France imposes stricter vehicle registration rules for professionals on Aug 1

From 1 August 2026, French authorities will tighten access to the national vehicle‑registration system (SIV) for licensed professionals. Renewals of SIV authorisations will no longer be automatic; firms must submit explicit requests, demonstrate at least three years of legal existence, adopt secure digital archiving of client documents, and meet a minimum activity threshold.

The measures aim to curb widespread fraud uncovered by the Cour des comptes, which estimated losses of €550 million in uncollected taxes and €255 million in unpaid fines between 2022 and 2024. Roughly one million vehicles – about 1.7 % of the French fleet – were irregularly registered, often through “ghost garages” that vanished after collecting fees. The reforms target these temporary companies and are a pre‑condition for a broader overhaul of the SIV planned for 2027.