We sell our car, we sign the transfer certificate, we cross out the registration certificate, and then nothing more. Three weeks pass, and a parking fine arrives in the mail. The vehicle is still registered in our name in the national file.
This scenario affects many sellers who have not anticipated the follow-up after the sale. Knowing whether the buyer has actually initiated the change of registration certificate is not just an administrative detail: it is direct protection against fines, tax reminders, and legal complications.
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Transfer declaration on the ANTS: the first lock to check
Before even wondering if the buyer has taken action, we first check that our own transfer declaration has been properly recorded. This is the starting point, and it is also the one that many sellers overlook.
On the ANTS website, the personal space displays an acknowledgment of registration once the transfer is validated on the seller’s side. This document proves the sale date and protects in case of disputes. If this acknowledgment does not appear in the history, the transfer may not have been finalized correctly, and the buyer will not be able to initiate the change of ownership on their side.
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One might wonder how to know if the buyer has completed the registration by relying solely on the absence of mail. In reality, the lack of news guarantees nothing. Experiences shared on tracking platforms show that procedures via Simplimmat can remain stuck for several months without notification to the seller.
Specifically, the seller has the transfer code provided to the buyer during the online declaration. If the buyer does not use this code within the one-month period stipulated by regulations, the file remains pending. The seller receives no automatic alert.
Tracking the ANTS file and verifying the change of ownership
The seller can check the status of the transfer directly from their ANTS personal space, in the section dedicated to transferred vehicles. If the status indicates that the transfer is “pending” or that no request for a change of ownership has been created by the buyer, the vehicle remains administratively linked to the previous owner.
This follow-up reflex is rarely adopted by private sellers. Registration professionals regularly report this: once the transfer declaration is made, most sellers consider their role to be over. Producing the acknowledgment of registration of the transfer and checking that the file is progressing allows for anticipating problems before a fine arrives.
What the ANTS space does not say
The ANTS does not notify the seller when the buyer finalizes the registration in their name. We know that the transfer has been declared on our side, but we do not have explicit confirmation that the new registration certificate has been issued. Feedback varies on this point: some sellers report having seen the status change, while others have never had a visible update.
To clear up any doubts, one can also request a consultation of the Vehicle Registration System (SIV) through an authorized professional. They can confirm whether the vehicle is still registered in our name or if the transfer has been completed.
What to do if the buyer has not changed the registration
When we notice that the buyer has not initiated the process within the regulatory timeframe, the situation requires a quick response. Here are the concrete steps to consider:
- Send a formal notice by registered mail to the buyer, reminding them of their legal obligation to proceed with the change of ownership within one month following the transfer.
- Keep a copy of the ANTS acknowledgment of registration, the transfer certificate, and the declaration receipt: this timeline of evidence is crucial if fines are contested.
- In case of infractions received after the transfer date, contest each fine by attaching the dated transfer certificate and the ANTS acknowledgment. The authorities that issue fines give significant weight to the documented timeline of evidence.
- If the buyer remains unreachable or refuses to cooperate, filing a complaint for identity theft remains an option. This recourse is little known but recognized by the competent jurisdictions.
Fines and seller responsibility after the sale
As long as the vehicle is registered in the name of the previous owner in the SIV, parking fines, radar tickets, and even vehicle taxes arrive at their address. The transfer declaration recorded on the ANTS serves as the main proof to relieve oneself of this responsibility.
Without this declaration, contesting a fine becomes very difficult. With it, the contestation procedure is simpler: we send the acknowledgment of registration and the transfer certificate to the service that issued the fine.
Documents to keep after selling a vehicle
The verification does not stop at the ANTS follow-up. The entire transfer file must be archived for several years. Here are the documents to keep:
- The transfer certificate (Cerfa 15776), signed by both parties, with the date and time of the sale.
- The acknowledgment of registration of the transfer downloaded from the ANTS space.
- A copy of the crossed-out registration certificate with the mention “sold on” or “transferred on” followed by the date and time.
- Any written exchanges with the buyer (emails, messages, formal notice).
These documents form a coherent set. In case of a dispute, a court or administrative authority will check that each step has been followed in order. A complete and dated file protects the seller much better than a simple phone call to the prefecture.
The key point to remember after selling a vehicle: do not wait for a problem to arise to verify. Log in to the ANTS in the weeks following the transfer, archive each document, and react at the first sign of inaction from the buyer. This is the only way to sever the administrative link with a vehicle that no longer belongs to us.