3DS Law: What impact will the change to your vehicle registration document have?

The law enacted in 2022 points to a lack of autonomy on the part of local elected representatives. It follows on from the Great Debate of 2019, which caused controversy at the time, since it was held in response to the social crisis of the yellow vests.

The need of local elected representatives at the time was to have significant autonomy to be able to act on concrete schemes directly with their territories.

You don't have a name for your road, street or lane? Your address is concerned by the simplification of the 3DS law. A large national file will be created to list all national data on French addresses. This will help all kinds of professions, such as public administrations, delivery personnel or even firefighters.

Since June, this obligation has concerned all communes with over 2000 inhabitants. There are over 300,000 unnamed paths, streets, lanes and roads in France.

In theory, and according to the law, if you haven't moved from your home, you don't have to change your vehicle registration document.

In practice, however, if the mail cannot be delivered to you, the wrong address on your vehicle registration document could be used against you. We therefore strongly advise you to change the address on your vehicle registration document.

In the event of non-receipt of your fines, for example, you run the risk of late payment surcharges.

Fines under the Highway Code are fixed at :

• 11 euros or 17 euros (depending on the nature of the offence) for 1ʳᵉ class contraventions;
• 35 euros for 2ᵉ class contraventions;68 euros for 3ᵉ class contraventions;
• 135 euros for 4ᵉ class contraventions.

With delay, these fixed-rate fines are at least double the starting rates:

• 33 euros for 1ʳᵉ class contraventions; (€26.40 if the fine is paid online within 30 days).
• 75 euros for 2ᵉ class contraventions; (€60 if the fine is paid online within 30 days). 
• 180 euros for 3ᵉ class fines; (144 € if the fine is paid online within 30 days).
• 375 euros for 4ᵉ class fines (300 € if the fine is paid online within 30 days).

With no news from you, this can go as far as seizure by third party holder, and the fixed fine rate could be directly withdrawn from your salary, for example... A serious consequence for an administrative change beyond your control. 

Updating your vehicle registration document is quick and easy! Go to the France Titres (ex-ANTS) website, or contact a professional authorized by the authorities, such as Guichet Carte Grise.

To request a change to your vehicle registration document, please bring the following items with you:

• Your vehicle registration document,
• Proof of address less than six months old,
• Valid proof of identity.

You will then receive a label at your home address, which you can stick onto your vehicle registration document.

If you have a leased vehicle, notify your lender of the change, who will take care of the formalities with the authorities.

Good to know: the change of address procedure is completely free of charge. However, a fee of 2.76 euros will be charged for the fourth change of address.