Individuals who are resident in Monaco and professionals who are exercising an activity domiciled in Monaco, can register a used vehicle in the Principality.
Understanding the process
The following can register and maintain registration of a used vehicle in the Principality:
- Individuals who are resident in Monaco and can prove their residency by showing either a national ID card or a national passport with proof of address (gas or electricity bill from the SMEG, rental agreement), or a valid residence permit
- For professional use or when assigning a vehicle for professional use by staff, individuals or legal entities authorised to exercise and who are in practice exercising a professional, commercial or industrial activity
Non-trading property companies and non-trading companies whose consultancy or management activities are mainly carried out for the benefit of their founders or members and whose founders or members are not domiciled in the Principality are excluded from registration under the above provisions.
All registrations are recorded in a registration register. A certificate and two registration plates to be positioned at the front and rear of the vehicle will be issued.
A single rear registration plate is issued for trailers, semi-trailer, quadricycles, motorcycles, mopeds, and similar vehicles. However, a front plate can be issued on request for quadricycles.
The front plate features a tapered red and white badge and the letters MC. The badge is positioned to the left of the registration number. The rear plate has a stamp validating the registration and bears the words "Principality of Monaco" in the same horizontal line below the registration number.
Registration plates must be fixed firmly to the vehicle in the locations designated for that purpose.
This certificate and the plates indicate the number assigned to the vehicle as well as the validity period of the registration, which will be until 31 December of the current year, or 31 December of the following year if the vehicle is registered between 1 October and 31 December.
Registration can be renewed for another year during the annual renewal period. See the following procedure for details: How to renew your annual car sticker
Should you fail to renew your anual car sticker or validate the periodic technical inspection by the required deadlines, the vehicle will be deregistered in accordance with the conditions established by ministerial decree. The vehicle is no longer authorised to drive on the roads.
In this case, the owner of the vehicle must then return the registration certificate, and pay the relevant administrative fees as stipulated by ministerial decree. The registration plates must also be returned if the vehicle has been deregistered following a failure to complete a technical visit. See the procedures: How to regularise a vehicle deregistered for failure to renew a registration (car sticker)
In addition, vehicles (except mopeds and similar vehicles) must undergo a periodic technical inspection, details of which are set out in: Technical inspection of vehicules
From 4 January 2023, if the technical inspection is not accepted before the due date, or if the vehicle still has defects after the second inspection, the vehicle is no longer authorised to drive on the roads.
To rectify the situation, you will need to make a new appointment and pay an additional fee. See the factsheet: Regularising a vehicle whose registration has expired
The procedure for cessation of activity will result in the closure and cessation of the activity. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Office must then be informed and the relevant vehicle registration certificates and plates returned.
Any vehicle that is more than 30 years old can be registered as a vintage car at the request of the owner. Vehicles registered as vintage cars may only be driven on an occasional basis at rallies or other events where the participation of a specific type of vehicle is required
They may also, however, be driven in the Principality under the same conditions as vehicles registered as standard cars.
When owners of vintage cars need to drive these vehicles outside the Principality to take them to the locations where rallies or other events are being held, they must complete a declaration in triplicate. This declaration must be torn from a book containing 24 numbered pages. Each page includes three sections in which the declarations must be completed.
The first two sections, or sections A and B, must be sent to the Police Department and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Office respectively, at least three days before the date of departure of the vehicles indicated in the declaration, with the postmark serving as proof. The third section, section C, must be retained by the drivers and presented in the event of a check.
There is a fee associated with this service - Please see
The application to register must be sent to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Office using the appropriate forms, duly completed and signed on the original by the person legally responsible (named on the Trade & Industry Register/Articles of Association), who must include a copy of their identification document.
The forms may be:
- Downloaded online
- Collected from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Office
All applications to register a used vehicle must be accompanied by original copies of the following documents.
Documents must be in French or if they are written in a foreign language, be accompanied by a translation into French, by a sworn translator at the Monaco Court of Appeal or a French Court of Appeal
Where necessary, translations can be made in the country issuing the documents to be translated. In this case, they must be legalised or apostilled.
If the country issuing the documents to be translated is a signatory to the Hague Convention of 5 October 1961, the apostille for the sworn translation can be requested directly from the Court of Appeal where the translator is registered.
If the issuing country is not a signatory to the Hague Convention, diplomatic or consular legalisation of the translation will be required.
The list of sworn translators in the Principality of Monaco is available from the Monaco Court of Appeal, while the list of sworn translators at the French Court of Appeal can be found on the following website: www.annuaire-traducteur-assermente
Any administrative procedure undertaken at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Office by a third party must be accompanied by a mandate signed by the principal and by supporting documents showing proof of these persons' identities.
