Driving in France can seem daunting. Fortunately, traffic outside the capital isn’t that bad, and learning to drive is relatively easy (if you learn how). And if you already have a valid foreign license, exchanging it for a French one is just as easy.
Driving license in France
The French driving license ( permis de conduire or permis B ) is the official document that allows you to drive a car in France and all member countries of the European Union (EU) and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA – Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland). It also serves as an official form of identification in most places in France.
The permit is a pink plastic card about the size of a regular credit card. It contains your personal details, the type of vehicle you are allowed to drive, and the date of issue and expiry. It is valid for up to 15 years, depending on your age, vehicle category and medical record.
The front of the card contains the following information:
| Rights marks | Information |
| 1 and 2 | Your full name |
| 3 | Your date of birth and place of birth |
| 4a and 4b | License start and end date |
| 4c | Municipality where the permit was issued |
| 5 | Your license number |
| 7 | Your signature |
| 9 | Your license category (e.g. B for cars) |
The back of the license contains a table with information about the different categories of driver. France has four categories, namely:
- AM – mopeds
- A1, A2, A – motorcycles
- B – personal cars
- C – small trucks
- D – vehicles that can carry up to 8 people (i.e. bus)
French driving licenses are the responsibility of the Ministry of Ecological Transition and Territorial Cohesion (METTC). They are issued by the National Agency for Secured Titles ( ANTS).
Points system against reckless driving
France has a system of penalties for traffic violations. After a smooth probationary period, all regular drivers will have 12 points on their license. If you break traffic regulations or cause an accident that causes bodily harm, you will lose one or more points.
You can take a voluntary road safety course ( Stage de Sensibilisation à la Sécurité Routière ) to get up to four points. Alternatively, you can recover your 12 points by not committing any other traffic violations for at least two to three years.
Once you lose all 12 points, your license will be suspended. This can last up to six months in normal cases and up to five years in extreme circumstances. You can get your license back after a medical examination, although you may have to retake the driving test.
Getting a driving license in France
To obtain an independent driving license, you must be 18 years old and have taken at least 20 hours of driving lessons. Once you have passed the theoretical and practical driving tests, you or your driving school ( auto école ) can apply for your license online using the Harmonized Prefectural Registration Number ( Numéro d’Enregistrement Préfectoral Harmonisé – NEPH).
Documents that need to be provided include:
- Proof of identity (e.g. your ID card)
- Proof of residence no older than six months (e.g. with Justif’Adresse address or latest utility bill)
- Recent photograph (in digital format from an ANTS authorized photographer or in paper format)
- Driving Licence Examination Certificate ( Certificat d’Examen au permis de Conduire – CEPC) to prove that you have passed the practical driving test
- If you are not an EU/EFTA citizen, your residence card
- If you are under 21 years old, a level 2 school road safety certificate ( Atestation Scolaire de Sécurité Routière de niveau 2 – ASSR2) or a road safety certificate ( Atestation de Sécurité Routière – ASR)
Applying for a first driver’s license is free and takes about five business days.
Driving under 18 in France
It is also possible to start driving lessons at an earlier age. You can start driving instruction ( aprentissage anticipé de la conduite – AAC) as early as 15 years old and take the practical test at 17. If successful, you will receive a CEPC. This certificate is valid as a driving license for four months.
However, keep in mind that under 18s can only drive if accompanied by a guardian or supervisor ( accompagnement ). The accompanying person must have a license for at least five years and must also have additional car insurance.
Beginner driver’s license
For the first three years, new drivers will have a probationary driving licence and must have an A badge on the back of their car. This beginner’s permit starts with six points and gains an additional two points per year. So:
| Total points | |
| During the first year of your license | 6 points |
| During the second year | 8 points |
| During the third year | 10 points |
| During the fourth year | 12 points |
As mentioned earlier, traffic violations can result in points being lost. If you lose at least three points at once, you must take a mandatory traffic safety course.
After three years, your trial license will automatically be upgraded to a regular license.
Driving lessons in France
By law, you are required to take at least 20 hours of driving lessons ( conduite supervisée ) if you drive a manual, and 13 hours if you drive an automatic transmission. Beginners may also need additional driving lessons; in 2020, students needed an average of 35 lessons before they could take the practical test.
Driving lessons in France are quite expensive. Hourly rates for lessons range from 40 to 60 euros per hour. Some driving schools also offer fixed-price packages that include a certain number of lessons (but charge double for overtime). When choosing a school, you should always look at the success rate.
On average, students paid between €1,234 and €2,000 for their French driving license (2023).
If you are a student, you can receive a grant of €500 to finance your driving license. For more information, visit the French government website.
Driving tests in France
To obtain a driving license, you must pass a driving theory test ( épreuve théorique générale commune – ETG) and a practical test ( épreuve pratique ). Novice drivers with disabilities or certain medical conditions may also need to undergo a medical examination by a registered doctor. The medical certificate is valid for two years.
Driving tests in France are quite difficult, with only 59.2% of applicants passing the practical test on the first attempt. Interestingly, in 2021, 62.5% of men and only 54.4% of women received their driving licenses.
Driving theory test
The driving theory test, commonly known as the Code , consists of 40 multiple-choice questions covering traffic rules and road safety.
Your driving school will provide you with the official Driving Instructions training booklet or alternatively you can download it from the French government website. You should keep this booklet in your car at all times while you are learning.
When you are ready, you can schedule the date, time and location of your exam on the ANTS website or on the website of the French postal service, La Poste.
The driving theory test is conducted digitally using tablets at the test center. The questions will appear on the screen and be read aloud. The test takes approximately 30 minutes , and you must answer at least 35 questions correctly to pass. You can find sample questions online, for example on Le Permis Libre.
