The problem often arises at the worst moment: roadside checks, vehicle sale, or technical inspection. The registration certificate has disappeared, and without this document, the situation quickly becomes complicated. Obtaining a duplicate of the registration certificate involves a digital procedure, with some subtleties that the online process does not always make clear.
Provisional registration certificate: the document that covers the waiting period
When a request for a duplicate is initiated on the ANTS website, the system generates a provisional registration certificate (CPI). This document allows legal circulation while the new title is being produced. In case of a check, it is the CPI that is presented to law enforcement.
The CPI remains valid for one month. In practice, the definitive registration certificate arrives by secure mail well before this deadline expires. Feedback varies on this point: some holders receive their duplicate within a few days, while others wait two to three weeks depending on the workload of the processing service.
If ANTS experiences a technical incident (occasional portal outages, server slowdowns), the CPI remains the reference document to present. It covers the holder until the definitive title is received, including in cases of manufacturing delays due to a technical failure.
To know the status of their request, one can track the progress directly on the official tele-service via FranceConnect or the ANTS account. The tracking displays a detailed status: in progress, in production, or in shipping. This tracking is free.
Declaration of loss and request for duplicate registration certificate on ANTS
The distinction between loss and theft determines the documents to be provided. In the case of simple loss, a loss declaration is filled out directly in the online form. In the case of theft, one must first file a theft report with the police or gendarmerie, then attach this document to the request.
When faced with a lost registration certificate, what to do and cost are the first two questions that come to mind, and the answer lies in a single procedure on the ANTS portal.
To initiate the process, two elements are needed:
- The vehicle registration number (format AA-123-BB or old format).
- Access to FranceConnect (via impots.gouv.fr, Ameli, or La Poste Digital Identity) or the confidential code included in the letter accompanying the old registration certificate, if using a standard ANTS account.
- A payment method by credit card to pay the fixed tax and processing fee.
The cerfa form n°13753*04 can be requested by the processing service in case of theft. For damage, a scan of the damaged document is attached. In case of loss, no physical document is required at the outset, but ANTS may request additional proof during the processing.
Cost of duplicate registration certificate: breakdown of actual fees
The official cost of a duplicate is broken down into two lines. The fixed tax amounts to 11 euros, plus a processing fee of 2.76 euros. The total is therefore 13.76 euros, regardless of the type of vehicle or tax horsepower.
This fee does not vary whether it is a loss, theft, or damage. The same amount is paid in all three cases. The regional tax (Y.1), which often represents the heaviest item during a first registration or a change of ownership, does not apply to the duplicate.
Service providers authorized by the Ministry of the Interior charge service fees in addition to the ANTS rate. These additional fees cover assistance in compiling the file and often faster processing. Using an authorized professional is optional, as the process on the ANTS website is accessible to everyone.
Driving without a registration certificate: what roadside checks say
A vehicle must have its registration certificate to drive on public roads. In the absence of the original document, the CPI downloaded after the duplicate request serves as a temporary proof.
Without a registration certificate or CPI, one risks a fine. The vehicle holder should therefore initiate the online process as soon as the loss is noticed, if only to immediately obtain the provisional certificate.
A concrete point often overlooked: the CPI does not replace the registration certificate for selling a vehicle. As long as the definitive duplicate has not been received, it is impossible to finalize a transfer. If planning to sell, it is better to anticipate the request by a few weeks.
Lost confidential code: unlocking the duplicate request
The confidential code is on the accompanying letter sent with the registration certificate. When this letter has been thrown away or lost along with the title, logging in via a standard ANTS account becomes impossible.
The most direct solution: use FranceConnect. This identification method does not require the confidential code of the registration certificate. One identifies with their tax identifiers, Ameli, or La Poste, and directly accesses the duplicate tele-procedure.
- FranceConnect avoids the blockage related to the lost confidential code.
- The standard ANTS account necessarily requires this code to validate the request.
- If neither of these options works, one can request a new confidential code by mail via the ANTS portal, which extends the delay by a few days.
The duplicate carries the same registration number as the original. No technical or administrative modifications are made to the title: the duplicate reproduces the information of the initial certificate exactly. The mention “duplicate” appears on it, which automatically invalidates the old document in case of reappearance.