The mandate allows the representative to submit and track the progress of the principal’s application, but not to sign documents instead of the principal.
- A copy of an extract from the Trade and Industry Registry dated within the last 3 months
- Or the articles of association (for non-trading companies whose consultancy or management activities are mainly carried out for the benefit of their founders or members, a copy of the Monegasque identity card or valid residence permit for all the founders and members) / ministerial authorisation to operate a business in the Principality + certificate of listing in the NIS (statistical identification number) register dated of less than 3 months
- The form (see step 1 Formulating the request)
- The previous original registration certificate
- The previous original registration plates
- A copy of the report of a technical inspection passed no more than six months ago in Monaco for cars with a GVWR of less than or equal to 3,5 tonnes and which are more than 4 years old, and for vehicles with a GVWR of more than 3,5 tonnes and which are more than 1 year old
- The payment, to be made by Visa or Mastercard bank cards only, cheque or postal order (clearable in Monaco or France), made out to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Office and cash, in accordance with the current fee schedule
- An original signed certificate of sale or transfer, in the case of a vehicle sold by an individual or an entity that is not VAT-registered
- Or a copy of an invoice for a vehicle sold by a legal entity or individual business (garage or company) or an entity that is not VAT-registered, including:
- A unique invoice number based on a continuous chronological sequence
- The seller’s identity (surname, postal address, postal code and city, Trade and Industry Registry or SIRET number)
- The purchaser’s identity (surname and first name or registered name, postal address, postal code and city)
- A description of the asset sold (must include vehicle serial number and odometer reading where possible)
- Amount
- The original bodywork certificate (Annex VII) issued by a bodywork specialist approved by the manufacturer
- The original report of the initial conformity check of a vehicle (annexe III) issued by a bodywork specialist approved by the manufacturer
- A copy of the report of individual or single vehicle type approval issued by the Regional Directorate for Environment, Urban Planning and Housing of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Region (DREAL)
NB: In the case of a second-hand vehicle registered in Monaco and purchased at a public auction, the certificate of sale may be replaced by a certificate of auction including the note "sold with registration certificate" or "sold without registration certificate".
- A copy of an extract from the Trade and Industry Registry dated of less than 3 months
- Or the articles of association/ministerial authorisation to operate a business in the Principality + certificate of listing in the NIS (statistical identification number) register dated of less than 3 months
- The form (see step 1 Formulating the request)
- The previous registration certificate for the vehicle, which must be legible and in good condition, and on which the holder has written, clearly and indelibly, the words "sold on (date of sale)"
- A copy of a no-pledge certificate dated within the last 15 days, issued by the relevant authorities
- A copy of the report of a technical inspection passed no more than six months ago in Monaco for cars with a GVWR of less than or equal to 3,5 tonnes and which are more than 4 years old, and for vehicles with a GVWR of more than 3,5 tonnes and which are more than 1 year old
- The payment, to be made by Visa or Mastercard bank cards only, cheque or postal order (clearable in Monaco or France), made out to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Office and cash, in accordance with the current fee schedule
- An original signed certificate of sale or transfer, in the case of a vehicle sold by an individual or an entity that is not VAT-registered
- Or a copy of an invoice, for a vehicle sold by a legal entity or individual business (garage or company) or an entity that is not VAT-registered, including:
- A unique invoice number based on a continuous chronological sequence
- The seller’s identity (surname, postal address, postal code and city, Trade and Industry Registry or SIRET number)
- The purchaser’s identity (surname and first name or registered name, postal address, postal code and city)
- A description of the asset sold (must include vehicle serial number and odometer reading where possible)
- Amount
- A copy of the declaration of purchase receipt, if the registration certificate (carte grise) is not in the name of the professional car dealer
- A copy of the declaration showing that the vehicle is no longer used for demonstration purposes, in the case of "demonstration vehicles"
- The original bodywork certificate (Annex VII) issued by a bodywork specialist approved by the manufacturer
- The original report of the initial conformity check of a vehicle (annexe III) issued by a bodywork specialist approved by the manufacturer
- A copy of the report of individual or single vehicle type approval issued by the Regional Directorate for Environment, Urban Planning and Housing of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Region (DREAL)
NB: In the case of a second-hand vehicle registered in France and purchased at a public auction, the certificate of sale may be replaced by a certificate of auction including the note "sold with registration certificate" or "sold without registration certificate". If the previous registration certificate is not available, one of the following documents must be provided:
- A vehicle identification document for a vehicle (document which summarises the technical characteristics)