Results will be online within 48 hours:
- If you fail the exam, you can retake it in two days. There is no limit to the number of attempts.
- If successful, you have five years to pass your practical test and get your driver’s license.
A regular French driving theory test costs 30 euros.
If you live with (learning) problems or a language barrier
There are also special ETG exams ( examen ETG spécifique ) for people with certain disabilities (learning) or language difficulties.
To take advantage of this, you must disclose your problem during registration. for example:
You must also send a written request to the prefecture for another location. There can be no more than three interpreters for each exam.
Practical driving tests in France
You can take the practical test, known as la conduite , after completing the required hours and passing the theory test. In most cases, your driving school will book the practical test for you and pay the €30 fee on your behalf. You can also apply for the test yourself on the ANTS website.
The practical test takes around 30 minutes and is conducted in a vehicle provided by a driving school or the local prefecture. It starts with an examiner ( moniteur ) checking your ID, address, test invitation and theory test results. You will then be tested on:
- Driving a car according to the examiner’s instructions
- Perform braking and stopping and reversing
- Answer questions about different parts of the car, road safety, and basic first aid
The examiner will not tell you how you did after this. Instead, you can check your results online within two to four days after the test. If you pass, you or your driving school may ask to see your driver’s license.
If you fail the test, additional hours of driving lessons are recommended. You can sign up to retake the test as soon as you feel ready, and there is no longer a limit on the number of times you can retake the driving test.
Before you hit the road
You must take out third party car insurance before you can drive in France. Additional insurance that covers you against damage, accidents and theft is optional.
Driving in France with Ukrainian licenses
Tourists can drive around the country using their foreign permit. If you are outside the EU/EEA region (European Economic Area – Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) and your driving license is not in French, you must provide an official translation.
If you have moved to France and have an EU/EEA license, you can use it as long as it is valid (provided it has not been suspended or revoked). Those with a non-EU/EEA license must exchange it for a French one after one year of residence.
There is one notable exception to this rule; if you are in France on a student visa, you can use your foreign permit for the entire period of your studies.
Persons under international protection can exchange their driving licence for a French one as soon as they apply for recognition. Their permit does not even have to be valid if it expired after their arrival in France.
Exchange of a foreign permit in France
If you want to – or have to – exchange your foreign driving license, you must do so while it is still valid. If it has expired, you will effectively start from scratch and have to go through the entire process of obtaining a French driving license.
Depending on your country of origin (in French), it won’t be a problem. You can apply for an exchange on the ANTS website. You will need to provide the following:
- A photocopy of your original license (front and back)
- Identity verification
- Proof of address (less than six months old)
- Digitally signed photo code
- An official letter from the issuing country stating that you still have the right to drive
- If you are from the EU, proof of arrival (e.g. your boarding pass)
- If you are not from the EU (including the UK), proof of legal residence status (e.g. your residence card)
- Any other necessary documents
All documents must be accompanied by a certified translation if they are not issued in French.
Exchanging a foreign driver’s license is free, but please note that the process may take several months. During this time, you can still drive with your own permit.
Restoration of (damaged) French driving license
If your driving license is damaged or has expired, simply request a new one on the ANTS website. You will need to provide:
- Identity verification
- Proof of address (less than six months old)
- Photo ID (digital or paper format)
- Your old license
In some cases, you may need to undergo a medical examination.
The renewal process is free.
In case of theft or loss of a driver’s license
If your license is stolen, you must report it to your local police immediately. You can do this online, but you will also need to make an appointment at a police station to sign your report. You will then receive a temporary driving permit, valid for two months and intended exclusively for driving in France.
You can then go to the ANTS website to request a new driving license. You will need to provide:
- Identity verification
- Proof of address (less than six months old)
- Photo ID (digital or paper format)
- Police report
If you lose your French driving license, you can report it on the same ANTS website. You will then receive a certificate by email or text message as proof that you have lost your permit. This certificate is a temporary permit for two months.
In the case of stolen and lost permits, you must pay a fee of €25. There may also be additional regional taxes, depending on your location.
French driving licenses for other vehicles
You can get a driver’s license in the following categories:
| Category | vehicle | Requirements |
| A1 | Light 2 or 3 wheel scooter or motorcycle with a maximum power of 15 kW | – Minimum age 16 – Must have ASSR or ASR |
| A2 | 2-wheeled motorcycle with a maximum power of 35 kW | – Minimum age 18 – Must have ASSR or ASR |
| AND | Any 2-wheeled or 3-wheeled motorcycle or vehicle | – Minimum age – 20 years for a motorcycle and 21 years for a 3-wheeled vehicle with a power of over 15 kW – Must have held an A2 license for at least two years – Must attend seven hours of mandatory lessons |
| B1 | Heavy ATV | – Minimum age 16 – Must have ASSR or ASR |
| C | A vehicle that is or has: – Designed to carry goods or equipment – Total weight over 3.5 tonnes – Up to 9 seats (including the driver) | – Minimum age 21 (unless you have completed professional driver training) – Must have a B license |
| C1 | Vehicle weighing from 3.5 to 7.5 tons | – Minimum age 18 years (unless you have completed professional driver training) – Must have a category B license |
| D | A vehicle that is or has: – Designed for the transport of people – More than 9 seats (including the driver) | – Minimum age 24 years (unless you have completed professional driver training) – Must have a B license |
| D1 | A vehicle that is or has: – Designed to carry people – Up to 17 seats (including the driver) – Maximum length 8 meters | – Minimum age 21 (unless you have completed professional driver training) – Must have a category B license |
Any category followed by E means you can drive such a vehicle with a trailer weighing more than 750 kg.