For information only. This article is an editorial orientation resource. It does not constitute legal, tax, or administrative advice. Entitlements and procedures vary by accreditation category, sending state and host country. Always verify current requirements with your mission and the relevant customs or transport authorities before taking any action.
The green plates are real. The customs and tax relief is real. But they come with conditions that are not always fully explained at the time of arrival, and misunderstanding them is how diplomatic staff end up with unexpected bills on departure.
What the plates mean in France
In France, diplomatically-registered vehicles carry green plates with a series code that reflects the holder’s accreditation level: CMD for chefs de mission, CD for diplomatic agents, C for consular officers, K for administrative, technical and service personnel. Orange lettering for the CD and CMD series, white for C and K.
The plates are not a status symbol. They are an administrative document, tied to a specific accreditation and a specific vehicle. They do not travel with you to another country. They do not authorise a second vehicle unless specific conditions are met. And they must be returned to the customs authority when your accreditation ends.
The Arrêté du 9 février 2009 is the governing text in France. The process runs through the MEAE Sub-directorate for Diplomatic Privileges and Immunities and the DGDDI (French Customs).
The relief and what it requires
When you acquire a vehicle in France under a diplomatic series, VAT and customs duties are suspended, not cancelled. The vehicle is admitted under a franchise temporaire. You sign a commitment on Formulaire 2 to comply with customs and fiscal regulations, not to lend or rent the vehicle, and to report immediately any change that might affect your entitlement.
If you sell the vehicle while still posted in France, the customs and fiscal charges that were deferred become payable, unless the buyer is themselves entitled to the same regime. If you take the vehicle out of France permanently, a customs clearance procedure applies. The same applies if you lose your accreditation.
The certificate you need for all of these regularisations is the Certificat 846A, issued by the bureau de douane to which your mission is attached. Do not sell a diplomatically-registered vehicle without confirming this procedure with your mission first.
What the plates do not do
In France, diplomatic plates do not confer automatic parking privileges in public spaces. They do not exempt the vehicle from third-party liability insurance requirements. All vehicles on French roads must carry responsabilité civile insurance, regardless of plate category. And they do not prevent traffic law enforcement from applying to the driver of the vehicle.
Diplomatic immunity belongs to the diplomat, not the vehicle. The plates identify the vehicle as diplomatically-registered; they do not automatically extend immunity to whoever happens to be driving.
The practical point on departure
The most common complication is the vehicle not being regularised before departure. The customs certificate (846A) takes time to process through the relevant bureau de douane. If you are leaving France at the end of your posting and plan to take the vehicle with you or sell it, begin the customs process no later than six to eight weeks before your departure date. Your mission’s administrative office should be the first call, not the last.
The guide FR·VEH·01 covers the full registration procedure for France in detail. For other postings, consult the relevant city guide when available.