Missing this car registration detail in France may cost you €135
Widespread changes to French addresses may have left drivers in the lurch during an inspection
Driving documents need to show your current, correct address
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Drivers are being urged to check all details on their vehicle registration are up to date, or they risk a fine of €135.
The warning in particular relates to the given address on your certificat d’immatriculation (often called a carte grise), after many rural addresses were updated last year.
The modernisation of rural addresses was mainly carried out to help emergency and postal services complete tasks in these areas more easily without getting lost, and meant all roads were to be given a name and properties on the road a number.
This included private roads not closed off by gates, and cul-de-sacs as well as homes located in lieux-dits (outlying hamlets that are part of a larger commune).
Whilst the new address did not need to be put on all documents – for example, residency cards do not need to be updated to reflect the change – the new information must be correctly shown on your carte grise.
If you are pulled over for an inspection and the information is not correct, police can issue you with a fine.
Order address change sticker online
If you did not originally change the address on your carte grise, you will need to update it now.
You can do this online through the official France Titres website, via the ‘Modifier l'adresse sur votre certificat d'immatriculation’ section.
A sticker will be sent out to you to attach on your document highlighting your new address – it is free, unless this is the fourth time you have changed your address, in which case you will need to pay €2.76 for a new card.
Other changes may also be required if you have an older vehicle (see our article below).
Read more: French village street name changes: Drivers must update car documents
Read more: What is the process for ordering a replacement vehicle registration in France?
