Getting a French driver’s license

If you’ve only experienced the Parisian roads, driving in France can feel daunting. Luckily, traffic outside the capital isn’t all too bad, and learning how to drive is relatively easy (once you get the hang of it). And if you already have a valid foreign license, whether you need – or are able – to exchange it for a French one depends on where it was issued and your residence status.

Here’s what you need to know:

Driving permits in France

A French driver’s license (permis de conduire or permis B) is an official document that allows you to drive in France and all member states of the European Union (EU) and European Free Trade Association (EFTA – Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland). It also serves as an official ID in most places in France.

The permit is a pink plastic card and has the size of a regular credit card. It lists your personal details, the type of vehicle you’re allowed to drive, and the license issue and expiry date. They are valid for up to 15 years, depending on your age, vehicle category, and medical record.

The front of the card has the following information:

Number on the license	Information
1 and 2	Your full name
3	Your date of birth and place of birth
4a and 4b	The start and expiry date of the license
4c	The issuing authority
5	Your license number
7	Your signature
9	Your permit category (e.g., B for cars)

The back of the permit contains a table with information on the different driving categories. The main categories include:

• AM – mopeds and light quadricycles
• A1, A2, A – motorcycles
• B – cars and vans with a maximum authorized weight of 3.5 tonnes and no more than 8 passengers
• C and C1 – vehicles used mainly to transport goods or equipment, subject to weight limits
• D and D1 – passenger vehicles; category D covers vehicles with more than 8 passenger seats in addition to the driver
• E categories (BE, CE, DE) – vehicles in the corresponding category towing a trailer

French driving-license administration falls under the Ministry of the Interior. Online licensing and title procedures are handled by France Titres (ANTS) (Agence nationale des titres sécurisés), the public agency responsible for secure titles.

Point system against reckless driving

France has a demerit point system to punish traffic offenses. After an uneventful probationary period, all regular drivers will have 12 points to their permit. If you commit a traffic violation or cause an accident resulting in bodily harm, you will lose one or more points.

You can take a voluntary Road Safety Awareness Course (Stage de Sensibilisation à la Sécurité Routière) to recover up to four points. Alternatively, you can regain your 12 points by not committing any other traffic violations for at least two or three years.

If your points balance reaches zero, your license is invalidated, rather than simply suspended, and you must stop driving. You normally have to wait six months before obtaining a new license, or one year if you have already lost a license for a zero-points balance within the previous five years. To drive again, you must pass a psychotechnical test and medical check, then retake either the theory test only or both the theory and practical tests, depending on your circumstances.

Getting a driving license in France

To get a category B driver’s license, you must be at least 17. If you are learning through a driving school and this is your first license, the minimum practical training is 20 hours for a manual car or 13 hours for an automatic. After you pass the theory and practical tests, you or your driving school (auto école) can apply for the license online using your Harmonized Prefectural Registration Number (Numéro d’Enregistrement Préfectoral Harmonisé – NEPH).

Documents to provide include:

• Proof of identity (e.g., your ID card)
• Proof of residence, no older than six months (for example, using Justif’Adresse if you are eligible, or another accepted proof of address)
• A digital photo and signature, for example from an France Titres-authorized photographer; where offered during the online procedure, you can alternatively submit a paper photo-signature form
• If required for your situation, the medical opinion relating to your fitness to drive
• If you are French and aged 17 to under 25, the required Defence and Citizenship Day (Journée défense et citoyenneté – JDC) document, unless you already provided it when registering for the exam
• If you are a foreign national, proof that you are legally resident in France or, if you are exempt from holding a residence permit, proof that you have been in France for at least six months

Applying for a first driving permit is free. Once France Titres has validated your online application and sent the confirmation by text message, allow around 15 days for the physical license to arrive by tracked mail.

Driving under 18 in France

It is also possible to start driving lessons at an earlier age. You can start accompanied driving instructions (apprentissage anticipé de la conduite – AAC) as early as 15 and take the practical test at age 17. If successful, you’ll have earned your CEPC. This certificate represents a valid driver’s license for four months.

During the AAC phase, you must drive with an approved accompanying driver until you are 17. The accompanying driver must have held a category B license for at least five years and have the insurer’s written agreement for the required extension of cover. Once you are 17 and have passed the category B practical test, you can drive alone even if you are still under 18.

Beginner’s driving license

New drivers have a probationary driver’s permit and must display an A-sign on the rear of their vehicle. The permit starts with six points, but the length of the probationary period and the rate at which points are added depend on how you learned to drive:

Learning route	On obtaining the license	End of year 1	End of year 2	End of year 3
Standard route	6 points	8 points	10 points	12 points
Early accompanied driving (AAC)	6 points	9 points	12 points	–

As said before, traffic violations can result in you losing points. If you lose at least three points at the same time, you must undergo a mandatory Road Safety Awareness Course.

Without an eligible post-license training course, the probationary period normally lasts three years, or two years after early accompanied driving (AAC), provided you do not commit an offense that interrupts the normal points progression.

