Essential Steps to Obtain a Motorcycle Transfer Certificate When Selling

The motorcycle transfer certificate is based on a unique form, the CERFA 15776*02, and an online declaration via the ANTS. The procedure seems straightforward, but issues often arise after the sale when an error on the registration certificate or the absence of a co-owner prevents registration. This article measures the gaps between the theoretical process and the real situations that hinder the transfer.

ANTS Blockages After Sale: Error on the Registration Certificate, Absent Co-Owner, Certificate Already Crossed Out

The ANTS online procedure compares the information entered with that recorded in the vehicle registration system. The slightest discrepancy between the CERFA and the registration certificate results in an automatic rejection, even if the motorcycle has already physically changed hands.

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Three cases frequently recur.

  • A minor error on the registration certificate (mistake in the name, outdated address, illegible form number) prevents validation. The seller must first correct the registration certificate via a request for a duplicate or correction before resubmitting the transfer declaration.
  • A co-owner is listed on the registration certificate but is not present on the day of the sale. The ANTS requires the signatures of both owners on the CERFA 15776*02. Without this dual signature, the declaration is refused, even if the co-owner is an ex-spouse or a family member who claims nothing.
  • The registration certificate has already been crossed out and annotated “sold on…” before the online declaration is finalized. If the seller has crossed out the document and then encounters a blockage on the ANTS, they end up with an unusable circulation title and an unregistered transfer.

In each of these cases, the sale is legally valid between the parties, but the administration does not recognize it as long as the online procedure does not succeed. The buyer cannot register the motorcycle in their name, and the seller remains responsible for the vehicle in the eyes of the administration.

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To resolve the situation, it is often necessary to contact ANTS support via the account messaging, attach the missing documents, and, in the case of the co-owner, obtain a power of attorney or their signature on a new CERFA.

Woman holding a motorcycle transfer certificate standing next to a parked motorcycle in a residential street

Motorcycle Transfer Declaration: Comparison of Documents and Deadlines

The seller and buyer do not have the same obligations or deadlines. The table below distinguishes what is required from each party to obtain a motorcycle transfer certificate correctly.

Obligation Seller Buyer
CERFA 15776*02 (signature) Fills out and signs the seller’s part Fills out and signs the buyer’s part
ANTS Online Declaration Within 15 days of signing Not concerned with this step
Transfer Code Transmits it to the buyer after the online procedure Uses it to request the new registration certificate
Administrative Situation Certificate Provides it before or on the day of the sale Keeps it for their registration file
Crossed Out and Annotated Registration Certificate Crosses out, dates, signs, and hands it to the buyer Attaches it to their registration certificate request
Technical Inspection (if applicable) Provides a CT less than 6 months old Checks validity before purchasing

The 15-day deadline for declaring the transfer starts from the date indicated on the CERFA. After this period, the seller risks complications if the buyer commits an offense or an accident with the motorcycle still registered in their name.

The Transfer Code, the Pivot of the Transaction

The transfer code is a sequence of numbers and letters generated at the end of the online procedure on the ANTS website. Without this code, the buyer cannot initiate their online registration request. The seller must note it and transmit it immediately to the buyer, ideally in writing (SMS, email) to keep a record.

If the seller loses this code, they can find it in their ANTS personal space, under “My Procedures.” However, if the declaration never went through, no code exists, and the procedure must be restarted from the beginning.

Administrative Situation Certificate and Motorcycle Technical Inspection

The administrative situation certificate, often referred to as a non-pledge certificate, can be downloaded for free via the Histovec website. This document certifies that the motorcycle is not subject to any pledge or opposition to the transfer of the registration certificate. A recent administrative situation certificate protects the buyer against purchasing a vehicle burdened with debts.

The question of the technical inspection depends on the vehicle category. Motorcycles subject to technical inspection must present a CT less than six months old at the time of sale. Mopeds and certain categories of two-wheelers are not yet subject to it, depending on their date of first registration and engine capacity.

Two people jointly signing a motorcycle transfer certificate on the hood of a car in a parking lot

Annotations on the Registration Certificate: The Correct Method

Crossing out the registration certificate is not done randomly. The seller must draw a diagonal line on the front, write “sold on” or “transferred on” followed by the date and exact time, and then sign. The mention of the time is mandatory: it determines the exact moment of the transfer of responsibility in case of an offense committed on the same day as the sale.

A poorly crossed out registration certificate (incomplete mention, absence of time, correction on the form number) can complicate the buyer’s registration request. It is better to prepare this annotation calmly before handing over the vehicle, not on the sidewalk at the time of the key exchange.

CERFA 15776*02: Sections That Cause Input Errors

The form has three distinct sections: vehicle identification, details of the previous owner, details of the new owner. The most frequent input errors concern the form number of the registration certificate (often confused with the registration number) and the exact spelling of the name as it appears on the title.

Each copy of the CERFA must be an original signed document. A photocopy or scan is not sufficient for the buyer, who will need to produce this document when requesting their registration certificate. The CERFA 15776*02 is filled out and signed by both, seller and buyer, on the day of the transaction.

In the case of a sale between individuals located far apart, the form can be sent by mail for dual signatures, but this prolongs the deadlines and exposes the risk of loss. The most reliable solution remains to finalize everything on the day of the motorcycle handover, with the CERFA signed, the registration certificate crossed out, the ANTS declaration initiated immediately, and the transfer code transmitted on-site.

Essential Steps to Obtain a Motorcycle Transfer Certificate When Selling