Driving Licences in France

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Driving Licences in France

For new arrivals to France, it may be possible to exchange a foreign drivers licence for a French one, or continue driving on an EU-issued licence indefinitely. For all others, a full theory, practical, and in some cases, oral examination must be taken in French.

• To find out who may and who must exchange their licence, and for information on an International Drivers Licence/Permit, see the AngloINFO INFOrmation Page, Exchanging a Foreign Driving Licence in France

The information below is a basic guide to the process you can expect when applying for and taking a French driving test. For detailed or specific information, you must enquire at a driving school or local Préfecture.

Vehicles not requiring driving licence

Under certain conditions, certain types of vehicles may be driven without a driving licence:

• Mopeds: cyclomoteurs with an engine size up to 50cc (or, for non-internal combustion vehicles, a maximum power of 4 KW), and a maximum speed of 45 Kph, if it has automatic gears, and if the rider is over 14 years of age and has insurance for the moped
• Voitures sans permis. Microcars (also known as voiturettes or quadricycles) with a maximum of two seats, an engine size up to 50cc (petrol engines), or  maximum power of 1 KW (electric cars) or 4 KW (other forms of propulsion, including diesel), a maximum speed of 45 Km/h, a maximum unladen kerb weight of 350 Kg and a maximum load capacity of 200 Kg.  The driver must over 16 years old and have insurance. If the driver was born after 1 January 1988, they must have a brevet de sécurité routière, as for younger moped riders (see below).
• Tractors or agricultural machines: with a maximum speed of 40 Kph, on farmland, if the driver is over 16 years old

Mopeds

• If the driver is between 14 and 16 years of age, they must show the certificate of road safety (brevet de sécurité routière). 
  • For full details from the road safety department (Sécurité Routière): Click here (in French)
• A certificate of insurance stating: the insurance company, the identification number of the insurance holder, the engine number of the vehicle
• The proof of insurance certificate

Standard category driver's licence: class B

• The licence B permits a driver to drive a vehicle with a maximum weight of 3,5 tons, and seating no more than 9 passengers, including the driver. This includes standard passenger cars, people carriers and microbusses.
• The licence B driver may tow a trailer with a maximum weight of 750 Kg (or at least not heavier than the towing car) with a total weight of 3,5 tons.
• B licence holder may drive tricycles and heavy power-driven quad bikes
• B licence holder may ride a motorcycle of 125cc or less if they have had their B licence for 2 years minimum, however holders of a B licence issued after 1 January 2007 must take a practical course before doing so

Applying for the Driving Licence

Permis de conduire en candidat libre. Permis de conduire définitif.

Application for a Driving Test:

Apply at the Préfecture or through a driving school for the registration form Cerfa n°11246.

• Form Cerfa n°11246 can be downloaded: Click here (PDF)

This must be completed and submitted with the following. (If you are a minor, it must be filled in by your parent or guardian).

• Proof of identity - residency permit or Carte de Séjour
• Two recent identity photos with your name printed on the back.
• Two stamped, self-addressed envelopes.
• A medical certificate.
• The copy of the driving licences for which you are applying.

An overview of the process for a standard category B licence:

• Get a medical examination by a local medical examiner, commission médicale départementale
• Study for and take theoretical exam, the code (the study book, Code de la Route, is available only in French from bookshops.)
• Once you have passed the theory exam you are entitled to five attempts at the practical exam over the course of 2 years

Note: A learner applicant may be accompanied by a sworn translator for the written theory test. This should be arranged in advance. 

Learner Drivers: Apprentissage Anticipé de la Conduite (AAC)

Basic driving practice can begin at 16 years if certain criteria are met. First register with the prefecture. Then sign up with a registered driving school for an "evaluation of knowledge". If successful, the learner must follow a minimum of 20 hours driving practice with a school before taking a general theory test. If successful, the candidate is issued with a certificate valid for three years to drive accompanied by an adult, with a teaching follow-up by the driving school in preparation for full test and training from the age of 18. 

• For information from Sécurité Routière on being a learner driver: Click here (in French)

The practical exam can only be taken from the age of 18 years by a learner who has completed the accompanied driving training for a period of 1 to 3 years and completed at least 3000 Km. 

An unlicenced trainee driver may not drive outside of France and is restricted to a speed limit of 110 Km/h on the Autoroute.

In summary:

• The learner driver receives a certificate permitting them to drive accompanied by a qualified driver over the age of 28, who has held their licence for a minimum of 3 years.
• Before taking the practical test, the learner must drive for 3,000 Km accompanied by a qualified driver.
• The insurance company of the owner of the vehicle must be notified and be in agreement.
• The vehicle must be equipped with two side rear-view mirrors.
• The car should ideally have a central handbrake and a manual gear box. Learning to drive in an automatic car does not qualify the driver for the full category B licence.
• The exam will involve a 20-minute course in traffic.

Note: If the driver already holds a foreign driver's licence, they are not required to complete the 3,000 Km of "practice driving".

Once the practical exam has been passed, a provisional driver's licence (the pink attestation provisoire or la "feuille rose")  is issued. This is valid for 2 months and permits the holder to drive anywhere within France.

The licence can be collected from the Prefecture or the place of the exam within 2 weeks and 2 months.

To collect the driver's licence, the following must be taken:

• The feuille jaune supplied by the inspector
• Proof of identity
• Money - to pay the regional tax

It is possible to receive the licence by post by providing:

• The feuille jaune supplied by the inspector
• A stamped, self-addressed registered envelope
• A check for payment of regional taxes

Note: If the driver wears spectacles or contact lenses, this must be stated on the licence and it is compulsory to wear either of them to drive. If the driver wears contact lenses, a set of eyeglasses must be kept with the driver at all times while driving.

There are special exceptions for physically disabled people. Please enquire at the Préfecture or driving school.

Related Information

• For information on French driving licences from French government's Service-Public website (in French): Click here
• For the Service-Public website (in French)
• For the Sécurité Routière (Ministère de l'Écologie, de l'Energie, du Développement durable et de l'Aménagement du territoire) website: Click here (in French)