Carte de circulation (registration card) for a pleasure boat: formalities, obligations and validity
The carte de circulation is a type of navigation title dedicated to pleasure vessels, which could be compared to a boat's registration document (carte grise). It is a compulsory document: every owner must hold one and, if necessary, keep it up to date.
What is a maritime or inland carte de circulation? For which pleasure boats is it compulsory? How do you obtain this navigation title? What form does it take, and how long is it valid? Our expert service for boating-related administrative formalities explains everything.
What is the carte de circulation for a pleasure boat?
The carte de circulation is a navigation title for pleasure boats. This compulsory administrative document is an official document, which gathers the information concerning the holder and the craft, and certifies the boat's regulatory conformity.
Pleasure boats in maritime waters, like those in inland waters, must hold a carte de circulation. Owners must have it with them at all times, whether on the water or when travelling on land – for example, when towing.
The carte de circulation in maritime waters
In the maritime zone, the carte de circulation is compulsory for:
- Pleasure vessels – motor boats or sailing boats – with a hull length of less than 7 metres and an engine power not exceeding 22 administrative CV
- All Personal Watercraft (PWC) – jet-skis, sea scooters
- Kayaks and rowing boats whose holders wish to sail beyond the 300-metre strip.
The carte de circulation in inland waters
The inland waters carte de circulation is required for pleasure boats between 5 and 20 metres in length and/or fitted with an engine with an actual power of 4.5 kW (6 HP).
Personal Watercraft (PWC) are also concerned.
A complementary document: the acte de francisation for pleasure boats
While the carte de circulation is compulsory for everyone, the acte de francisation (French registration certificate) is only compulsory in certain cases – depending on the navigation zone (maritime zone or inland waters), the type of pleasure craft, its hull length and its engine power.
Issued by the Customs Service, the acte de francisation is compulsory for all pleasure boats with a hull length of 7 metres or more, regardless of their means of propulsion (manual, motor or sail). It also concerns any boat with an engine power of 22 administrative CV or more and all Personal Watercraft with an actual power of 90 kilowatts and above.
Francisation is essential if the pleasure boat previously flew a foreign flag or if you intend to sail in foreign territorial waters.
Everything about the acte de francisation
Calculate the amount of your TAEMUP (formerly DAFN)
The boat carte de circulation: paper or digital version
The oldest cartes de circulation are paper documents. Since 1 October 2019, the "new maritime cartes de circulation" are digital.
It is now a digital document sent to the owner by email via the State software called PUMA, which can be printed directly at home. In its new version, a boat's carte de circulation is more secure and often simplifies exchanges with the administration.
One new feature should be highlighted on cartes de circulation in this new format: in the case of co-ownership, a manager is appointed. This person acts as the contact person if the boat is rented out and as the person to contact in the event of damage.
Obtaining a carte de circulation for a pleasure boat
The pleasure boat carte de circulation is issued by the DDT (Departmental Directorate for Territories) for inland navigation (rivers, canals, lakes, etc.) or by the DDTM (Departmental Directorate for Territories and the Sea), commonly known as the Maritime Affairs Office, for navigation at sea (coastal zone and offshore zone).
Depending on the complexity of the file, the formalities can be tedious and complicated. Don't want to undertake the procedure yourself? Entrust the preparation of the administrative file and your application to our advisers!
Case of a new boat
For a boat that must be registered for the first time, it is generally the builder or the seller who provides the necessary documents. The time taken by the administration for the registration of a boat varies between 7 and 30 days, depending on the period, the flag chosen and the completeness of the file. By using our services, you benefit from optimised follow-up and save time.
Case of a second-hand boat
In the case of a second-hand boat transaction, the new owner has one month after signing the bill of sale to carry out the change of ownership with the administration. The procedure includes changing the holder's name on the carte de circulation.
Where and how to apply?
The formalities can be carried out online, on the boating formalities portal, or delegated to our specialised service. This makes it possible in particular to avoid administrative complexities, errors and delays, and to ensure that your file is handled quickly.
Documents to provide to obtain the carte de circulation
As soon as the bill of sale has been signed by all signatories and the pleasure vessel belongs to you, you have one month to complete your navigation title application formalities.
Various documents may be requested from you:
- The bill of sale signed by the parties,
- Proof of address,
- The identity document(s) of the owner(s),
- The CE declaration of conformity or a francisation certificate if applicable,
- The former carte de circulation (in the case of a transfer).
Understanding the content of a boat's carte de circulation
Let's look below at the details of the various pieces of information on the document in its different versions.
