How to get a W garage certificate?

Verified 13 November 2025 - Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister), Ministry of the Interior

The certificate W garage allows a vehicle to be used on a temporary basis, before its final registration. It is only issued to repairers, sellers, transporters, bodybuilders, importers and manufacturers for the use of certain types of vehicles. It is valid for the calendar year and must be renewed every year. It is materialized by the installation of a removable license plate.

The certificate W garage shall be issued to the automotive professional who has applied for it or to the person who represents him. The person representing the company must possess his or her seller's card or prove that he or she belongs to this company. The justification for this membership must be provided in writing by the company's legal representative.

The certificate W garage reports to the automotive professional. It allows him to make license plates with that number.

The plates are removable. They are fixed to the vehicle that he wishes to drive on the public road at a given time (to perform a test for example). They are then removed and can be attached to another vehicle. Only one vehicle at a time can travel with the W garage.

Their affixing is mandatory.

The original certificate must be on board the vehicle in circulation. It must be presented in case of control.

Please note

When using the certificate W garage for a vehicle already registered, only the number W shall be used.

The following vehicles may be registered in W garage :

  • New vehicles: test prototypes, vehicles awaiting entry into service (demonstration in front of a potential buyer, presentation to the press, ready for testing)
  • Second-hand vehicles: only second-hand vehicles whose entry into service concerns technical tests related to a repair, transport between workshops or to a technical inspection center, resale of the vehicle, towing after accident in particular 
  • Vehicles used by agricultural cooperatives and in mechanics' training establishments.

Warning  

A vehicle under purchase declaration may only be used if it is equipped with W garage license plates.

The circulation of a vehicle with a certificate W garage is possible throughout France. It is not confined to the company's location department.

It is not possible to use such a certificate abroad, nor to obtain a certificate W international garage.

Its use is reserved only for France, except for prototypes whose development requires testing in foreigners countries. In this case, the trader must also be in possession of a certificate of the technical characteristics of the vehicle.

The certificate W garage is valid for the calendar year and shall include the date of expiry of the provisional registration.

The certificate shall bear the vintage of the year in which it was issued and shall be addressed to the professional who made the request.

First request

The procedures must be carried out on the internet on the website of theANTS: titleContent :

Apply for a W garage certificate

The definitive certificate is sent by post followed to the holder's home by the ANTS.

Renewal

The procedures must be carried out via the internet on the website of theANTS: titleContent :

Apply for a W garage certificate

The definitive certificate is sent by post followed to the holder's home by the ANTS.

Renewal can take place every year, in November and December.

No application for renewal may be filed after December 31. If this is the case, a new number W is assigned.

The documents to be provided are the same for a 1re application or for annual renewal:

  • Extract K or Ka
  • Tax proof of professional activity (in connection with the building, importation, sale, repair or transport of automobiles): notice of liability to the property tax of companies (CFE component), or to the VAT: titleContentor business tax (or income tax for sole proprietors and self-employed persons) or additional taxes for CCI: titleContent or chamber of trades in particular. It is also possible to provide a attestation of tax regularity.
  • Application for registration on cerfa number 13752.

The cost of the certificateW garage is of €13.76 (fixed fee of €11 + routing fee of €2.76).

The professional retains his old certificate until December 31 of the current year.

He destroys the W garage certificate at the end of this period, whether or not he has applied for renewal of his certificate.

Who can help me?

Find who can answer your questions in your region

  • France Titles - Registration certificate (professionals)

    For any practical, legal or technical question related to the authorization and authorization applications for the SIV, professionals can contact France Titres, the National Agency for Secure Securities (ANTS).

    By phone

    Open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm (metropolitan time).

    • For qualified professionals: 0806 001 623
    • For other professionals: 34,00

    Cost of a local call

    By courier

    Access to online form