Automobile. Why is it essential to have a certificate of non-pledge when purchasing a used car?

We tend to forget this, but "if the previous owner hasn't finished paying off the loan, the vehicle is pledged to the lending institution. This means that the lending institution can oppose the sale. Otherwise, the new buyer would be responsible for repaying the loan," explains the carVertical specialist.

A car is considered pledged when there are outstanding debts on the vehicle and it serves as collateral to repay the debt. Until the vehicle owner has finished repaying the loan to the lender that financed the purchase, the vehicle is considered pledged.

It is also possible that the owner has not paid certain fines before putting the vehicle up for sale, or that there are other administrative situations that are blocking the transfer of the registration document.

What is a certificate of non-pledge?

The certificate of non-pledge is a mandatory administrative document when purchasing a used vehicle. Officially called a certificate of administrative situation, this certificate, issued by France Titres (formerly ANTS), guarantees the buyer that the vehicle no longer has any outstanding financing or pledges, and that there are no administrative objections to the sale.

The certificate of non-pledge of less than fifteen days is one of the four mandatory documents when selling a used vehicle - along with the technical inspection, the transfer certificate, and the registration certificate.

To obtain a certificate of administrative administration, or certificate of non-pledge, you need this information to apply online on the government website: the date of first registration of the vehicle, the identity of the holder of the registration certificate. But also the registration number of the vehicle and the date of issue of the current registration certificate.

Never buy without a certificate

The basic rule is that you should never buy a vehicle without knowing if it is pledged and therefore having obtained a certificate of administrative situation. You could end up with creditors knocking on your door, even after you have paid the price of the vehicle. Simply because you have to finish paying off the seller's credit that would not have been settled.

"The answer is no. When a vehicle owner has not paid the fines or tickets issued against them in connection with their use of the vehicle, it cannot be sold. In fact, the administration then automatically imposes an opposition to the transfer of the registration certificate. Issuing a new registration certificate for a car pledged for fines is then impossible," emphasizes specialist carVertical.