Information on a maritime carte de circulation
Document identification code:
- File management number of the carte de circulation application.
Owner(s) data:
- Surname and first name
- Company name
- Link: owner, co-owner of the boat or manager (where applicable).
If there are several co-owners, the two main ones appear on the document (the others do not appear on it but are recorded administratively). You can also appoint a boat manager, who will act as the administrative contact if the boat is rented out and as the person to contact in the event of damage or an accident.
Vessel data - identifiers:
- Registration number provided by the DDTM: the first two characters in letters refer to the registration district, followed by 6 digits and a key letter. In the event of a change of owner AND of home port, only the first two letters will be changed accordingly when the transfer of ownership is declared.
- Francisation number: number given by the Customs Service when applying for the boat's acte de francisation
- Updated by the service: service handling the file at the DDTM
- WIN number (Watercraft Identification Number): the boat's hull identification number, replaces the former HIN and CIN numbers.
Vessel data - boat characteristics:
- Name: the boat's given name, can be changed on request
- Manufacturer: name of the builder
- Model: name of the boat model given by the manufacturer
- Design category: the boat's ability to cope with certain sailing conditions (A for ocean, B for offshore, C for inshore and D for sheltered waters)
- Year of construction
- Vessel type: motor vessel, sailing boat, yacht, catamaran, trimaran, jet ski, etc.
- Hull length in metres
- Hull width in metres
- Max recommended power (kW): maximum engine power the craft can support, expressed in kilowatts
- Installed power (kW): actual power of the engine currently installed.
Engine(s) - engine characteristics:
- Engine make
- Engine model
- Engine serial number: unique identifier of the engine
- Power (kW): actual engine power expressed in kilowatts
- Fuel: petrol, diesel or LPG.
Special mentions:
- May concern a ban on selling a vessel within a given period, mainly concerns amateur builds
Date of issue: start date of validity of the navigation title
Validity date: the expiry date of the maritime carte de circulation.
Information on an inland waters carte de circulation
Boat identification:
- Boat's name (devise): the boat's given name (can be changed on request)
- HIN or CIN number: hull identification number for CE-approved vessels (unique and cannot be changed)
- Registration number: registration number provided by the inland waterway safety processing centre (DDT), the first two characters of which, in letters, refer to the registration district, followed by 6 digits and the letter F.
- Builder: name of the boat manufacturer
- Series: boat model
- Year of construction
- Length (L), Width (W) and Draught (D): hull measurements expressed in metres
- Volume in m3: the boat's lightship displacement, obtained by multiplying the hull length by its width and by the draught (V = L x W x D)
- Design category: the boat's ability to cope with certain sailing conditions
- Maximum recommended number of persons on board: number varying according to the type of boat and its dimensions in order to ensure passenger safety
- Type of propulsion: motor, sail or manual
- Max. authorised power in kW: maximum engine power the craft can support, expressed in kilowatts
- Installed power in kW: actual power of the engine currently installed.
Identification of the holder of the inland waters carte de circulation: Surname, first name, date of birth, full address
Owner or co-owner: the holder's link with the boat.
Authority stamp: stamp and signature of the DDT in charge of the file.
Document identification code: file management number of the carte de circulation application given by the DDT.
What to do in the event of an administrative change?
If you make changes to your pleasure boat or PWC such as a change of engine, a change of the boat's name or a transfer to a new port of registration, a new card will be issued. This is also the case if there is a change of owner: you will have to inform the administration and submit a boat registration application within the month following the transaction. The registration number will remain unchanged, unless the processing office changes.
Validity period of the carte de circulation
While the former paper carte de circulation had an unlimited validity, since 1 October 2019 the digital version of the carte de circulation is valid for 10 years.
FAQ: Your frequently asked questions about the carte de circulation
Can a carte de circulation be used for another boat?
No, the document can only be used for the boat for which it was issued.
Can you sail without a carte de circulation?
No. The document is compulsory for all regulated navigation. The carte de circulation must always be on board, including when travelling by land.
Not registering a boat: what is the risk?
Sailing without a valid navigation title exposes you to penalties and can complicate any procedure in the event of an accident or dispute.
The absence of a carte de circulation during an inspection may lead to administrative penalties such as a fixed fine or temporary immobilisation of the boat. For more information, consult the service-public.fr website.
Is a carte de circulation needed for a jet-ski or a kayak?
The carte de circulation is required for all Personal Watercraft (PWC) and for kayaks sailing more than 300 metres from a shelter. They are vessels in the legal sense.
