How to cross out a car registration certificate when selling a car?
Legal Obligation: As the seller, you are required to cross out the vehicle registration certificate and provide the new owner with a transfer certificate (Cerfa 15776-01). Without these two documents, the sale is not legally enforceable against third parties.
Crossing out a vehicle registration certificate is a simple act that must be done correctly. A missing mention, an incorrect date, or a signature in the wrong place can invalidate the transfer and expose you to prosecution if the new owner commits an offense or an accident with the vehicle.
What "crossing out" a vehicle registration certificate means exactly
The expression "barrer la carte grise" (crossing out the vehicle registration certificate) refers to all the mandatory entries that the seller must write on the vehicle registration certificate to validate the transfer of the vehicle. It's not just about drawing a line — it's a regulated procedure.
The 4-step procedure
Write the mandatory mention on the front
At the top of the front of the vehicle registration certificate, clearly write with a ballpoint pen:
Sign in the designated box on the back
Turn over the vehicle registration certificate. On the back, you will find a box titled "Cession du véhicule" (Vehicle Transfer). Sign in the seller/transferor's signature area.
Draw a diagonal line with a pen on the front
Draw a diagonal line with a ballpoint pen on the front of the vehicle registration certificate. This symbolic line confirms that the document is no longer valid for circulation.
Hand over the vehicle registration certificate + Cerfa 15776 to the buyer
The buyer must receive: the crossed-out vehicle registration certificate + the transfer certificate (Cerfa 15776-01) completed in duplicate. They have 1 month to register the vehicle in their name.
Declaring the transfer: an essential step after the sale
Crossing out the vehicle registration certificate is not enough. You must also declare the transfer of the vehicle within 15 days of the sale. This declaration is the only legal guarantee that releases you from all responsibility in the event of an offense or accident committed by the new owner.
Without this declaration, you officially remain the owner of the vehicle in the eyes of the administration, even if you have sold it.
Sale failed? Cancel the transfer
Sometimes a sale is canceled after the vehicle registration certificate has been crossed out and the transfer declared. In this case, it is essential to proceed with a transfer cancellation to officially recover your vehicle.
The 5 most common mistakes
Forgetting the time in the mention
Since the 2017 reform, the time is mandatory in addition to the date. Without it, the mention is incomplete and the transfer can be contested.
Not handing over the transfer certificate
Cerfa 15776-01 is essential for the buyer to register their vehicle. Without it, the process is blocked.
Using correction fluid or a marker
The vehicle registration certificate is an official document. Any alteration or correction can lead to the rejection of the application during registration.
Crossing out the vehicle registration certificate without declaring the transfer
Crossing out the vehicle registration certificate is not enough to protect you. You must declare the transfer online to release yourself from responsibility for the vehicle.
Not keeping a copy of the Cerfa form
The transfer certificate must be completed in duplicate: one for the buyer, one for the seller. Keep yours as proof of sale.
All our services related to transfer
CarteGriseFrançaise.fr relies on a network of approved and authorized professionals to process your registration procedures in full compliance:
Frequently asked questions about crossing out the vehicle registration certificate
Can you cross out the vehicle registration certificate with Tipp-Ex or a marker?
No. The crossing out must be done with a blue or black ballpoint pen only. No erasure or correction is tolerated on an official document. In case of error, contact our team via our blocked file page.
I forgot to cross out the vehicle registration certificate when selling: what should I do?
Immediately contact the buyer to regularize the situation. If you are unable to do so, at least make the transfer declaration to protect yourself legally.
What if the buyer does not register the vehicle in their name?
If you have declared the transfer within 15 days of the sale, you are no longer responsible for acts committed with the vehicle. Otherwise, do so immediately via our transfer declaration service.
Where can I find Cerfa 15776 for the transfer declaration?
Cerfa 15776-01 is available for free on our Cerfa forms page, without registration.
Is the time really mandatory on the crossed-out vehicle registration certificate?
Yes, since the 2017 reform, the time is mandatory in addition to the date on the "Vendu le" (Sold on) mention. Without it, the transfer can be contested and your responsibility engaged.
The sale failed: how to cancel the transfer?
If the sale is canceled after you have crossed out the vehicle registration certificate and declared the transfer, perform a transfer cancellation quickly, before the buyer registers the vehicle in their name.
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