Individuals who are resident in Monaco and professionals who are exercising an activity domiciled in Monaco, can register a new vehicle in the Principality.
Understanding the process
The following can register and maintain registration of a new vehicle (*) in the Principality:
- Individuals who are resident in Monaco and can prove their residency by showing either a national ID card or a national passport with proof of address (gas or electricity bill from the SMEG, rental agreement), or a valid residence permit
- For professional use or when assigning a vehicle for professional use by staff, individuals or legal entities authorised to exercise and who are in practice exercising a professional, commercial or industrial activity
Non-trading property companies and non-trading companies whose consultancy or management activities are mainly carried out for the benefit of their founders or members and whose founders or members are not domiciled in the Principality are excluded from registration under the above provisions.
All vehicle registrations are recorded in a register. A certificate of registration and two registration plates to be positioned at the front and rear of the vehicle are issued. A single rear registration plate is issued for trailers, semi-trailer, quadricycles, motorcycles, mopeds, and similar vehicles. However, a front plate can be issued on request for quadricycles.
The front plate features a tapered red and white badge and the letters MC. The badge is positioned to the left of the registration number. The rear plate has a stamp validating the registration and bears the words "Principality of Monaco" in the same horizontal line below the registration number.
Registration plates must be fixed firmly to the vehicle in the locations designated for that purpose.
The certificate and plates indicate the number assigned to the vehicle as well as the validity period of the registration, which will be until 31 December of the current year, or 31 December of the following year if the vehicle is registered between 1 October and 31 December.
Registration can be renewed for another year during the annual renewal period. See the following procedure for details: How to renew your annual car sticker
Should you fail to renew your anual car sticker or validate the periodic technical inspection by the required deadlines, the vehicle will be deregistered in accordance with the conditions established by ministerial decree. The vehicle is no longer authorised to drive on the roads.
In this case, the owner of the vehicle must then return the registration certificate, and pay the relevant administrative fees as stipulated by ministerial decree. See the procedure: How to regularise a vehicle deregistered for failure to renew a registration (car sticker).
In addition, vehicles (except mopeds and similar vehicles) must undergo a periodic technical inspection, details of which are set out in: Technical inspection of vehicules
From 4 January 2023, if the technical inspection is not accepted before the due date, or if the vehicle still has defects after the second inspection, the vehicle is no longer authorised to drive on the roads.
To rectify the situation, you will need to make a new appointment and pay an additional fee. See the factsheet: Regularising a vehicle whose registration has expired ezlocation://51923
In the event that the residence permit is not renewed, the conditions for maintaining registration in the Principality are no longer met and the vehicle will need to be removed from the number plate database according to the procedures set out in the procedure: How to apply for a certificate for registration abroad
Failure to follow these procedures will result in the vehicle being no longer authorised to drive on the roads. The same applies to companies, associations or foundations which have ceased to operate.
There is a fee associated with this service - Please see
The application to register must be sent to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Office using the appropriate form, duly completed and signed on the original.
The form may be:
- Downloaded online
- Collected from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Office
All applications to register a new vehicle must be accompanied by original copies of the following documents and, if necessary, an official translation into French by a sworn translator at a court of appeal in Monaco or France.
Documents must be in French or if they are written in a foreign language, be accompanied by a translation into French, by a sworn translator at the Monaco Court of Appeal or a French Court of Appeal
Where necessary, translations can be made in the country issuing the documents to be translated. In this case, they must be legalised or apostilled.
If the country issuing the documents to be translated is a signatory to the Hague Convention of 5 October 1961, the apostille for the sworn translation can be requested directly from the Court of Appeal where the translator is registered.
If the issuing country is not a signatory to the Hague Convention, diplomatic or consular legalisation of the translation will be required.
The list of sworn translators in the Principality of Monaco is available from the Monaco Court of Appeal, while the list of sworn translators at the French Court of Appeal can be found on the following website www.directory-sworn-translator.com for sworn translators approved by the French Court of Appeal.
Any administrative procedure undertaken at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Office by a third party must be accompanied by a mandate signed by the principal and by supporting documents showing proof of these persons' identities.
The mandate allows the representative to submit and track the progress of the principal’s application(s), but not to sign documents instead of the principal.
