For various reasons, an owner may give away their car for free. While the donation itself is a simple act, the administrative procedures are more complex. To formalize a vehicle donation, certain steps must be taken.
Prerequisites for Giving A Car for Free
As a vehicle owner, you have the right to transfer ownership of your car to a third party free of charge. Even though the donation is free of charge, certain conditions must be met to make it official.
Have a valid vehicle registration document (carte grise) before giving it away From an administrative standpoint,giving away and selling a vehicle are similar. If you wish to give away your car, make sure that the paperwork is in order. The
vehicle registration document (carte grise) must be in your name and at your current address. This means that a leased car cannot be given away.
If the vehicle is registered in the name of several people, the agreement of each of them will be required. If the gift is intended for your child or someone else in your circle,
check the vehicle registration document (carte grise) for a change of ownership to ensure the vehicle’s paperwork is up to date. Provide a valid vehicle inspection report to give away your car.
vehicles that have been in circulation for more than four years,
with some exceptions. These exceptions include classic cars, caravans, vehicles registered to diplomatic services, etc. Note that a vehicle inspection report is valid for six months. If yours is older than this, you will be responsible for the cost of a new inspection. However, nothing can prevent the donation from going through, whether the car is declared compliant or not. https://www.youtube.com/embed/7atr6KeJEuY
Have a vehicle history report (certificat de situation administrative)
The vehicle registration certificate is also known as a lien-free certificate. This means that a car with a lien against it as collateral for a loan cannot be given away. If you plan to give away your car, you will therefore need to be able to provide a certificate dated within the last 15 days. This document will be useful to the new owner if they plan to sell the vehicle. Formalities during a vehicle donationThe administrative formalities and the handover of documents to the new owner will formalize the vehicle donation. Any owner wishing to give away their vehicle is required to inform the administrative services within 15 days of the donation. The new owner then has 30 days to register the car in their name.
Declaration of vehicle transfer
To declare a donation, go to the ANTS (National Agency for Secure Documents) website and provide the following information:The vehicle registration number;
- Information about the future buyer;
- Information concerning the donation (the precise date it took place, the vehicle’s mileage, and the buyer’s address).
Following the transfer declaration, the platform will provide you with a transfer code. It will also send you a form to complete. This process is free for the recipient. The buyer, however, will be responsible for the costs associated with replacing the vehicle registration document.
Handing over the documents to the new owner
The vehicle’s documents are handed over to its new owner once the administrative formalities have been completed. You will then provide them with the crossed-out registration document, marked “transferred on,” the date, and your signature. This releases you from all liability regarding the vehicle. In addition to the vehicle registration document, you are required to hand over the previously mentioned documents, as well as the vehicle’s service history. Of course, the car keys will also be handed over at this time.
The donation will then be official once both parties have signed the transfer declaration. Each party is required to register their copy with the ANTS (National Agency for Secure Documents). At this stage, you will need the transfer code provided by the platform. If you do not wish to register online, you can go to a service provider authorized by the Ministry of the Interior. The new owner can then complete the necessary formalities to obtain a new vehicle registration document.
Donating a vehicle due to death
In the event of the owner’s death, the person who benefited from the vehicle can donate it. This can only be done within three months of the death. However, a car that has not been driven since the owner’s death can be donated. Required Documents
The documents required for a car donation due to death are almost identical to those for a “normal” donation.
A beneficiary can therefore act as the owner even if the vehicle registration document (V5C) is not in their name. This is only possible with the agreement of all the heirs, if there are several. To benefit from this status, you need a certificate of heirship or a signed attestation designating you as such. Then, obtain the vehicle’s administrative status certificate and the vehicle inspection report. The original, crossed-out V5C must also be included in the car transfer file. Issuing a Transfer Certificate
As the donor of the vehicle, you are required to obtain a transfer certificate from the ANTS (National Agency for Secure Documents). The document issued by the website must be given to the new owner of the car. Sometimes, heirs may register the car in their name before later deciding to donate it. In this case, the donation procedure follows the standard process mentioned earlier, as they are the legal owners. Donating a vehicle is a process subject to administrative formalities. To register the vehicle, the new owner will need all the car’s documents. Even if the transfer is to a relative, the procedures must be followed so that they can obtain a registration certificate in their name. In the case of a donation due to death, the heirs can act as owners and finalize the transfer. Providing a valid vehicle inspection report
In addition to the vehicle registration document, you are required to provide the buyer with a valid vehicle inspection report. This applies to vehicles that have been in circulation for more than four years, with some exceptions. These exceptions include classic cars, caravans, vehicles registered to diplomatic services, etc. Note that a vehicle inspection report is valid for six months. If yours is more than six months old, you will have to have the vehicle inspected again at your own expense. However, nothing can prevent the transfer of ownership from proceeding, whether the vehicle is declared compliant or not.
