Do old French number plates need updating?

Reader Question: We have an old car kept at our second home in France, purchased in 2005 and only used for driving locally when we visit. It has the old style number plates on, but we never see any other vehicles in our area using them. Are we supposed to update to the new version?

France changed its number plate system for vehicles in 2009, switching to the current système d'immatriculation des véhicules or SIV system.

This uses a standard XX-111-XX system, with plates also including a section at the side detailing where the department where the vehicle was registered – the only section that can be altered.

Prior to this, the FNI (Fichier National des Immatriculations) system was used, with number plates using a ‘1234 AB 75’ format, the final two digits corresponding to the department the vehicle was registered in.

Obliging all vehicles to switch plates under the new system was considered but it was eventually decided that new cars would be registered under the SIV system, with older vehicles allowed to keep their FNI-style plate for the time being. 

Fortunately for owners, vehicles with the old style remain roadworthy using their older FNI number plate.

This is provided no administrative change takes place to the vehicle.

In simple terms this refers to any procedure which will involve a new carte grise (certificat d’immatriculation) being issued. 

This includes: 

• The sale of the vehicle or transfer of ownership to a new driver

• Request for a duplicata (copy) of the carte grise

• Modifications such as a change of address or an update in your personal details (such as a change to your name, including a new nom d’usage - the name you use in daily life - if you take your spouse’s name after a marriage)

• When asking for a new carte grise due to the card being stolen or lost.

Note that all changes of address must be notified. Where a car already has SIV plates, the owner will usually be sent a sticker to put on their carte grise showing the new address; in the case of FNI vehicles, you will be sent a new document with a new-format number.

In summary, in any case where a new carte grise is needed, French driving authorities automatically provide an updated, SIV-style registration for the vehicle, with a new number plate number.

You cannot simply request an update to an SIV-style plate.

However, taking the vehicle for a contrôle technique (roadworthiness test) will not see the vehicle given a new number plate.

Data from 2025 suggests that only around 3.4% of French vehicles (around 1.5 million vehicles) still have an FNI-style number plate, significantly below the 20 or so million on the roads as late as 2018.

Around 145,000 of these were classic cars,more than 30 years old.

Some rural departments such as Creuse and Nièvre see slightly higher figures, around 5%, but this is lower in urban departments.