Declaring the Sale of a Vehicle

When selling your vehicle, you must declare this transaction to ANTS within 15 days, to transfer ownership of the registration certificate (carte grise) to the new buyer and avoid any later liability for the vehicle.

This page explains how to make this declaration, what information to provide, and offers a ready-to-use letter template, plus a tool to automatically generate your personalized letter.

When should you write this letter?

• You recently sold your vehicle and want to declare it;
• You had difficulty declaring online;
• You want written confirmation of completing the transfer;
• You need to clarify special circumstances of the sale.

In all these cases, a written letter remains a reliable way to confirm your declaration.

Required information to include

• Your first and last name and the vehicle's registration number;
• The sale date and buyer's information;
• Documents attached (sale certificate, split registration certificate).

The more accurate this information is, the faster your declaration will be processed.

Official letter template

Important note: the letter sent to ANTS must be written in French, as it is a French administration. Below is a template you can use as a basis.

[First name LAST NAME]
[Full address]
[ANTS file number]

National Secure Documents Agency
[ANTS address]

Written in [City], on [Date]

Subject: Vehicle sale declaration

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am informing you of the sale of my vehicle registered [registration], sold on [date].

[...]

→ The complete letter, tailored precisely to your situation and ready to send, is generated automatically in 3 minutes using the tool above.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the deadline for declaration?

15 days from the actual sale date.

What happens if I don't declare the sale?

You remain legally liable for the vehicle (fines, accidents) even after selling it.

Can I declare online?

Yes, usually through the official ANTS website or an approved intermediary.

Who handles issuing a new registration certificate?

The new buyer handles requesting their own registration certificate after the declaration.

What if I sell the vehicle to someone outside France?

You must still declare the sale, with additional export-specific procedures.