France: importing a car from outside the EU
Everything that matters when you register an imported car in France: tax, authorities, inspection and the cheapest ports.
Key facts
- Import VAT (standard rate)
- 20%
- Currency
- EUR
- One-off tax at registration
- Taxe régionale + malus écologique
- Registration authority
- ANTS (certificat d’immatriculation)
- Inspection before registration
- Réception à titre isolé (DREAL) / contrôle technique
- Deadline to register
- 30 days
Customs duty is the same in every EU country: 10% of the CIF value for passenger cars. Import VAT is paid in the country where the car is cleared – 20% if you clear it here.
Clearing in another EU country with lower VAT can be cheaper even with the extra transport – the calculator compares all ports door to door.
Local registration taxes and inspections are not harmonised in the EU; plan their cost and time before you buy.
Nearest ports of clearance
Estimated road distance to the population centre of France.
Where to buy
Questions & answers
How much VAT do I pay on an imported car?
If the car is cleared in France, 20% of the customs value plus duty and transport costs to the destination. Clearing elsewhere in the EU means that country’s import VAT.
Where do I register an imported car?
At ANTS (certificat d’immatriculation), after the inspection (Réception à titre isolé (DREAL) / contrôle technique) and with translated purchase and customs documents.
Which port is the cheapest for me?
It depends on your address, the import VAT of the port country and the sailing schedule. The calculator prices every EU port door to door and shows them from the cheapest.
Calculate the exact cost for your car
Enter only your address – we propose the rest and price every port door to door.