Non-pledge certificate application: understanding it and obtaining it online
The non-pledge certificate, officially the certificate of administrative status (CSA), is the document that proves that a second-hand vehicle can change owner without any obstacle. If you are selling or buying a second-hand car in France, this document is essential: it certifies that no lien and no opposition prevents the transfer of the registration certificate. The good news is that your non-pledge certificate application is now made entirely online, with a document issued immediately in PDF format. Here is how to understand this document, gather the right information and submit your application without making any mistakes.
In brief:
- The non-pledge certificate = the certificate of administrative status (CSA).
- It is mandatory: the seller must give it to the buyer before the sale.
- The document provided must be less than 15 days old.
- The information from the registration certificate is all you need to obtain it in a few minutes.
- It is issued immediately online, in PDF format.
How do you make your non-pledge certificate application online?
The non-pledge certificate application is made entirely online: you enter the vehicle's information and you retrieve the document in PDF format. With the details from the registration certificate to hand, the process only takes a few minutes.
The steps of the application
- Have the vehicle's registration certificate to hand.
- Access the application form and enter the registration number, the date and the identity of the holder.
- Check the information entered to avoid any obstacle.
- Validate and download your certificate in PDF format.
For a guided, error-free experience, you can make your non-pledge certificate application online directly from our form.
📌 Typical case — Sophie, 29, is buying a second-hand city car
Before signing, Sophie asks the seller for a recent certificate. On reading it, she spots the mention of a lien still active linked to a car loan. She then negotiates the release of the lien before the sale, which saves her from being blocked when applying for her new registration certificate.
And through the traditional official channels?
The non-pledge certificate can also be obtained free of charge through the official public service (HistoVec / the SIV online service, Ministry of the Interior). However, it is no longer issued over the counter at the prefecture; only digital assistance (digital point, France Services) remains available there.
Which vehicles are concerned by the non-pledge certificate?
The certificate of administrative status concerns all motorised land vehicles registered in France that are the subject of a sale: private cars, but also commercial vehicles, registered motorcycles and scooters, motorhomes, trailers over 500 kg and registered agricultural vehicles. As soon as a vehicle has a French registration certificate, the seller must provide the buyer with a CSA.
Conversely, some cases fall outside the scheme:
- vehicles registered abroad, for which no CSA is issued;
- vehicles not subject to registration (old mopeds without a registration certificate, unregistered construction machinery);
- vehicles destined for destruction, handed over to an approved VHU centre: the transfer for destruction follows a separate procedure.
One particular case is worth pointing out: the new vehicle. A car sold new by a dealership has never been registered, so it can be neither subject to a lien nor subject to an opposition. The non-pledge certificate only applies to second-hand vehicles that are already registered.
Which documents and information should you prepare for your application?
To make your non-pledge certificate application, you simply need to gather the information shown on the vehicle's registration certificate. Once the question of validity has been settled, all that remains is to bring these details together to move quickly. Here is what you should have in front of you (immatriculation.ants.gouv.fr, 2026):
| Information required |
Where to find it |
| Registration number | Field A of the registration certificate |
| Date of first registration | Field B |
| Formula number | At the bottom of the registration certificate |
| Surname and first name of the holder | Field C.1 |
The case of a car in a company's name
If the vehicle belongs to a legal entity, you enter the company name instead of the surname and first name, along with the company's SIREN number.
What is the non-pledge certificate (or certificate of administrative status)?
The non-pledge certificate is an official document that indicates whether a vehicle is the subject of a lien or an opposition to the transfer of its registration certificate. Formerly called the "non-pledge certificate", its exact name today is the certificate of administrative status (CSA). It brings together in a single document two pieces of information that were previously issued separately (service-public.gouv.fr, form F1360, 2026).
What the certificate contains
In concrete terms, the CSA sets out two types of mention concerning the registration certificate:
- The lien: a security taken out by an organisation (often linked to a car loan) on the vehicle.
- The opposition: an obstacle to the transfer of ownership, for example following unpaid fines, a judicial opposition or a vehicle expert.
If none of these mentions appears, the vehicle is "free of any lien and free of any opposition": the sale can proceed normally.
What is the non-pledge certificate for and is it mandatory?
The seller of a second-hand vehicle must, without exception, give a non-pledge certificate to the buyer before the sale. Now that the document has been defined, let us see why it is essential. This document is required for any registration operation involving a registered second-hand vehicle.
Its role is twofold:
- For the buyer, it guarantees that no lien and no opposition will prevent them from obtaining their new registration certificate.
- For the seller, it constitutes proof of transparency that secures the transaction and avoids any subsequent dispute.
📌 Typical case — Karim, 34, is selling his saloon
Karim closes the sale of his car one Saturday morning. Having failed to anticipate the certificate, he has to interrupt the signing to generate it on the spot. Fortunately, the online process takes him less than five minutes with his registration certificate in front of him.
What is the validity of the non-pledge certificate?
The non-pledge certificate given to the buyer must be less than 15 days old at the time of the sale. A point that is often overlooked therefore deserves attention before starting the process: the date of the document. A certificate that is too old will not be admissible at the time of the sale.
The practical advice is simple: do not apply for your certificate too early. Generate it just before the sale. If the transaction is delayed and exceeds 15 days, you simply need to obtain a new one — since the CSA is issued immediately, it only costs a few minutes.
⚠️ Please note: the 15-day rule is counted from the date the certificate was issued, not from the date of the sale. A document generated three weeks before the signing will have to be regenerated.
FAQ
A few particular situations come up often: here are the answers.
How do you find out whether a car is subject to a lien or not?
The certificate of administrative status answers this question directly: it states in black and white whether the vehicle is subject to a lien or subject to an opposition.
How much does a non-pledge certificate cost?
The non-pledge certificate is free through the official public service. Some private providers charge for an assistance service, but the certificate itself costs zero euros from the administration.
Can you sell a vehicle that is subject to a lien?
Yes, the presence of a lien does not prevent the sale. However, the buyer must be informed of it, because the lien may prevent them from obtaining their new registration certificate.
Does the certificate exist for a vehicle registered abroad?
No. The CSA is not issued for a vehicle registered abroad; it only concerns vehicles registered in France.