What does it cost to import a car to France from Germany?

Full 2026 guide to importing a used car to France from Germany: exact documents, taxes and fees, step-by-step, and the traps that cost buyers thousands.

What paperwork do I need to import a car to France?

German registration documents; Purchase invoice/contract; Quitus fiscal (VAT clearance form 1993-PART-D-SD) from your local SIE tax office — free, request within 15 days; Certificate of Conformity (COC) from the manufacturer, typically €120–290; Contrôle technique 4 years

Importing a car to France from Germany

German used cars are a French favourite — but the CO₂ malus can wipe out the saving on powerful petrol cars. Do the maths before you fall in love with a listing.

Paperwork difficulty: Moderate

Documents you need

German registration documents
Purchase invoice/contract
Quitus fiscal (VAT clearance form 1993-PART-D-SD) from your local SIE tax office — free, request within 15 days
Certificate of Conformity (COC) from the manufacturer, typically €120–290
Contrôle technique < 6 months old if the car is > 4 years

What it costs

Quitus fiscal

Free (but if the car is < 6 months old OR < 6,000 km, 20% French VAT is due at the SIE first)

COC

~€120–290 depending on brand

Carte grise

Regional CV tax (varies) + possible CO₂ malus

CO₂ malus on used imports

Can be four to five figures on high-CO₂ petrol cars — reduced ~10% per year of age. Calculate BEFORE buying.

Provisional WW plate

~€11, valid 4 months

Step by step

Buy the car and request the quitus fiscal (within 15 days)
Order the COC from the manufacturer
Get a contrôle technique if needed
Apply on ANTS for a CPI-WW to drive legally
Complete the definitive carte grise

Top traps to avoid

⚠ Trap High-CO₂ German petrol/SUV = a malus that can exceed the saving. Check the WLTP figure and the malus scale first.

⚠ Trap Buying a '< 6 months / < 6,000 km' car at a used price then owing 20% VAT in France.

⚠ Trap Missing COC on modified or non-EU-spec cars → costly individual approval (RTI), months of delay.

The VAT rule that costs thousands

Across every corridor, one EU rule costs buyers thousands: a vehicle that is less than 6 months old OR has under 6,000 km counts as 'new' and VAT is due in your destination country at your rate — whatever the price, even from a private seller. And a 'VAT-qualifying' (ex-lease/company) car should be bought net by a VAT-registered business, not at the gross price. When in doubt, get the VAT treatment in writing before you pay.

Before you import

Figures are indicative for 2026 from official sources; regional and annually-indexed amounts change — verify before you commit. This is general information, not tax or legal advice.

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