A vehicle leased by its owner, the lessor, to a lessee, must be registered in the rental vehicle series.
Understanding the process
A vehicle leased by its owner, the lessor, to a lessee, must be registered in the rental vehicle series.
There are two types of rental:
Short-term rental:
Short-term rental allows for the provision of a vehicle for a period of one year or less.
Natural or legal persons who are authorised in their corporate purpose to undertake short-term rental activity, and who are domiciled in the Principality, are eligible to register a short-term rental vehicle in the Principality and retain this registration.
No condition of residence in the Principality is required for the lessees of these vehicles.
Long-term rental:
Long-term rental allows for the provision of a vehicle for a period of more than one year in return for the payment of a sum of money for rental.
The following are eligible to register and retain long-term rental vehicles in the Principality:
- Banks or credit institutions offering the financing of a leasing contract with a purchase option or leasing for more than one year and owners of the vehicle purchased on behalf of the lessee, including:
- The main establishment of a Financial Institution domiciled in Monaco
- Or the main establishment of a Financial Institution domiciled in France and a secondary establishment, of whatever nature, in Monaco
- Legal entities that own vehicles and offer long-term rental contracts of more than one year, with regard to which:
- The main establishment domiciled in Monaco
- Or the main establishment domiciled in France and a secondary establishment, of whatever nature, in Monaco
The lessee of a vehicle registered for long-term rental must be domiciled in the Principality of Monaco.
All series registrations for short- or long-term rental are recorded in a register of registrations and give rise to the issue of a certificate and a pair of front and rear registration plates with a sticker. The only exceptions are trailers, semi-trailers, quadricycles, motorcycles, mopeds and similar vehicles that have only one rear registration plate; however, a front registration plate may be issued on request.
The words "long-term rental" or "short-term rental" are mentioned on the registration certificate. In the case of long-term rental, the names of the lessor and the lessee are also shown on the registration certificate; any change of lessee must be notified to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Office, so that the file can be updated.
The registration plates must be fixed so that they are irremovable in the places provided for this purpose.
The certificate and registration plates indicate the number assigned to the vehicle and the period of validity of the registration, which is time-limited to 31 December of the current year, or 31 December of the following year if the registration is made between 1 October and 31 December.
Registration can be renewed for another year during the annual renewal period. See the following factsheet for details: How to renew your annual car sticker
In addition, vehicles must undergo a periodic technical inspection, details of which are set out in: Technical inspection of vehicules
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 both cases, 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) and How to regularise a vehicle that has been deregistered following a failure to complete a technical visit
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 form, duly completed and signed on the original.
The form may be:
- Downloaded online
- Collected from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Office
All applications to register a vehicle must be accompanied by the following documents:
- A copy of the Trade and Industry Registry, dated of less than 3 months, identifying the lessor
- A copy of the rental contract (not handwritten) specifying the make and serial number of the vehicle and the identity and signature of the lessor and the lessee
- The lessor : A copy of the Trade and Industry Registry, dated of less than 3 months
- The Lessee :
- For Monegasque nationals: a copy of a valid Monaco national identity card, or a copy of a valid national passport with proof of address (gas or electricity bill from the SMEG, rental agreement) dated of less than 3 months
- For residents: a copy of a valid residence permit
- Or a copy of 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 original registration certificate
- A copy of the new rental contract
- The original documents relating to the vehicle, a list of which is available in step 2 (Collating the documents) of the procedures: How to register a new vehicle and How to register a used vehicle. Accompanied, if relevant, by an official translation into French by a sworn translator at a court of appeal in Monaco or France
- A list of sworn translators in the Principality of Monaco is available from the Monaco Court of Appeal or on the website wwww.directory-sworn-translator.com for sworn translators approved by the French Court of Appeal
- 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
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.
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, 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).
If a collection date is not agreed during the appointment to submit your application, 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 :