Driving Licences in France

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Driving Licences in France

The minimum driving age is 18 for most categories of vehicles. Learner drivers must be 18 before they can pass the practical driving test.

The licence B permits a driver to drive a vehicle with a maximum weight of 3,5 tons, and seating no more than nine passengers, including the driver. This includes standard passenger cars, people carriers and minibuses. Holders of a licence B 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.

Licence validity period

Standard driving permits from the groups A and B have unlimited validity - no expiry date - provided the driver commits no traffic offences.

Licences from groups C, D and E (those permitting driving heavy goods or passenger transport vehicles) must be renewed every five years for drivers under 60 years, every two years for drivers age 60 to 76 and annually thereafter. A medical certificate must accompany the renewal application.

Vehicles Not Requiring a 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 be 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

A moped or scooter up to 50cc must be registered and have certain certificates displayed:

• 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

Scooters and motorcycles

All B licence holders must complete a seven-hour course before being allowed to drive a motorbike of 50cc to 125cc, or a three wheeled motor tricycle over 50cc. The driver must have held the B licence for two years before being allowed to participate in the training course. If the driver can prove that in the previous five years they have a history of driving light motorcycles or motor tricycles, these rules do not apply. In the event of being stopped by police, the driver must show a proof of training (certificate) or a certificate from the insurance company proving the driving history.

Drivers of heavy goods and passenger transport require a category B licence before being issued one for commercial and heavy goods vehicles (categories C, D and E).

• For more information from Service Public: Click here (in French)
• For more information on specialist licences: Click here

Applying for the Driving Licence

The first step is to 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 the applicant is under 18 it must be filled in by a parent or guardian).

• Proof of identity or residency permit (Carte de Séjour)
• Two recent identity photos with the applicant's name printed on the back
• Two stamped, self-addressed envelopes
• A medical certificate

In order to get a driving licence, the candidate must:

• Undergo a medical examination by a local medical examiner, commission médicale départementale
• Study for and take the theory exam, the code (the study book, Code de la Route, is available only in French from bookshops.)
• Once the theory exam has been successfully passed, the candidate is entitled to five attempts at the practical exam over the course of three years

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

Once the practical exam has been passed, a provisional driver's licence (attestation provisoire or "feuille jaune") is issued. This is valid for two 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 two weeks and two 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 cheque 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. Enquire at the Préfecture or driving school.

• For detailed information from the French Government on getting a driving licence: Click here (in French)

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 one to three years and completed at least 3,000 Km.

An unlicenced trainee driver may not drive outside of France and is restricted to a speed limit of 110 Km/h on the motorway (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 three 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 involves a 35-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".

Related Information

• Information on French driving licences from French government's Service-Public website: Click here (in French)
• Service-Public (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)