Driving lessons in France

If this is your first license and you train through a driving school, you must complete at least 20 hours of practical training for a manual car or 13 hours for an automatic. These are minimums, and you may need additional lessons depending on your progress.

Driving-school prices are not fixed nationally and vary by establishment and package. Schools must clearly display their prices by service, so compare what is included as well as the school’s success rate. Presentation to the practical driving test itself is free, although a school may charge an accompaniment fee; for a category B test, that fee cannot exceed the price of one hour of driving tuition.

The former €500 state driving-license grant for apprentices ended on 21 February 2026. Applications submitted before 2026 continue to be processed, but new applicants should check other available support using the French government guidance and its linked aid simulator.

Driving tests in France

To get your driver’s permit, you must pass a driving theory (épreuve théorique générale commune – ETG) and practical test (épreuve pratique). Aspiring drivers with disabilities or certain health conditions might also need to take a medical exam with a registered doctor. The medical advice is valid for two years.

French driving tests can be challenging. In July 2025, the Ministry of the Interior reported that 59.4% of candidates passed the practical exam on their first attempt.

Driving theory exam

The driving theory test, commonly known as the Code, consists of 40 multiple-choice questions covering traffic laws and road safety rules.

Your driving school now gives you access to a digital learning booklet (livret d’apprentissage numérique) that records your training objectives and progress. If your driving-license application was validated before 2024, you can continue using a paper learning booklet.

Once you are ready, you need your NEPH to book the theory test. France Titres (ANTS) is used to register for the driving-license exam and obtain or reactivate your NEPH; the theory-test session itself is booked and paid for on the website of an approved test operator, such as La Poste. See the official theory-test guidance for the current process.

Driving theory tests are conducted digitally using tablets at the test center. Questions will appear on screen and will be read aloud. The exam takes approximately 30 minutes and you must correctly answer at least 35 questions to pass. You can find example questions online, for example, at Le Permis Libre.

Your approved test operator sends the theory-test result electronically. For example, La Poste states that results are sent after at least 24 hours and within a maximum of 72 hours:

• If it’s a fail, you can take the exam again after two days. There isn’t a limit to the number of times you try.
• If it’s a pass, you have five years to take the practical exam and get your driver’s permit

A regular French driving theory test costs €30.

If you live with a (learning) disability or a language barrier

Specific arrangements are available for candidates with certain disabilities or language difficulties. The exact arrangement depends on your situation, and you should indicate your needs when registering. The official disability guidance explains the current options.

Candidate	Current arrangement
Doesn’t speak French fluently	You can use a translator-interpreter approved by a French court of appeal, at your own expense. State in your driving-license application that you do not have a good command of French.
Is deaf or hard of hearing	Specialized theory-test sessions are available. The departmental road-education office can provide French Sign Language (LSF) translation, and you may also use an appropriate communication device.
Has dyslexia, dysphasia, dyspraxia, or another qualifying learning disorder	You can access a specific theory-test session if you provide an accepted supporting document, such as qualifying RQTH/MDPH recognition with a diagnosis, proof of national-exam accommodations, or a medical certificate issued within the previous six months.

The departmental road-education office organizes specialized sessions and can explain the practical arrangements that apply to your case.

Practical driving tests in France

You can take the practical test, known as la conduite, after completing the required training and passing your theory test. If you are with a driving school, the school reserves your test slot through RdvPermis. If you are a category B independent candidate, you create your own RdvPermis account using your NEPH. Presentation to the practical test is free, although a driving school may charge a regulated accompaniment fee.

The practical test lasts 32 minutes. A driving-license inspector evaluates you in the test vehicle; independent category B candidates must provide a vehicle fitted with compliant dual controls. The assessment covers:

• Driving the car following the instructions of the examiner
• Perform a brake-and-stop and driving in reverse
• Answer questions about different car parts, road safety, and basic first aid

Afterward, the examiner will not tell you the result orally. You can check it online via RdvPermis from the day after the exam. If you pass, you can download your CEPC, which serves as a driving license in France for four months when accompanied by ID, and you or your driving school can request production of the physical license.

If you fail the exam, additional driving lessons may be useful before you try again. RdvPermis applies a rebooking delay after a failed practical test, and the waiting period depends on the score you obtained: the lower the score, the longer the delay before another test slot can be booked.

Before getting on the road

You must take out third-party liability car insurance before you can drive in France. Additional insurance that covers you for damage, accidents, and theft is optional.

You can find affordable insurance quotes in the Expatica Directory or on a French comparison site, such as:

• AutoMotoCompare
• Le Comparateur Assurance.

Companies offering car insurance include:

• Allianz Auto
• Groupama – Auto
• EuroAssurance

Driving in France with a foreign license

Visitors on a short stay can drive in France with a qualifying foreign permit. For a non-EU/EEA license, the permit must be valid and written in French or accompanied by an international driving permit (except for a UK license) or an official translation.

If you move to France with an EU/EEA license, you can generally use it for as long as it remains valid, provided you meet the applicable conditions. The same rule applies to a UK license issued before 2021. A non-EU/EEA license – including a UK license issued in 2021 or later – is generally recognized for only one year after you acquire normal residence in France, and you must exchange it within the applicable deadline if the issuing country and license category are eligible for exchange.

There is one notable exception to this rule: if you are a foreign student with a valid student residence permit or a job-search/business-creation residence card (recherche d’emploi/création d’entreprise – RECE), you can use a qualifying non-EU/EEA driving permit during your studies without exchanging it.

People who have been granted international protection follow a specific exchange timetable. Once you receive the residence-permit receipt confirming refugee status, subsidiary protection, or stateless status, you generally have one year from the date that receipt is issued to request the exchange. Check the current Service Public guidance for the documents and eligibility rules that apply to protected persons.

Exchanging a foreign permit in France

The exchange rules depend on where your license was issued. A non-EU/EEA license generally must still be valid and come from a country and license category that France accepts for exchange. EU/EEA licenses, and UK licenses issued before 2021, follow a separate European-license procedure and generally do not need to be exchanged while they remain valid.

For a non-EU/EEA license, first use the official Service Public exchange simulator to check whether the issuing country and license category are eligible. If they are, apply online through France Titres (ANTS). The exact documents vary according to your nationality and residence status, but commonly include:

• A color copy of the front and back of your original license
• Proof of identity
• Proof of address less than six months old
• A digital photo and signature code
• Proof of legal residence in France where required
• A certificate of driving rights issued by the foreign licensing authority and dated within the previous six months, where required
• Proof that you normally lived in the issuing country when the license was issued, where required
• An electronic tax stamp for the exchange fee
• Any additional documents requested for your situation

All documents need to be accompanied by a certified translation if they are not issued in French.

Since 12 May 2026, exchanging a European or non-European foreign driving license costs a €40 electronic tax stamp (€20 in French Guiana). During the initial processing period, you normally keep your foreign license and can continue driving within its period of recognition. When France Titres asks you to send in the original, you can download a secure deposit certificate (attestation de dépôt sécurisée – ADS), valid for four months, which allows you to drive in France while you wait for the French license, within the remaining recognition period of your foreign license.

Renewing a (damaged) French driver’s license

If your driving permit is damaged or expired, simply request a new one via the ANTS website. You’ll need to provide:

• Proof of identity
• Proof of address (less than six months old)
• A photo ID (in digital or paper format)
• Your old license

In some circumstances, you might be required to undergo a medical examination.

The renewal process is free.

In case of a stolen or lost driver’s permit

If your license is stolen, you must report it to the local police immediately. You can do so online, but you must also make an appointment at the police station to sign your report. You will then receive a temporary driving permit that is valid for two months and exclusively meant for driving in France.

Next, you can go the ANTS website to request a new driving permit. You’ll need to provide:

• Proof of identity
• Proof of address (less than six months old)
• A photo ID (in digital or paper format)
• The police report

Should you lose your French driver’s license, you can report it on the same ANTS website. You will then receive a certificate via email or text message as proof that you have lost your permit. This certificate serves as a temporary permit for two months.

In the case of both stolen and lost permits, you must buy a €25 electronic tax stamp. In French Guiana, the stamp costs €12.50.

French driver’s licenses for other vehicles

You can get a driving permit for the following categories:

License	Vehicle	Requirements
A1	Light 2 or 3-wheeled scooter or motorcycle with a maximum power of 15 kW	– Minimum age 16 – Must have an ASSR or ASR
A2	2-wheeled motorcycle with a maximum power of 35 kW	– Minimum age 18 – Must have an ASSR or ASR
A	Any 2-wheeled or 3-wheeled motorcycle or vehicle	– Minimum age 20 for a motorcycle and 21 for a 3-wheeled vehicle with a power of over 15 kW – Must have had an A2 permit for at least two years – Must follow seven hours of mandatory lessons
B1	Heavy quadricycle	– Minimum age 16 – Must have an ASSR or ASR
C	Vehicle that is or has: – Assigned to the transport of goods or equipment – Total weight of over 3.5 tons – Up to 9 seats (driver included)	– Minimum age 21 (unless you are following professional driver training) – Must have a B license
C1	Vehicle that weighs between 3.5 and 7.5 tons	– Minimum age 18 (unless you are following professional driver training) – Must have a B permit
D	Vehicle that is or has: – Assigned to the transport of people – More than 9 seats (driver included)	– Minimum age 24 (unless you are following professional driver training) – Must have a B license
D1	Vehicle that is or has: – Assigned to the transport of people – Up to 17 seats (driver included) – Maximum length of 8 meters	– Minimum age 21 (unless you are following professional driver training) – Must have a B permit

Any category followed by an E means you can drive that vehicle with a trailer that weighs over 750 kg.

Useful resources

• France Titres (ANTS) – the official website for online driving-license procedures
• Sécurité Routière – the official website of the French Road Safety Department, covering a wide range of topics regarding driving in France
• Service-Public.fr – the official government website with information on driving permits, tests, and requirements
• Your Europe – the official EU resource for road rules and safety in France