French Delivery Note Template (Bon de Livraison) 2026

No French law requires a bon de livraison between businesses or with a private individual. The mandatory document is the invoice, governed by Article L441-9 of the Code de commerce and Article 289 of the CGI. That said, a signed delivery note is strongly advisable: it proves the goods were actually handed over, fixes the date of délivrance (physical delivery), and is decisive evidence if a dispute arises over missing items, damaged goods, or the timing of risk transfer.

No statutory list of mandatory fields exists, but a well-drafted BL typically includes: full name and address of the supplier and the customer, a unique BL number and date, the related purchase order reference, itemised product descriptions with article references and quantities delivered, the delivery address, and a clearly labelled section for the recipient to record reservations (réserves), date and dual signatures — driver and customer.

The bon de commande (purchase order) captures the buyer's requirements before despatch — what was ordered. The bon de livraison records what was physically delivered. The invoice (facture) is the accounting and tax document that triggers payment and VAT obligations. Reconciling all three — order, delivery, invoice — is a standard accounts-payable control that protects both parties.

Write specific, handwritten reservations directly on the BL at the moment of delivery — for example '2 parcels missing' or 'packaging torn, contents to be checked' — then date and sign. If the delivery is made by a carrier (transporteur), BL reservations alone are not enough: you must also send a formal registered letter (lettre recommandée) within three days of receipt, public holidays excluded but Saturdays and Sundays counted, as required by Article L133-3 of the Code de commerce. Miss this deadline and your claim against the carrier lapses.

Under Article 1196 of the Code civil, ownership transfers by agreement of the parties — often when the purchase order is accepted — unless a clause de réserve de propriété (retention-of-title clause) is included, in which case title stays with the seller until full payment. Risk generally follows ownership but can be tied to délivrance. The signed BL materialises the date of délivrance, from which the buyer assumes the risks on the goods.

Retain the BL for at least ten years from the close of the financial year in which it was issued, in line with Article L123-22 of the Code de commerce — the same retention period that applies to all accounting documents. The signed BL supports the matching invoice during a tax audit (contrôle fiscal) and constitutes commercial evidence in any subsequent dispute over quantities or condition.