License plate theft

Verified 06 March 2026 - Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

If you notice the theft of one or two license plates (i.e. the removal of one or two license plates from your vehicle), you must file a complaint very quickly. You must then have the stolen plate(s) redone. You must attach or have attached the new plate(s) to your vehicle. We present you the steps to follow.

Step-by-step approach

The regulations differ depending on whether the flight took place in France or abroad:

In France

As soon as you notice in France the theft of one or your 2 license plates, you must lodge a complaint at the police station or gendarmerie.

Who shall I contact
Abroad

You must report the theft on your return in France in lodging a complaint at the police station or gendarmerie.

Who shall I contact

After filing a complaint, you must have the plate(s) with the registration number on your registration certificate (previously called ₪).

FYI  

The theft of plates is not assimilated to spoofing of the registration number. If your license plates are stolen without proof of spoofing, you do not get a new vehicle registration number.

Once the new license plate(s) have been remanufactured, you must attach them or have them attached to your vehicle.

Warning  

If you are driving a vehicle that does not have license plates, you may be fined up to €750.