Which documents do I need to register an imported vehicle?

The core file is similar across the Union; each country adds its own forms and taxes. For a used vehicle imported from a Member State:

• the original foreign registration certificate, or an official document proving it was retained by the authorities of the country of origin;
• proof of sale: invoice or transfer certificate, in the applicant’s name;
• the tax clearance of the destination country (see our dedicated answer): quitus fiscal in France, VAT settlement for a new vehicle in Germany, BPM declaration in the Netherlands;
• the certificate of conformity, if fields K and D.2 of the foreign document are missing or incomplete;
• a roadworthiness test where required: in France, less than six months old for a vehicle over four years; in Belgium, the pre-registration inspection; in the Netherlands, the RDW import inspection;
• the national application form, proof of identity and recent proof of address, plus insurance (eVB number in Germany);
• where applicable, the mandate to the authorised professional filing on your behalf.

For a vehicle from outside the Union, the customs clearance document replaces the tax clearance, and the certificate of conformity or a manufacturer’s identification certificate becomes indispensable.

Our registration support reviews the French file with you before submission, to avoid a rejection for a missing document; our country guides cover Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands.