle technique less than 6 months old before registration.
Import into France from another country
Other destinations
These guides describe the usual procedure as of September 2026 and are indicative. Rules, fees and deadlines change and vary by region and office; carimportcalculator.com accepts no liability for decisions based on them. Confirm the steps with the authority named in each guide or a licensed agent before you buy.