Certificate of registration: change of surname, forename or company name

Verified 14 August 2026 - Public Service / (Prime Minister)

Your usage name change following a marriage or divorce, change your name or first name or change the name of your company? You must apply for a new Certificate of Registration (previously called vehicle registration certificate). The procedure is carried out on the internet or with a authorized automotive professional. It is no longer possible to do it at the prefecture or sub-prefecture. We present you the information to know.

Warning  

If you have a vehicle in leasing, the procedure is different.

On the internet

Step-by-step approach

The list of documents varies depending on your situation:

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You take a common name after your marriage

You can use as usage name :

If your request requires verification, documents may be requested by the instructor service. You will then need to have a digital copy (photo or scan) of the following documents:

  • Proof of roadworthiness, except if the vehicle is exempt from this :
    • For a passenger car (VP), a pickup or a motorhome of 3.5 tons maximum that is more than 4 years old
    • For a motor vehicle with 2 or 3 wheels or motor quadricycle who is over 5 years old.

Finally, if you ask someone to do the process for you, you must provide them with a digital copy of the mandate signed and your identity document.

The person will have to certify on honor that you have a certificate of insurance of the vehicle and a driving license corresponding to the category of the registered vehicle.

You wish to withdraw your usage name following a divorce

If you are the sole holder of the certificate of registration, which mentions your usage name, whether you divorce and keep the vehicle, you must have it changed to include only your last name.

Please note

If your ex-spouse agrees or if the judge allows you to do so, you can choose to keep his or her name as a common name on your registration certificate. However, if you remarry, you will automatically lose this username and you will need to request a name change on your registration certificate.

If your request requires verification, documents may be requested by the instructor service. You will then need to have a digital copy (photo or scan) of the following documents:

  • Proof of roadworthiness, except if the vehicle is exempt from this :
    • For a passenger car (VP), a pickup or a motorhome of 3.5 tons maximum that is more than 4 years old
    • For a motor vehicle with 2 or 3 wheels or motor quadricycle who is over 5 years old.

In addition, you must present one of the following documents :

  • Divorce judgment specifying that the vehicle (make and registration number) is assigned to you
  • If the divorce is pronounced by mutual consent, divorce agreement registered by a notary indicating that the vehicle (trademark and registration number) is assigned to you.

Finally, if you ask someone to do the process for you, you must provide them with a digital copy of the mandate signed and your identity document.

The person will have to certify on honor that you have a certificate of insurance of the vehicle and a driving license corresponding to the category of the registered vehicle.

Please note

When, as a result of the divorce, the vehicle, which is registered in the names of the two former spouses, is assigned to one of these former spouses, he applies for a new registration certificate by having the name of the other ex-spouse or joint holder removed.

You change your first or last name

You have changed your name (or first name) for one of the following reasons:

You need to change your vehicle's registration certificate.

If your request requires verification, documents may be requested by the instructor service. You will then need a digital copy (photo or scan) of the following documents:

  • Proof of roadworthiness, except if the vehicle is exempt from this :
    • For a passenger car (VP), a pickup or a motorhome of 3.5 tons maximum that is more than 4 years old
    • For a motor vehicle with 2 or 3 wheels or motor quadricycle who is over 5 years old.
  • Deed of civil status

Finally, if you ask someone to do the process for you, you must provide them with a digital copy of the mandate signed and your identity document.

The person will have to certify on honor that you have a certificate of insurance of the vehicle and a driving license corresponding to the category of the registered vehicle.

You change your corporate name

The change of company name for a legal person is performed as a name change when there is no creation of a new legal entity (no SIREN unchanged).

You must present any document attesting to the change of name of your business as proof.

Warning  

Mergers or takeovers of businesses resulting in a change of SIREN number shall not be considered as a change of business name but as a change of holder of the registration certificate. In this case, it is a question of sale or transfer free of charge, and not a change of company name.

If your request requires verification, documents may be requested by the instructor service. You will then need to have a digital copy (photo or scan) of the following documents:

  • Proof of roadworthiness, except if the vehicle is exempt from this :
    • For a passenger car (VP), a pickup or a motorhome of 3.5 tons maximum that is more than 4 years old
    • For a motor vehicle with 2 or 3 wheels or motor quadricycle who is over 5 years old.
  • Any proof of the change of name of your business.

You will have to pay the sum of €13.76 (fixed fee of €11 + routing fee of €2.76). You must obligatory pay by credit card.

You must own a credit card to pay the cost of your registration certificate on the website of theANTS: titleContent.

The approach is to be carried out on the internet using an online service:

Certificate of registration: report a change in personal circumstances

You must log in to the ANTS' website by logging in either via France Connect, or via the application France Identity.

If your request requires verification, documents may be requested by the instructor service. You will then need to have a digital copy (photo or scan) of the documents.

A digital copy device (scanner, digital camera, smartphone or tablet equipped with a photo function) is required.

If you do not have this material:

Of numeric points (with computers, printers and scanners) are available in each prefecture and in most sub-prefectures. You can complete the process there. You can be helped by digital mediators if you encounter difficulties with the use of the internet.

You can also be accompanied in your approach by a house France Services.

Who shall I contact

At the end of the process, you get the following 3 elements:

  • File Number
  • Acknowledgement of registration of your application
  • Provisional Certificate of Registration (CPI), which you must print. The CPI allows you to circulate during 1 month, only in France, pending receipt of your final certificate of registration.

An online service allows you to monitor the progress of the manufacture of the registration certificate:

Follow the application for a certificate of registration

You will receive the final registration certificate, sent by La Poste in followed letter, at your home within a period that may vary.

It may take a few days or even weeks to process your application for a registration certificate for the most complex cases. Timelines also vary depending on the time of year: a high influx of applications can extend processing time.

