WW temporary registration certificate (CPI): what it is for and how to get one

The WW temporary registration certificate, or WW CPI, is a temporary document issued by the ANTS, the French agency for secure documents. Together with a WW plate, it lets you drive while you wait for the final registration certificate.

When is it issued?

A WW CPI can be issued in particular for:

• a new or used vehicle bought abroad, while its file is being examined;
• a vehicle intended for export;
• a new vehicle sold incomplete for bodywork.

If a vehicle's foreign plates are no longer valid, it must be driven with temporary plates and a WW certificate.

Where can you drive, and until when?

The WW CPI lets you drive in France. Abroad, its validity depends on the agreement of the country you are driving in. Check your certificate's end date before you set off.

Since 1 January 2026, new WW plates have a pink background with black characters and show the month and year of expiry on the right.

How do you apply?

Our partner Certimat handles your application online: it prepares the forms, checks your documents, sends the file to the competent authority and follows it until you receive your document. The documents required depend on your situation.

Certimat is a private service, not the French administration. Its service fee is added to the official taxes and is shown before payment.

How do you insure a vehicle with a WW CPI?

A vehicle with a WW CPI must be insured as soon as it goes on the road. In the TempAssur form, select France as the country of registration. The coverage period cannot exceed the CPI's end date: if your certificate expires in 10 days, the maximum insurable period is 10 days.