The passage to mines refers to the technical inspection procedure by which the DREAL (or the DRIEAT in Île-de-France) verifies that an imported vehicle complies with French and European standards before it can receive a registration certificate. For a vehicle purchased abroad, this step conditions everything that follows: without it, there is no registration, no legal circulation in France.
Single vehicle approval and Regulation (EU) 2018/858: what changes in the absence of a COC
When a vehicle has been approved in the European Union, its manufacturer can provide a European Certificate of Conformity (COC). This document certifies that the model complies with community standards. With a valid COC, the passage to mines is generally not required: the registration request goes directly through the ANTS.
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The problem arises for vehicles imported from outside the EU, or for certain local versions of models that are sold in Europe (Japanese, American, Middle Eastern versions). These vehicles do not have a COC. Since the entry into force of Regulation (EU) 2018/858, single vehicle approval (RTI) at DREAL has become almost systematic for these cases, including for common models like American SUVs.
In practice, understanding the steps for the passage to mines for a foreign car first requires checking whether the vehicle has a COC or not. It is this document, or its absence, that determines the complexity of the administrative process.
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DREAL inspection or UTAC orientation: two levels of approval to distinguish
The RTI at DREAL consists of a visual and documentary examination of the vehicle. The inspector checks the compliance of safety and lighting equipment, emission levels, and the consistency between the technical documents provided and the vehicle presented.
For a vehicle imported from outside the EU that is already registered in a third country, the absence of a complete manufacturer’s certificate of conformity increasingly leads to a referral for UCA/UTAC approval. This second level involves physical tests (noise, braking, pollution) conducted by an accredited laboratory. The cost then rises by several hundred euros, and the delays extend by several weeks compared to a simple RTI.
The distinction between these two processes is rarely explained clearly in online guides, yet it radically changes the budget and timeline for importation.
Frequent blocking points in RTI
Feedback from owners of recent American vehicles indicates a marked increase in refusals or reservations on modifications deemed minor. The most common non-compliances concern equipment details:
- Lights and side repeaters not CE approved, or absent side repeaters on US versions
- Speedometer calibrated only in mph, without graduation in km/h
- Absence of rear fog lights, mandatory in Europe but not in the United States
- Glass markings not compliant with European requirements
Each of these points can lead to an RTI refusal. Compliance must be achieved before presenting the vehicle, not after a first refusal, or else the passage fees will have to be paid again.
CO₂ penalty and weight tax on an imported vehicle: a taxation often underestimated
Technical approval is only part of the actual cost. The combination of CO₂ penalty and weight tax applies to imported vehicles upon their first registration in France, including used vehicles. Many import guides limit themselves to the classic ecological penalty, but the additional weight tax heavily penalizes heavy foreign SUVs.
A large American pickup or an imported German 4×4 can thus end up with a tax bill much higher than what the buyer had anticipated. This calculation should be made before the purchase, not at the time of the registration request.
Tax declaration: the tax office before the ANTS
Before any registration request, the imported used vehicle must be declared at the tax office within a maximum of 15 days after its arrival in France. This step, sometimes forgotten, is mandatory. The tax clearance obtained certifies that the VAT has been paid or that the vehicle is exempt. Without this document, the ANTS file will be rejected.
ANTS file for an imported vehicle: documents and sequence to follow
Once the RTI (or UTAC approval) is successful and the tax clearance is in hand, the registration request is made online on the ANTS website. The file requires a precise list of documents:
- The cerfa 13750*07, which serves both as a registration request and a certificate of conformity
- The RTI report issued by the DREAL (or the UTAC approval report)
- The tax clearance from the tax office
- The valid French technical inspection certificate for vehicles over four years old
- An identity document, proof of residence, and an insurance certificate
The legal deadline is one month to register a foreign vehicle. Driving beyond this deadline without a French registration certificate exposes one to a fine.
The foreign technical inspection is not recognized in France. Even if the vehicle had a valid inspection in its country of origin, a new French technical inspection must be carried out if the vehicle is over four years old.
The most costly mistake remains to start the purchase of a vehicle from outside the EU without having checked the availability of a COC from the manufacturer. This single verification, which takes a few days, determines whether the importation will be an administrative formality or a homologation process lasting several months with significant technical costs.