What is the Vehicle Registration System (VRS)?

Verified 26 February 2026 - Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

The SIV: titleContent is the system for registering vehicle registrations on French territory. Every vehicle registered since April 2009 has its own SIV number. Vehicles registered before that date shall obtain this number in the event of a change of circumstances requiring the issue of a new certificate of registration (previously called ₪). The vehicle retains this number until it is destroyed, even if it changes ownership. We're taking a look at the regulations.

Please note

Only vehicles put into circulation before 2009, which have not changed ownership or for which no request for a certificate of registration has been made, are still referenced in the old so-called file NIF: titleContent in format 123 AB 01.

The SIV is a national file placed under the responsibility of the Ministry of the Interior and managed by France Titres - Agence nationale des titres sécurisés (ANTS).

It is used for the management of registration certificates and other administrative documents required for the circulation of vehicles.

It is based on the following principles:

  • Allocation ofa lifelong SIV number for each vehicle in circulation, regardless of the identity or address of the successive owners, unlike the old one NIF: titleContent
  • More department number in the registration number SIV, this departmental reference appears only on the license plate
  • Simplification of administrative procedures for users who can carry out their procedures directly on the website of the ANTS or with qualified professionals.

The presentation differs depending on whether you have a moped or not:

General case

The SIV number consists of a series of 7 characters alphanumeric: 2 letters, 1 dash, 3 digits, 1 dash and 2 letters (example: AA-123-AA).

It is allocated chronologically in a single national series. So it is couldn't choose it.

Mopeds

The presentation differs according to the date of registration of your moped:

Mopeds registered before 1 July 2015

The registration number of a moped registered before 1er july 2015 consists of1 to 2 letters, followed by 2 to 3 digits, followed by 1 letter, with a space between the letter blocks and the digit block. (Examples: A 11 A or AA 11 A).

Please note

When a transaction requiring the issuance of a new certificate of registration is completed, a new registration number will be assigned, consisting of a series of 7 characters alphanumeric: 2 letters, 1 dash, 3 digits, 1 dash and 2 letters (example: AA-123-AA).

Mopeds registered from 1 July 2015

In the case of a moped newly registered from 1er july 2015, the registration number consists of a series of 7 characters alphanumeric: 2 letters, 1 dash, 3 digits, 1 dash and 2 letters (example: AA-123-AA).

Please note

3 letters are not used, on I, on O and the U, to avoid confusion with the numbers 1 and 0 and the letter V.

Vehicles are given a new registration number SIV: titleContent :

  • Since 15 April 2009, for all new vehicles
  • Since 15 October 2009, as soon as a procedure involving the issue of a registration certificate is carried out for a vehicle that was registered in the old system NIF: titleContent (type 123 AB 01).

FYI  

The conversion of an old registration into an SIV number shall not affect the validity of the roadworthiness test. The report of the roadworthiness test, which shall include the vehicle serial number, shall be authentic.

No, it is not possible to request a voluntary conversion of a registration number NIF: titleContent (type 123 AB 01) to a registration number SIV: titleContent (type AA-123-AA) without carrying out an administrative procedure on the vehicle.

The conversion of the FNI number to SIV is done only on the occasion of an amendment to the certificate of registration, such as:

  • Change of address
  • Change of holder
  • Request for duplicate
  • Change in marital status or marital status
  • Any other procedure requiring the issuance of a new certificate of registration.

As long as no changes are made, you keep your old FNI number.

A vehicle registered in the SIV has a lifelong number.

If you move, you must take steps to change of domicile on the certificate of registration. If you already have an SIV number, you keep the same registration number and, in case of a change of department, you do not have to change your SIV number. license plate.

Please note

It is also possible to obtain a new SIV registration number in case of of usurpation of your plates.