- For Monegasque nationals:
- A copy of a valid Monaco national identity card
- Or a copy of a national passport with proof of address (gas or electricity bill from the SMEG, rental agreement) dated within the last 3 months
- For residents: a copy of a valid Residence Permit
- A copy of an invoice which includes:
- A unique invoice number based on a continuous chronological sequence
- The seller’s identity (surname, postal address, postal code and city, Trade and Industry Registry or SIRET number)
- The purchaser’s identity (surname and first name or registered name, postal address, postal code and city)
- A description of the asset sold (must include vehicle serial number and odometer reading where possible)
- Amount (VAT + total incl. taxes)
- If the vehicle has been modified, one of the following documents depending on the circumstances:
- The original additional information to the full European Certificate of Conformity issued by the manufacturer
- The original bodywork certificate (Annex VII) issued by a bodywork specialist approved by the manufacturer
- The original report of the initial conformity check of a vehicle (annexe III) issued by a bodywork specialist approved by the manufacturer
- A copy of the report of individual approval issued by the Regional Directorate for Environment, Urban Planning and Housing of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Region (DREAL)
- The registration application form (see step 1: Formulating the request)
- The original full European certificate of conformity issued by the manufacturer
- The payment, to be made by Visa or Mastercard bank cards only, cheque or postal order (clearable in Monaco or France), made out to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Office and cash, in accordance with the current fee schedule
- For Monegasque nationals:
- A copy of a valid Monaco national identity card
- Or a copy of a national passport with proof of address (gas or electricity bill from the SMEG, rental agreement) dated within the last 3 months
- For residents: a copy of a valid Residence Permit
- A copy of an invoice which includes:
- A unique invoice number based on a continuous chronological sequence
- The seller’s identity (surname, postal address, postal code and city, Trade and Industry Registry or SIRET number)
- The purchaser’s identity (surname and first name or registered name, postal address, postal code and city)
- A description of the asset sold (make and serial number of the vehicle)
- Amount (VAT + total incl. taxes)
The invoice must be for the benefit of one person only. If this is not the case, one of the co-purchasers will need to withdraw, in writing, and attach an original signed copy of a letter to the application, accompanied by a copy of the relevant identity document.
- The registration application form (see step 1: Formulating the request)
- The original full European certificate of conformity issued by the manufacturer
- Or the original certificate of conformity and the original identification certificate for a vehicle conforming to a recognised national or EU type
- Or the original certificate of conformity, and a copy of the report of individual approval issued by the Regional Directorate for Environment, Urban Planning and Housing of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Region (DREAL)
- For modified vehicle, a copy of the report of individual approval issued by the Regional Directorate for Environment, Urban Planning and Housing of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Region (DREAL)
- For vehicles from the European Community (EC), the original certificate of purchase VAT issued by the Department of Tax Services in Monaco
- For vehicles from outside the EC, the original receipt showing payment of customs duties (846A form) issued by the French Customs Authority
- The payment, to be made by Visa or Mastercard bank cards only, cheque or postal order (clearable in Monaco or France), made out to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Office and cash, in accordance with the current fee schedule
To submit your application, you must first make an appointment with an agent of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Office.
You can request an appointment in one of the following three ways:
- Online using the online service made available for this purpose
- By email to circulation@gouv.mc
- By telephone on (+377) 98 98 80 14
The staff of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Office will be waiting for you at the time of the appointment; you should bring with you the documents listed in steps 1 and 2 and your preferred means of payment.
You can find all the information about making an appointment with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Office by following this link
The certificate and registration plates or set of registration plates, if applicable, are available within 72 hours by appointment arranged by the customer manager at the end of the interview and on presentation of the payment receipt (invoice).
You can request an appointment in one of the following three ways:
- Online using the online service made available for this purpose
- By email to circulation@gouv.mc
- By telephone on (+377) 98 98 80 14
You can find all the information about making an appointment with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Office by following this link
See also
See also
Applicative texts
Applicative texts
Administrative contact
23 avenue Albert II
98000 MONACO
Opening hours :
from 9.30am to 5.00pm from Monday to Friday
Phone :
Administrative contact
23 avenue Albert II
98000 MONACO
Opening hours :
from 9.30am to 5.00pm from Monday to Friday
Phone :