Check its history before you commit.
The certificat de cession véhicule is the free cerfa form no. 15776, which the seller and buyer fill in and sign in two copies when selling a used car. The seller then declares the transfer to the Agence nationale des titres sécurisés (ANTS) within 15 days, according to Service Public (2026). This administrative procedure formalises the transfer of ownership and releases the seller from responsibility after the sale. Here is how to fill in the form, declare the transfer online, gather the documents to be handed over, and check the vehicle before committing.
The cerfa 15776, official document for the transfer of a vehicle
The cerfa no. 15776 is the official document that records the sale or donation of a used vehicle between a previous and a new owner. Service Public provides it in its 15776*02 version, to be completed by both parties.
What the form signed by the seller and buyer proves
The form sets the exact date and time of the transfer of ownership. From that moment, the previous owner is released from all responsibility in the event of an offence or accident committed with the vehicle, according to Service Public.
In everyday language, this document is also called a certificate of sale, sales contract or transfer contract. It remains a legal requirement for a donation, which the administration refers to as a transfer free of charge.
Obtaining the form free of charge from Service Public
The cerfa 15776 can be filled in online on the official website service-public.gouv.fr, then downloaded and printed. The service is free: no private website is needed to obtain it. The form can also be downloaded from your account, in the personal area of the ANTS website, at the time of declaration.
Key points:
- cerfa 15776*02 is the current transfer form;
- it is free and available on the Service Public website;
- it is mandatory for both a sale and a donation.
Filling in the transfer form in 6 steps
The transfer form is filled in by both parties on the day of the sale, then printed in two copies. Service Public describes the process in 6 steps:
- Fill in the form online.
- Download the form.
- Print the form in two copies.
- Sign the form and have it signed by the buyer.
- Hand copy no. 2 to the new owner.
- Keep copy no. 1.
The seller's section
The previous owner enters their surname, first name and home address. The certificat d'immatriculation (French registration certificate, also known as carte grise) must be in their name and show this address at the time of sale. In the event of a change of address, the address must be updated before transferring the vehicle. If the vehicle has several holders, each co-holder must sign.
The buyer's section
The buyer provides their identity and home address. The online declaration then repeats this information: birth surname, first name, gender, date and place of birth. It also specifies whether the buyer is a natural person or a legal entity, such as a company.
The vehicle, the date and time of sale
The vehicle section repeats the information from the certificat d'immatriculation: registration number, identification number (VIN), make and model. Before signing, compare the VIN shown on the certificat d'immatriculation with that on the vehicle. You can also decode the VIN number to confirm the make, model and year.
The date and time of the transfer must be exact: they mark the end of the previous owner's responsibility. The mileage will be requested during the online declaration.
Declaring the transfer to the ANTS within 15 days: 3 possible channels
The seller must declare the transfer within 15 days of signing the form, including for a donation (Service Public, 2026). The declaration is made on the ANTS website, via the Simplimmat.gouv app or through an authorised professional. Should the form be sent by post? No: Service Public does not require any paper submission, each party keeps their own copy.
| Channel | Conditions | What the seller receives |
|---|---|---|
| ANTS website (ants.gouv.fr) | ANTS or FranceConnect account | Transfer registration receipt and file number |
| Simplimmat.gouv app | Both parties resident in France, present together, plate in AA-123-AA format | Declaration signed on smartphone, no paper form |
| Authorised automotive professional | Cerfa mandate no. 13757 | Registration carried out by the professional, fee freely set |
Source: Service Public, fiche F1707, 2026.
The ANTS teleservice and the transfer code
The 'Sell or give your vehicle' teleservice is accessible from the ANTS account or via FranceConnect. The seller enters the registration plate, their phone number and the confidential number received with the certificat d'immatriculation. The declaration page then asks for the buyer's identity, the date, time and mileage, including for a sale abroad.
At the end of the process, the seller receives a registration receipt and a transfer code valid for 15 days, to be given to the buyer. The process can be started before the sale, then finalised from the 'My ongoing procedures' section.
The Simplimmat.gouv app, seller and buyer together
Simplimmat.gouv is the ANTS app that allows a transfer to be declared without a paper form. Both parties must reside in France and use the app together, in each other's presence. The vehicle must be registered in the AA-123-AA format.
Each party validates the declaration on their smartphone. The new holder can then apply for their certificat d'immatriculation and download a provisional certificate to drive for 1 month in France.
The authorised automotive professional
A professional authorised by the Ministry of the Interior can register the transfer on your behalf. You authorise them with cerfa no. 13757 and provide them with the 5-digit confidential number. This service is charged at a fee freely set by the professional.
