Another French region to increase ‘carte grise’ costs in March: what are prices near you?

The cost of registering a vehicle has increased in several French regions in 2026, with Nouvelle-Aquitaine the latest to confirm price increases.

On March 1, the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region will raise the regional ‘CV’ tax by €5, with vehicle registration costing €58 per CV level in addition to other relevant costs.

The increase applies to the cost of vehicle registration (certificat d’immatriculation, often referred to as the carte grise) for both new and used vehicles.

As of February 2026, seven French regions have reached the maximum national cap on this section of the fee.

How do the carte grise charges work?

The registration cost is made up of three major components – a flat €11 fee, weight and pollution taxes (the 'malus' system), and an additional fee included by regional authorities where the vehicle is being registered. Vehicles used for commercial purposes have an additional fourth component.

The regional fee is based on the horsepower tax (cheval fiscal or CV) system, with the cost based on the ‘CV’ level a vehicle reaches. 

The more powerful the vehicle, the higher its ‘CV’ score. For new vehicles this information will be available during the purchasing process (and you can ask the dealership for this), and for second-hand cars in section P.6 of the previous carte grise.

There is a national €60 cap on the tax per ‘CV’ level.

A government simulator to assess the cost of registering a vehicle is available here.

Seven regions at maximum limit for registration costs

In the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, the per-CV tax increased by €1 in January 2026, reaching the €60 limit.

In the overseas region of Réunion, a €3 increase in the tax in February 2026 also saw this limit reached.

These regions joined the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, Brittany, Centre-Val de Loire, Grand Est, and Normandy in charging the €60 cap per CV level.

Occitanie charges €59.50 per level.

Regions which charge less include Hauts-de-France (€42), Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (€43), the Pays de la Loire (€51) and Corsica (€53) as of January 2026.

The Île-de-France capital region is unique as although it has a base cost of €54.95 for registering a vehicle, new rules included in the 2026 budget see additional surcharges, up to €14 in 2026, and then €12 in 2027.

Why the increase?

The increase in vehicle registration costs over recent years has been caused in part by budgetary constraints in other areas impacting French regions. 

Regions are free to set the costs – up to the legal limit – with funds being collected and spent at the regional level. 

In Corsica, registration costs increased from €43 to €53 in January 2026, a move which authorities say will raise an additional €4 million in annual revenue. 

In Nouvelle-Aquitaine, the incoming changes should see around €14 million added to the region’s annual budget. 

In the Île-de-France region, the increased costs are being used to address an €88 million funding shortfall for the Île-de-France Mobilités (IDFM) public transport body, caused by an end to certain regional fuel taxes. 

In discussions for the 2026 budget, Senators voted to increase the maximum regional CV tax from €60 to €70 per level. 

The government decided not to include this when passing the budget.