Frequently asked questions
The collector car.
French paperwork, insurance, originality: the questions we are asked before, during and after a restoration. The rules below are French rules, for cars registered in France; the authorities remain the reference.
French collection registration.
What are the conditions for a French collection registration?
In France, the car must be more than thirty years old, its type must no longer be in production, and its essential technical characteristics must not have been altered. A certificate from the manufacturer or from the French federation of historic vehicles, the FFVE, confirms these points. The document obtained is known as the carte grise collection.
How do you apply for a carte grise collection?
In two steps. First you request a certificate from the FFVE or the manufacturer, with photos and documents of the car. You then apply online for the registration certificate to the ANTS, the French vehicle registration agency, with the certificate attached. The FFVE and the ANTS state the documents required and the fees.
Can a car with a carte grise collection be driven anywhere in France?
Yes: since 2009, the collection registration no longer carries any geographical limit, and the car may be driven throughout France. To drive outside France, check the rules of the country you are visiting.
Can a restored car qualify for collection registration?
Yes, a faithful restoration does not alter its essential technical characteristics. A build that changes the engine or other essential characteristics may, on the other hand, rule it out; the FFVE examines each application. The invoices and photos of a full restoration document the work carried out.
Roadworthiness test and insurance.
How often does a collector car need a French roadworthiness test?
Every five years instead of every two, for a car with a carte grise collection. Collector vehicles first registered before 1 January 1960 are exempt. Without the collection entry on the registration document, the ordinary interval applies. The exact rules, particularly when a car is sold, are published by the French authorities.
Does a collector car need specialist insurance?
It is generally preferable. Policies designed for collector cars often rest on an agreed value, set in advance by an appraisal, rather than a market value argued over after a claim. Some limit the annual mileage or set garaging conditions: compare the terms of each policy.
How is a collector car valued for insurance?
By an appraisal, carried out by an independent expert or by the one the insurer appoints. It rests on the condition of the car and on its file. The detailed invoices and workshop photos we provide show the nature and quality of the work carried out.
Originality and value.
What does “matching numbers” mean?
A “matching numbers” car has kept its original major components, the engine above all, whose numbers match those recorded for its body when it left the factory. Some manufacturers issue a certificate that makes this possible to verify. It is often an important part of a collector car’s value.
Should a collector car be kept original?
For its value, originality often matters: original engine, correct colour and interior, period details. Nothing rules out a car made to be driven, or a bespoke build, as long as the consequences are weighed. If original parts are replaced, it is better to keep them.
Restore or preserve: which should you choose?
It depends on the condition of the car and its history. A sound car with its original paint and interior often gains from being preserved: you maintain, you repair, you do not remake. A car whose body is affected needs restoring. Examination at the workshop settles the question, element by element.
Which documents should be kept with a collector car?
Everything that tells its story: the registration document and earlier ones if you have them, certificates, servicing and restoration invoices, workshop photos, the original service book and manuals, past roadworthiness reports. A complete file reassures a buyer, an insurer and an appraiser. Documented projects: our work.
The collector car.
French paperwork, insurance, originality: the questions we are asked before, during and after a restoration. The rules below are French rules, for cars registered in France; the authorities remain the reference.