You must pay attention to the address you provide in the online procedure. It must be as complete as possible (building number, apartment number, letterbox number, floor, corridor, staircase, « resident at home », etc.).

Your mailbox must show your first and last name.

You can track the shipment of your registration certificate either with the registration number or with the tracking number of the Post Office. This tracking number has been communicated to you by email or SMS if you have entered your mobile phone number.

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Please note

Upon receipt of your certificate of registration, if you hold a national identity card (CNI) in bank card format, you can also download your digital registration certificate in the France Identity application.

You must keep the old certificate of registration for 5 yearsand then destroy it.

By an authorized professional

The authorized automotive professional take the necessary steps for you.

Step-by-step approach

The list of documents varies depending on your situation:

Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement

You take a common name after your marriage

You can use as usage name :

To change your certificate of registration, you must submit the following documents :

  • Proof of roadworthiness, except if the vehicle is exempt from this :
    • For a passenger car (VP), a pickup or a motorhome of 3.5 tons maximum that is more than 4 years old
    • For a motor vehicle with 2 or 3 wheels or motor quadricycle who is over 5 years old.

You must also provide the authorized professional with a mandate signed and your identity document.

The professional will certify on honor that you have a certificate of insurance of the vehicle and a driving license corresponding to the category of the registered vehicle.

You wish to withdraw your usage name following a divorce

If you are the sole holder of the certificate of registration, which mentions your usage name, whether you divorce and keep the vehicle, you must have it changed to include only your last name.

Please note

If your ex-spouse agrees or if the judge allows you to do so, you can choose to keep his or her name as a common name on your registration certificate. However, if you remarry, you will automatically lose this username and you will need to request a name change on your registration certificate.

To change your certificate of registration, you must submit the following documents :

  • Proof of roadworthiness, except if the vehicle is exempt from this :
    • For a passenger car (VP), a pickup or a motorhome of 3.5 tons maximum that is more than 4 years old
    • For a motor vehicle with 2 or 3 wheels or motor quadricycle who is over 5 years old.

In addition, you must present one of the following documents :

  • Divorce judgment specifying that the vehicle (make and registration number) is assigned to you
  • If the divorce is pronounced by mutual consent, divorce agreement registered by a notary indicating that the vehicle (trademark and registration number) is assigned to you.

You must also provide the authorized professional with a mandate signed and your identity document.

The professional will certify on honor that you have a certificate of insurance of the vehicle and a driving license corresponding to the category of the registered vehicle.

Please note

When, as a result of the divorce, the vehicle, which is registered in the names of the two former spouses, is assigned to one of these former spouses, he applies for a new registration certificate by having the name of the other ex-spouse or joint holder removed.

You change your first or last name

You have changed your name (or first name) for one of the following reasons:

You need to change your vehicle's registration certificate.

To change your certificate of registration, you must submit the following documents :

  • Proof of roadworthiness, except if the vehicle is exempt from this :
    • For a passenger car (VP), a pickup or a motorhome of 3.5 tons maximum that is more than 4 years old
    • For a motor vehicle with 2 or 3 wheels or motor quadricycle who is over 5 years old.
  • Deed of civil status

You must also provide the authorized professional with a mandate signed and your identity document.

The professional will certify on honor that you have a certificate of insurance of the vehicle and a driving license corresponding to the category of the registered vehicle.

You change your corporate name

The change of company name for a legal person is performed as a name change when there is no creation of a new legal entity (no SIREN unchanged).

You must present any document attesting to the change of name of your business as proof.

Warning  

Mergers or takeovers of businesses resulting in a change of SIREN number shall not be considered as a change of business name but as a change of holder of the registration certificate. In this case, it is a question of sale or transfer free of charge, and not a change of company name.

To change your certificate of registration, you must submit the following documents :

  • Proof of roadworthiness, except if the vehicle is exempt from this :
    • For a passenger car (VP), a pickup or a motorhome of 3.5 tons maximum that is more than 4 years old
    • For a motor vehicle with 2 or 3 wheels or motor quadricycle who is over 5 years old.
  • Any proof of the change of name of your business

You must also provide the authorized professional with a mandate signed and your identity document.

The professional will certify on honor that you have a certificate of insurance of the vehicle and a driving license corresponding to the category of the registered vehicle.

You will have to pay the sum of €13.76 (fixed fee of €11 + routing fee of €2.76). You must obligatory pay by credit card.

Please note

In addition to the cost of the certificate of registration, if you have had this procedure carried out by an authorized professional, he can charge an amount corresponding to the service he performs in your place. This amount is freely fixed by the professional.

If you ask an authorized professional to carry out this procedure, he will carry out this transaction directly on the SIV: titleContent.

One Provisional Certificate of Registration (CPI) is delivered immediately. It allows you to circulate for 1 month (in France only) pending receipt of your final certificate of registration.

An online service allows you to monitor the progress of the manufacture of the registration certificate:

Follow the application for a certificate of registration

You will receive the final registration certificate, sent by La Poste in followed letter, at your home within a period that may vary.

It may take a few days or even weeks to process your application for a registration certificate for the most complex cases. Timelines also vary depending on the time of year: a high influx of applications can extend processing time.

You must pay attention to the address you provide in the online procedure. It must be as complete as possible (building number, apartment number, letterbox number, floor, corridor, staircase, « resident at home », etc.).

Your mailbox must show your first and last name.

You can track the shipment of your registration certificate either with the registration number or with the tracking number of the Post Office. This tracking number has been communicated to you by email or SMS if you have entered your mobile phone number.

Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement

Please note

Upon receipt of your registration certificate, if you hold a national identity card (NIC) in bank card format, you can also download your digital registration certificate in the France Identity application.

You must keep the old certificate of registration for 5 yearsand then destroy it.

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