Documents to be handed over to the buyer on the day of sale
On the day of the sale, the seller gives the buyer the crossed-out certificat d'immatriculation and up to 4 other documents, depending on the declaration channel and the age of the vehicle. Service Public (2026) sets out the list and validity:
| Document | Status | Validity or condition | Where to obtain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crossed-out certificat d'immatriculation | Mandatory | Statement 'sold on' with the date, time and signature | Original or duplicate held by the transferor |
| Copy no. 2 of cerfa 15776 | Mandatory | Completed by both parties | Service Public |
| Transfer code | Mandatory (ANTS website or professional) | Valid for 15 days | Online declaration |
| Certificate of administrative status | Mandatory | Less than 15 days old | |
| Technical inspection report | Mandatory for a car over 4 years old sold to a private individual | Less than 6 months old | Approved inspection centre |
| Service booklet, maintenance invoices | Recommended | None | Previous owner |
The crossed-out certificat d'immatriculation and its detachable coupon
The seller crosses out the certificat d'immatriculation and clearly writes 'sold on', followed by the date, time of transfer and their signature. They fill in the back of the detachable coupon in the buyer's name, without cutting it off, except in the case of a sale to a professional. The guide to crossing out the certificat d'immatriculation details the exact wording.
The detachable coupon allows the buyer to drive for 1 month in France, while waiting for the new document. In the case of a sale abroad, this coupon does not allow driving outside France.
The certificate of administrative status and the technical inspection
The certificate of administrative status, formerly called the certificat de non gage, indicates whether there is a lien or an objection to the transfer of the certificat d'immatriculation. The seller obtains it free of charge from the official State teleservice; the document must be less than 15 days old
For a private car over 4 years old sold to a private individual, the technical inspection report must be less than 6 months old. If a follow-up inspection has been prescribed, the 2-month period for carrying it out must not be exceeded.
Source: Service Public, R20300 and F1707, 2026.
For the buyer: check the history before signing, then register
For the buyer, the certificate of transfer transfers ownership of the vehicle, not its history. Checking the vehicle's past before buying a used car allows you to proceed, renegotiate or withdraw with full knowledge of the facts.
What the transfer does not reveal about the vehicle's history
The form says nothing about accidents, mileage readings or previous uses of the vehicle. However, the seller has a duty to inform: they must disclose the maintenance condition, any defective elements and any accidents, according to Service Public.
First free step: ask for the link to the vehicle's HistoVec report, which shares the administrative status and MOT history. The private sale purchase checklist summarises the other points to check.
A private history report supplements this information, depending on the data available: declared claims, mileage records, changes of owners, professional use. In a test published by Roole in 2026, Autorigin identified previous short-term rental use for the vehicle tested.
No report guarantees the absence of an accident: it complements invoices, the MOT and the vehicle test drive. Before signing, you can check the vehicle's history by its number plate or see a sample report.
The new carte grise with the transfer code
After the sale, the new holder applies for the certificat d'immatriculation (registration certificate) on the ANTS website, using the transfer code provided by the seller. This secures and facilitates the change of holder.
While waiting for the final document, the detachable coupon allows you to drive for 1 month in France. For the steps and cost, see the guide on applying for registration online and the article on driving with a crossed-out carte grise.
Common mistakes and special cases in transfers
Transfer errors most often result from missing the deadline, missing information or a particular situation with the vehicle. Here are the points to check before the sale:
- exceeding the 15-day deadline to declare a transfer;
- forgetting the time of sale on the form and on the crossed-out registration certificate;
- selling with an address that has not been updated: the address change must be made before the sale;
- selling without the registration certificate: in case of loss or theft, first request a duplicate, then sell with this duplicate;
- selling a vehicle under a lease with purchase option: only the lending institution, as owner, can transfer it;
- forgetting a signature when the vehicle has several holders: each co-holder must sign;
- transferring a vehicle for destruction anywhere other than an approved ELV centre, which is the only body authorised to issue the destruction certificate;
- applying the standard procedure to an inheritance: Service Public provides a different process for heirs;
- forgetting to inform the insurer, who will cancel the car insurance contract after the transfer.
Selling or buying with peace of mind: sign, declare, check
A successful used car sale comes down to three steps: complete the cerfa 15776 in 2 copies, declare the transfer to the ANTS within 15 days and hand over the required documents. These official procedures are overseen by Service Public and the form is free of charge.
For the buyer, one step remains before signing: knowing the vehicle's history. HistoVec provides an initial official overview, and Autorigin supplements this information according to the data available. Before committing, check a vehicle before signing the transfer.
With Autorigin, access the essential information to better understand a car's past.
Get a history report