Declaring the Theft of a Vehicle

In case of vehicle theft, in addition to declaring to the police, you must update your vehicle's status with ANTS to avoid any liability for its use by the thief, especially regarding traffic violations.

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?

• Your vehicle was recently stolen;
• You want to update its status with ANTS after declaring to the police;
• You need to avoid liability for illegal use of the vehicle;
• You need to clarify circumstances of the theft.

In all these cases, a written letter remains a reliable way to update your situation.

Required information to include

• Your first and last name and registration certificate number of the stolen vehicle;
• The date and location of the theft;
• Documents attached (theft declaration with police or gendarmerie).

The sooner you declare, the more you avoid liability for illegal use of your vehicle.

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 theft declaration

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am informing you of the theft of my vehicle registered [registration], which occurred 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

Should I first declare to the police?

Yes, mandatory and the first step before any update with ANTS.

What happens if my vehicle is found later?

You must also declare this to update its status again.

Am I still liable for violations during the theft?

No, after official declaration, you're not liable for use by the thief.

What about my insurance on the stolen vehicle?

You must inform the insurance company separately within their own deadlines.

Do I need a new registration certificate if the vehicle is recovered?

Often no new certificate needed if the original wasn't lost.