France overhauls vehicle registration system to curb fraud

The French Ministry of the Interior announced a major overhaul of the vehicle registration system (Système d'Immatriculation des Véhicules, SIV) effective 1 August. The reform follows a Cour des comptes audit that identified a loss of about €550 million in tax revenue between 2022 and 2024 due to fraud by shell companies posing as garages. New rules require professional registrars to demonstrate at least three years of experience, meet a minimum volume of operations, and maintain secure storage for documentation. The changes are expected to extend the time needed for citizens to obtain or renew a carte grise and will be fully implemented by 2027.

A practical guide explains the meaning of the "S. 1" field on the registration certificate, which indicates the number of approved seats, including the driver. Accurate S. 1 data is essential for road‑safety checks, insurance, and vehicle weight calculations. Discrepancies between the listed seat count and the actual vehicle configuration can signal undeclared modifications or errors that must be corrected before the vehicle can be legally used.