Step-by-step guide to buying a motorhome in France

Document Checklist

To navigate the whole process of buying and registering a motorhome in France you will need to provide the following documents at various stages.

For the société civile:

• Valid passport
• Proof of current address from your country of residence (mobile phone contract, utility bill or property rates only)
• Birth certificate (unless city of birth is stated on your passport)
• Marriage certificate (if applicable)

For an insurance quote:

• Valid driving licence
• If non-EU, an International driving permit provided by your country of residence (category B stamp for 3500kg motorhomes, category C stamp for above)
• Proof of no claims discount provided by your country of residence (standard vehicle policies are accepted)
• If possible, to maximise your premium discount, a statement from your insurer detailing your full history of claims / absence of claims

Before committing to a vehicle purchase, be sure you have:

• Your société civile KBIS document from the completed registration process
• Insurance quote which we arrange for you

Domicile Address

When purchasing a motorhome in France you will need to produce proof of an address here — often the problem for non-residents. This is where our motorhome registration method comes in.

Although non-residents cannot purchase a motorhome directly, they are permitted to set up a legal structure called a société civile. This legal entity has a specific, non-commercial activity attached to it — in this case owning and driving a motorhome.

In partnership with our accountant, this société civile is created in your name with a domicile address they provide and manage here in France. At completion, you are provided with documentation (KBIS) that you can use to complete the carte grise registration and take full ownership of your preferred motorhome.

This process is currently taking between 4–8 weeks. We recommend starting the application as early in the trip planning as possible to avoid timing issues.

Finding Your Vehicle

We can fully support and guide you through the process of buying a motorhome in France under our motorhome purchase service.

View our motorhomes and campervans currently for sale.

It is also possible to purchase through any other dealer in France. We have at least some experience of most dealerships and can direct you to the most reputable and reliable.

Insurance

When you have identified the vehicle you want and before agreeing on the purchase, you’ll need to obtain an insurance quote in the name of the société civile ahead of time to ensure you qualify for coverage.

We will instruct our English-speaking AXA or Allianz agency to draft a quote for you and handle the entire process including activation, documentation and payment.

If you don’t intend to travel far, you can reduce your premium with a 7,000 km or 9,000 km yearly limit.

Carte Grise

Once a vehicle is paid for in full, it is necessary to complete the carte grise registration change documents. If the vehicle is new, a temporary certificate will be issued to allow for insurance followed by the full version a few weeks later. If used, the old carte grise will be crossed out and application forms for a new one prepared.

It is important to check at each stage that any drafted paperwork is in the name of the société civile and its correspondence address, not any personal names.

We recommend buying from dealers wherever possible as they will handle this process for you. If buying privately it is the responsibility of the buyer and the seller to both sign and submit their relevant documents.

Receipt of Documentation

Both the carte grise and insurance certificate will be posted to your société civile’s registered address where you can pick it up in person or have it forwarded to you by mail.

A very convenient option is to use La Poste and have it sent to a post office in the area you plan to be staying. You simply take your ID and collect it within 15 days.

Handover Day

Taking delivery of your motorhome in France is an exciting milestone — but it’s also a day that requires a bit of planning to ensure things go smoothly. We’ll provide guidance on what to expect and how to prepare for a smooth and stress-free pickup.

Driving in France

After all the hard work, you are now fully registered, insured and the proud owner of your motorhome. The road awaits — but before you depart, read through our driving a motorhome in France section covering the basic mandatory insurance and road rules.