France car history check by VIN.
In France, a badly damaged car can be repaired and sold again without the ad saying so. With the VIN you see the damage claims found, the mileage and the services. You check the French papers and the technical inspection separately.
See which car it is for free. You only pay if you want the full report.
- The accident
- VGE
- The repair
- The expert
- The ad
Véhicule gravement endommagé: the damage affects safety. The car can no longer be driven, and its registration is blocked until the repair.
The car isn't on sale yet.
If the assessment was a total loss, the report marks it in red.
How a French total-loss record appears in a VIN report.
This sample vehicle history report uses example data for a 2019 BMW 320d declared a total loss in France in January 2022 and later imported into Romania. Select the January 2022 damage entry to review the four key details.
- 1Country and date
The flag and month show where and when the claim was opened.
- 2Damaged areas
On the car diagram and in the list below it. At the viewing, start with them.
- 3Estimated cost
It comes from the damage assessment, not from an invoice. The colour shows how big it is.
- 4Total loss
Marked in red, on the damage record and in the report summary.
Romania
FrontFranceRight sideLeft sideRearFrontFront
Contrôle technique: read the report.
The French technical inspection sorts defects into three levels. The level tells you whether the car had to go back for a re-test.
Defects affecting safety or the environment. The car must be repaired and re-tested (contre-visite) within 2 months.
Ask for the contre-visite report. Without it, you don't know whether the defects were fixed.
- 4 years
- The first inspection, from first registration. Then every 2 years.
- 6 months
- How recent the inspection must be when selling a car over 4 years old.
- km
- The mileage is noted on every inspection report. Put it next to the chart in the Certcar report.
The papers you receive at the sale.
Six documents and who gives you each. The last one only matters if the car had serious damage.
The registration document. The VIN is in field E. At the sale, the seller crosses it out, writes "Vendu le …" with the date and time, and signs.
The declaration of sale, filled in and signed by both of you. You keep one copy.
The report the seller generates on the official French website. It shows the administrative status: owners, liens or blocks.
The result of the last inspection, with the mileage. If it lists major defects, also ask for the contre-visite.
Services and repairs. Bodywork invoices say more than any statement.
Only if the car was a VGE or total loss: the report confirming the repair.
From France to registration at home.
Three stages. The report helps with the first; the papers carry you through all of them.
In France
- Check the history by VIN before the trip, then the car at an independent garage.
- The VIN on the car must be the same as on the registration certificate and in the Histovec report.
- You both sign the certificat de cession. You pay once you have all the papers.
On the road
- Choose between transport on a trailer and temporary plates. Ask beforehand which papers and insurance each option requires.
- Photograph the dashboard when you set off, so you have the starting mileage.
At home
- In Romania, the RAR authenticity check comes first and you receive the vehicle identity card; other countries have their own registration checks.
- Ask your local registration office which documents it needs.
- After registration in Romania, the report for the same VIN can also show the ITP inspection and mileage from the Romanian vehicle register.
Questions about cars from France.
See all frequently asked questionsAlso check.
Buying a car from France?
Check the damage record before the deposit and the trip.