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Buying a used car in Belgium and bringing it back to France

By Rédaction Quelle Occasion · updated on 28 October 2026

To drive back to France with a car bought in Belgium, a buyer who lives in France asks the DIV for an X plate (temporary export plate), valid for 30 calendar days. You must also obtain the Car-Pass (mileage history) and the latest registration certificate. This guide only covers what is specific to Belgium; the French procedure is detailed in importing a used car from Europe and the documents needed to import a car.

The Belgian papers to collect

  • The seller's latest registration certificate (CIM), or a police attestation if they no longer have it; without either one, the seller must sort it out with the police;
  • the purchase invoice or sales contract;
  • the Car-Pass, see below.

These items appear on the Belgian mobility administration's page on the X plate (Mobilité – Exporter un véhicule, plaque X, page changed on 08/01/2026).

The X plate for the trip home

The X plate is intended for exporting a vehicle, with a validity of 30 calendar days, except in particular cases (VAT exemption). It is automatically deregistered when it expires. Those who can apply for it include individuals not registered in the National Register and living abroad who bought a vehicle in Belgium in order to export it, which matches a buyer living in France.

Procedure, according to the official page:

  1. Fill in the registration application form (ticking "transit" and "used vehicle"), optionally with the help of an agent (customs agency) or your insurer;
  2. have your insurer affix the yellow sticker on the form;
  3. submit the application at the DIV counters in Brussels (City Atrium, rue du Progrès 60, 1210 Brussels).

The application is made on original documents: no photocopy, even a certified one, is accepted, and a promise to supply documents later is not enough. Documents to attach for a used vehicle: proof of the insurance contract (green card), the latest registration certificate, the invoice or sales contract, proof that the roadworthiness test is still valid, your passport or identity card issued abroad, and a certificate of residence abroad if your ID does not show an address. For fees and delivery, see the DIV's "prices" and "delivery" pages.

Insurance for the trip

The official page requires proof of the insurance contract (green card) and states that not all insurers offer temporary insurance: contact insurers directly before travelling.

The Belgian roadworthiness test

According to the X plate page, for a used vehicle:

  • under 4 years old, and still under 4 years old when the plate's validity ends: no roadworthiness test;
  • over 4 years old with a periodic test still valid at the end of the plate's validity: attach proof of validity;
  • over 4 years old without a valid test: present the vehicle at a testing station; the form issued is valid for two months.

On the French side, service-public.gouv.fr specifies that for a car more than 4 years old, proof of the roadworthiness test must be less than 6 months old at the date of the registration application and may have been carried out in the EU country where the vehicle was registered. See also reading a roadworthiness test report.

The Car-Pass and the history

The Car-Pass shows the vehicle's mileage and maintenance history. The seller is legally required to give the buyer a valid Car-Pass, whether a private individual or a garage, including a foreign private individual; only a professional buyer is exempt. It must not be more than two months old (Car-Pass – Achat d'une voiture d'occasion). Check its authenticity by scanning its QR code or entering its identification number on the Car-Pass website. To cross-check the mileage: mileage of a used car.

Check the car's history: 20% off → (new tab)Partner link

The documented pitfalls

  • Photocopies refused: the DIV only registers the application on original documents;
  • X plate reserved for genuine export: a vehicle registered under an X plate can no longer subsequently be registered under a temporary plate by another holder;
  • Misuse: the holder can no longer obtain a temporary registration for 5 years from the moment the DIV is notified of the facts;
  • Temporary insurance: not all insurers offer it.

For other pitfalls, see recognising a scam.

Then, in France

You have one month to apply for the registration certificate (service-public.gouv.fr). A tax certificate (quitus fiscal) is required for a vehicle bought in another EU country (impots.gouv.fr). Next: registering an imported car and the malus on an imported car.

Sources

Before you buy: check and equip

Check the history

Before paying, check the administrative status (lien, objection, declared claims) and the mileage recorded at the roadworthiness test.

Read fault codes

An OBD scanner plugged in under the steering wheel shows stored fault codes, even with warning lights off: useful during the test drive.

Parts and maintenance

Compare prices of car parts (timing, brakes, filters) to estimate the repairs to plan for.

Insure the car

Insurance prices vary widely from one model to another: get a quote before signing.