Importing a Caravan, Camping Car or Trailer in France

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Importing a Caravan, Camping Car or Trailer in France

The immatriculation is a vehicle's registration. The details of a vehicle's registration are carried in the Carte Grise (grey card). Vehicle registration is handled through the Préfecture or Sous-Préfecture.

Foreign registered caravans, camper vans and trailers imported for use in France must be re-registered in France. The process will vary depending on the age, make and country of origin.

Before being able to register the vehicle and receive the Carte Grise it must conform to the French road and safety standards. 

If the vehicle is recently manufactured, conforms to European standards and has all the associated documents, the process should be relatively straightforward. Complications are common, however, with an older, non-standard vehicle without documentation. Below are the basics that can be expected through the process.

Conformity or Homologation

Trailers, caravans and mobile homes weighing more than 500 Kg and less than 3,500 Kg must first be checked for conformity to French road and safety standards. This process is handled through the owner's local Direction Régionale de l'Industrie, de la Recherche et de l'Environnement (DRIRE). 

A Demande de Réception à Titre Isolé form, issued by the DRIRE, must be completed. It documents the make, model, chassis number and all other particulars of the vehicle.

• To find a local DRIRE office: Click here and use the map to select the appropriate département

The caravan or trailer will need to conform (among other things) in the following ways:

• chassis
• braking system
• towing head
• electrical sockets (European standard)
• gas regulators (European standard)
• axel weights
• reversing and fog lights

Note: If a trailer has a loaded weight of less than or equal to 500 Kg, no special registration documents are required whatever the country of construction.

Application

In order to register a caravan, mobile home or trailer the owner must provide the following documents (original plus one photocopy):

Note: The documents required may vary from region to region

Vehicles registered in the EEA (European Economic Area)

• Photographs of the vehicle that is to be registered
• Proof of ownership or foreign registration document
• If the empty weight does not appear on any official document, a weight certificate (tickets de pesée à vide)
• Registration fee
• Caravans must have a certificate of conformity to NFS56200 standards obtained from an affiliated organisation (Bureau Veritas or Association QUALIGAZ, local addresses available from the DRIRE)

In some cases the following documents will also be necessary:

• Description of the vehicle (notice descriptive) form, completed. (Form available from the local DRIRE office)
• Certificate of conformity to European standards, which can be obtained from the vehicle manufacturer or a certified representative
• If necessary (camper cars) a roadworthiness certificate (less than six months old)
• Documentation of the calculation of weight spread of the vehicle (Fiche de calcul de répartition des charges d'une remorque)
• Side plan showing indicators, reverse lights and lateral protection (particularly in twin axel vehicles)

Vehicles registered outside the EEA (European Economic Area)

• Description of the vehicle (notice descriptive) form, completed (available from the local DRIRE office)
• Documentation of the calculation of weight spread of the vehicle (Fiche de calcul de répartition des charges d'une remorque)
• Weight certificate (Tickets de Pesée à vide)
• Side plan showing indicators, reverse lights and lateral protection
• Photographs of the vehicle to be registered
• Chassis capacity (maximum weight authorised). This can be obtained from the vehicle manufacturer or a certified representative
• Curb-side weight. This can be obtained from the manufacturer or representative
• Certificate declaring that the vehicle conforms to the Directive 94/20/CE (supplied by the DRIRE for the constructor complete)
• In certain cases a certificate stating that the vehicle conforms to French braking standards.
• Caravans must have a certificate of conformity to NFS56200 standards, which must be obtained from a registered organisation (Bureau Veritas or Association QUALIGAZ, local addresses available from the DRIRE)
• If necessary (camping cars) a roadworthiness certificate (less than six months old)
• Registration fee

Examination

Once the documents have been sent to the DRIRE they will be checked to ensure that the make, year and chassis number correspond to French homologation standards.

The DRIRE will then inform the owner of a date to have the caravan, trailer or camping car examined.

Before presenting the vehicle it is important to check, change or add the following to ensure the vehicle conforms to French standards:

• Chassis
• Braking system
• Manufacturer's mark (plaque constructeur)
• Plate showing maximum laden weight, empty weight, size, length and width (Plaque de Tare). This is only required for vehicles that will be transporting goods
• Identification number engraved on the vehicle
• Axel weights
• Tyres
• Indicators and reverse lights
• Security fittings on the rear of the vehicle (Anti encastrement arrière)
• Tow head
• Interior electrical sockets (caravans and campers)
• Gas regulators (caravans and campers)

Trailers

The maximum laden weight (Poids Totale Autorisée en Charge - PTAC) and unladen weight (Poids Vide - PV) should be shown on all trailers, whatever the weight, on the nearside of the front of the trailer or on the draw bar.

Trailers greater than or equal to 500 Kg need: 

• to be registered, hold a Carte Grise registration document and have registration plates (apply at the Préfecture)
• a certificate of insurance (certificat d'assurance) to be shown in the front nearside window of the towing vehicle, in a waterproof holder on the front nearside of the trailer or next to the insurance certificate (certificat d'assurance) of the towing vehicle.

Once the vehicle has been accepted by the DRIRE, registration can take place at local Préfecture.

• See AngloINFO INFOrmation page on Carte Grise Vehicle Registration

Further Information

• Direction Régionale de l'Industrie, de la Recherche et de l'Environnement (DRIRE)