Monaco customs, approval and registration
Selected requirements for a used passenger car arriving from Korea for registration in Monaco by an eligible individual or business. Customs clearance, vehicle approval and registration are separate. Leasing, temporary use, historic vehicles and prior French or European registration need a separate review; this guide does not establish eligibility for a particular vehicle or applicant.
Sources reviewedCheck the applicant's registration eligibility
Eligible applicants include individuals domiciled in Monaco with valid national ID or residence cards, and authorised, active businesses registering vehicles for professional use. Individuals holding a Monaco home title or lease in their own name may obtain annually renewable registrations. Specific civil-company exclusions apply.
Obtain the French Customs clearance document
Monaco is treated as French territory for customs and VAT purposes. For a used car arriving from Korea under the non-European provenance branch, the registration file requires the French Customs model 846A clearance document.
Confirm the vehicle approval route with STC
A used vehicle without a complete European CoC or accepted manufacturer identification needs individual approval. The same applies to modifications affecting the vehicle's characteristics, vehicles rebuilt from parts, and vehicles without registration papers. STC checks eligibility before referral to DREAL PACA and again when registration is requested.
Check the required technical inspection
Where the vehicle is subject to technical inspection, registration requires an accepted inspection report, with the initial report where a follow-up inspection was necessary. Confirm the applicable inspection centre and report-validity requirements with STC for the Korean import.
Documents and registration
Previous registration and purchase records
Provide the previous foreign registration certificate, or an official equivalent if the issuing authorities retain it, and the sale or transfer document or invoice. A transfer document is unnecessary when the previous registration is already in the applicant's name. Ownership and deregistration certificates may also be required.
Original documents and official French translations
The registration documents must be originals. Where needed, provide official French translations by a translator sworn before a court of appeal in Monaco or France. For an individual-approval application, STC also requires identity evidence, purchase evidence and the vehicle's technical documents, plus proof of address or a valid residence card where applicable.
Confirm before purchase
Still unconfirmed for your vehicle. Check with the relevant authority or receiving agent before purchase.
- STC acceptance of the specific applicant and vehicle, including technical conformity, approval records, modifications and damage. A favourable DREAL report does not remove STC's registration eligibility check.
- The technical-inspection centre and report-validity rule for a Korean import: Code Article 103 C(b) specifies a Monaco report for the other-territories branch, while Ministerial Order 2020-509 Article 23 uses broader France-or-Monaco wording. Do not assume a French report is accepted.
- The complete applicant-specific file and special registration routes. Real-estate civil companies are excluded; a further exclusion concerns certain civil advice/management companies serving founders or members who are not domiciled in Monaco. Leasing, historic vehicles, temporary use and prior French/European registration are outside this summary.
- Vehicle-specific customs duty, VAT, exemptions, preferential origin, approval/inspection/registration costs, freight and timing. Shipment from Korea does not establish preferential origin or a duty exemption.
- The association's US$100 condition inspection is separate from STC technical inspection, DREAL vehicle approval and any required official certification.
Shipping & costs
For Monaco, specify the receiving city and importer. Request a written offer showing the route, transport stages, delivery point, insurance and included charges. Confirm vehicle eligibility and required approvals before booking.
What goes into the cost?
Send the vehicle listing, quantity and delivery point. Eligibility and required approvals must be confirmed before arranging shipment. Freight and departure dates need a current offer.
Vehicle purchase
Confirm the vehicle price, invoice and payment recipient.
Vehicle inspection — US$100
Our pre-purchase condition inspection; separate from required government testing or certification.
Korea-side preparation
Request itemized inland transport, export documents, handling and loading.
International freight & insurance
Confirm the route, shipping method, insurance, quote validity and exclusions.
Destination charges
Ask your receiving agent about handling, customs, taxes, registration and delivery costs.
Inspection & next steps
- Send your vehicle details. Share a listing or your preferred model, year and budget.
- Confirm eligibility, then inspect — US$100. Our vehicle condition inspection is separate from government testing or certification.
- Review the shipping offer. Confirm the route, costs and required approvals before booking.
Official sources & review dates
View 4 official sources and review notes
Source publication or amendment dates and our review dates are listed separately.
- Code de la route — Articles 98, 101–103 and 111–115 ↗Government of Monaco — LegimonacoConsolidation updated: Reviewed: The current consolidated code was reviewed on Legimonaco. Its displayed last modification is 4 July 2026. Article 102 incorporates the 11 April 2024 replacement; Article 103 incorporates the 26 April 2021 amendment. The code date is not a new commencement date for each requirement. The other-territories used-vehicle branch was read separately from the France branch.
- Territorial Scope — Monaco ↗European Commission — Directorate-General for Taxation and Customs UnionSource updated: Not stated for this guidanceReviewed: The live official territorial-scope table was opened and read. Monaco is treated as French territory for customs, VAT and excise purposes; the VAT/excise footnote concerns transactions to and from Monaco. No publication or amendment date is displayed. This source does not make Monaco an EU Member State or approve an individual import.
- Ministerial Order 2020-264 — individual vehicle approval, Articles 1–2 ↗Government of Monaco — LegimonacoLegal publication: Reviewed: The current official text was reviewed and compared with Article 98 of the code consolidated in July 2026. It identifies the act date as 26 March 2020 and Gazette publication as 3 April 2020. The current consolidated version is dated 4 April 2020, with no later amendment shown. STC checks eligibility before referral and again after a favourable DREAL report.
- Ministerial Order 2020-509 — technical inspections, Articles 2, 23–24 ↗Government of Monaco — LegimonacoLegal publication: Reviewed: The current consolidated text was reviewed. This version is dated 2 May 2026, and its annex records 2025 and March/April 2026 amendments. The original order commenced on 6 October 2020. Article 23's general France-or-Monaco wording differs from the code's other-territories branch; the applicable inspection centre and report-validity rule for a Korean import remain held for STC confirmation.