- Or a copy of the report of individual or single vehicle type approval issued by the Regional Directorate for Environment, Urban Planning and Housing of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Region (DREAL)
- A copy of an extract from the Trade and Industry Registry dated of less than 3 months
- Or the articles of association (for non-trading companies whose consultancy or management activities are mainly carried out for the benefit of their founders or members, a copy of the Monegasque identity card or valid residence permit for all the founders and members) / ministerial authorisation to operate a business in the Principality + certificate of listing in the NIS (statistical identification number) register dated of less than 3 months
- The form (see step 1 Formulating the request)
- The previous original registration certificate issued by the relevant authorities in the country of origin or an equivalent original official document if held by the authorities in the country of origin
- If appropriate, an original certificate of ownership and an original certificate showing deregistration issued by the relevant authorities in the country of origin
- A copy of the Full European certificate of conformity issued by the manufacturer. Alternatively, this can be provided in the form of an electronic document with a manufacturer’s certificate of authenticity
- Or the identification certificate for an imported used vehicle conforming to a recognised type in the EU /original identification certificate for an imported vehicle conforming to a recognised type in France issued by the manufacturer
- Or a copy of the Fédération Française des véhicules d’époque (French Vintage Car Federation) certificate for vehicles that are more than 30 years old
- Or a copy of the report of individual or single vehicle type approval issued by the Regional Directorate for Environment, Urban Planning and Housing of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Region (DREAL)
- A copy of the report of a technical inspection passed no more than six months ago in Monaco for cars with a GVWR of less than or equal to 3,5 tonnes and which are more than 4 years old, and for vehicles with a GVWR of more than 3,5 tonnes and which are more than 1 year old
- For modified and rebuilt vehicles, a copy of the report of individual or single vehicle type approval issued by the Regional Directorate for Environment, Urban Planning and Housing of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Region (DREAL)
- For vehicles from the European Community (EC), the original certificate of purchase/VAT exemption issued by the Department of Tax Services in Monaco
- For vehicles from outside the EC, the original receipt showing payment of customs duties (846A form) issued by the French Customs Authority
- The payment, to be made by Visa or Mastercard bank cards only, cheque or postal order (clearable in Monaco or France), made out to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Office and cash, in accordance with the current fee schedule
- An original signed certificate of sale or transfer, in the case of a vehicle sold by an individual or an entity that is not VAT-registered
- Or a copy of an invoice for a vehicle sold by a legal entity or individual business (garage or company) or an entity that is not VAT-registered, including:
- A unique invoice number based on a continuous chronological sequence
- The seller’s identity (surname, postal address, postal code and city, Trade and Industry Registry or SIRET number)
- The purchaser’s identity (surname and first name or registered name, postal address, postal code and city)
- A description of the asset sold (must include vehicle serial number and odometer reading where possible)
- Amount
NB: In the case of a second-hand vehicle registered abroad (outside France) and purchased at a public auction, the certificate of sale may be replaced by a certificate of auction including the note "sold with registration certificate" or "sold without registration certificate". If the previous registration certificate is not available, one of the following documents must be provided:
- A vehicle identification document for a vehicle (document which summarises the technical characteristics)
- Or a copy of the report of individual or single vehicle type approval issued by the Regional Directorate for Environment, Urban Planning and Housing of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Region (DREAL)
To submit your application, you must first make an appointment with an agent of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Office.
You can request an appointment in one of the following three ways:
- Online using the online service made available for this purpose
- By email to circulation@gouv.mc
- By telephone on (+377) 98 98 80 14
The staff of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Office will be waiting for you at the time of the appointment; you should bring with you the documents listed in steps 1 and 2 and your preferred means of payment.
You can find all the information about making an appointment with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Office by following this link
The certificate and registration plates or set of registration plates, if applicable, are available within 72 hours by appointment arranged by the customer manager at the end of the interview and on presentation of the payment receipt (invoice).
You can request an appointment in one of the following three ways:
- Online using the online service made available for this purpose
- By email to circulation@gouv.mc
- By telephone on (+377) 98 98 80 14
You can find all the information about making an appointment with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Office by following this link
See also
See also
Applicative texts
Applicative texts
Administrative contact
23 avenue Albert II
98000 MONACO
Opening hours :
from 9.30am to 5.00pm from Monday to Friday
Phone :
Administrative contact
23 avenue Albert II
98000 MONACO
Opening hours :
from 9.30am to 5.00pm from Monday to Friday
Phone :