Traffic rulesFrance

Driving licences are issued by the French State through France Titres, formerly known as ANTS, after the required examinations and administrative checks.

The Ministry of the Interior is responsible for the examination system. Theory tests are delivered through approved centres, while authorised government inspectors conduct practical tests.

Yes. A valid French licence is recognised throughout France, subject to its categories, restrictions and current legal status.

Yes. A valid French EU-format licence is generally recognised throughout the European Union and European Economic Area.

The numéro d’enregistrement préfectoral harmonisé is the permanent candidate and driver number used for examination registration and licence records.

France Identité is the official digital identity application through which eligible drivers can import a digital version of their driving licence.

Yes. The official digital licence is accepted during roadside checks by French police and gendarmerie.

No. Drivers should carry the physical driving licence when travelling outside France.

No. EU rules generally permit only one valid EU or EEA driving licence at a time.

Yes. Examination and State fees follow national rules, but tuition, lesson packages, vehicle use and administrative charges vary between schools.

A category B licence can be obtained from age 17.

Traditional driving-school or independent preparation can begin from age 16.

The apprentissage anticipé de la conduite (AAC) route can begin from age 15.

No. The category B practical examination and licence can be obtained only from age 17.

The applicant must normally have normal residence in France or satisfy the applicable EU study-residence condition.

A valid identity document, proof of address, an approved photo-signature and the supporting documents applicable to age and nationality are normally required.

An applicant under 21 who is obtaining a first driving licence must generally provide ASSR2 or ASR, unless an accepted exemption applies.

Yes. A foreign resident who satisfies lawful residence, identity, normal-residence and examination requirements can apply.

No. A current judicial or administrative driving prohibition prevents issue of the entitlement.

Yes. The school can manage the registration and examination process with the candidate’s authority.

Yes. A candidate can apply directly through France Titres and take category B as a candidat libre.

No. The candidate must satisfy the requirements and obtain available theory and practical appointments.

No. An ordinary category B applicant does not normally need a medical examination unless a health condition, disability, previous sanction or professional use makes one necessary.

An approved doctor is required where the regulations call for medical fitness assessment, including certain disabilities, illnesses, licence restrictions and professional categories.

Not when an approved medical examination is legally required; the doctor must be authorised for driving-licence assessments and must not be the applicant’s regular treating doctor in the relevant procedure.

Yes. Vision is checked during training and examination, and a medical specialist assessment can be required where necessary.

Yes. A harmonised restriction code is recorded when corrective lenses must be worn while driving.

Yes. Codes can require an automatic transmission, hand controls, modified pedals or other adaptations.

No. The applicant can be assessed using an adapted vehicle and may receive a licence with appropriate restrictions.

Yes. A licence or category can be granted for a limited period when periodic medical review is required.

Yes. The prefect or another competent authority can require medical review, restrict the entitlement or suspend it where fitness is in doubt.

Yes. Medical and psychotechnical examinations can be required before restoration or reissue, depending on the sanction and its duration.

The main routes are traditional training, AAC from age 15, supervised driving from age 18, vocational accompanied driving and independent candidacy.

The statutory minimum is 20 hours, including at least 15 hours on roads open to traffic, subject to the simulator rules.

The statutory minimum is 13 hours, including at least 10 hours on roads open to traffic, subject to the simulator rules.

Yes. The minimum is not a guarantee of test readiness, and the instructor can recommend additional training.

The livret d’apprentissage records learning objectives, completed training and progress.

No. Before licensing, ordinary on-road practice must occur through an authorised instructor or a lawful accompanied-driving scheme.

The companion must normally have held category B for at least five consecutive years and must receive approval from the vehicle insurer.

Yes. The insurer must grant an extension of cover naming or accepting the learner and accompanied-driving arrangement.

Yes, when sufficiently prepared and accompanied under the legal and insurance conditions.

It allows a candidate aged 18 or older to gain additional accompanied experience after initial driving-school training, including after an unsuccessful practical test.

Unlike AAC, supervised driving has no general minimum duration or minimum distance.

Yes. The candidate can change schools and retain valid registration, passed tests and documented training.

It is the épreuve théorique générale (ETG), commonly called the Code de la route examination.

The test contains 40 multiple-choice questions.

At least 35 correct answers are required.

The candidate may make no more than five mistakes.

Approved private examination operators deliver the ETG under State supervision.

Yes. The examination notice and an accepted identity document are required.

Yes. Both routes are permitted.

The examination covers rules, signs, safe behaviour, vulnerable road users, vehicle safety, environmental driving, alcohol, drugs and emergency situations.

Yes. The examination uses visual and situational material to test practical understanding.

It is valid for five years.

The modern category B procedure no longer uses the former five-attempt limit; the theory pass remains usable for its five-year validity.

The candidate can register and pay for another examination without a statutory waiting period, subject to appointment availability.

The category B examination lasts 32 minutes.

It includes document and identity checks, installation, driving, two manoeuvres, vehicle-safety questions and first-aid or road-safety questions.

The practical route includes a substantial period of driving in real traffic within the 32-minute appointment.

The examiner assesses rule compliance, vehicle control, observation, positioning, speed, communication and safe independent decision-making.

The candidate must obtain at least 20 points.

No. Any eliminatory fault causes failure regardless of the numerical score.

It is conduct that endangers safety or seriously violates the rules, such as ignoring a mandatory stop, driving on the wrong side or crossing a continuous line dangerously.

Yes. The candidate answers a vehicle-verification question and related road-safety and first-aid questions.

The result is made available online, normally from the day after the examination.

Yes. An administrative appeal can normally be lodged within two months after notification of the result.

The learner must normally drive at least 3,000 kilometres over a period of at least one year.

Yes. The learner, companion and driving school take part in the prescribed preliminary and educational meetings.

Yes. The ordinary probationary period is reduced from three years to two years.

A probationary licence starts with six points.

Without a point-loss offence, the balance increases by two points at the end of each probationary year until reaching 12.

Without a point-loss offence, the balance increases by three points at the end of each of the two probationary years.

Yes. An eligible voluntary seven-hour course taken between the sixth and twelfth month can reduce the probationary period when the statutory conditions are met.

The maximum is 0.2 grams per litre of blood, equivalent to 0.10 mg per litre of exhaled air.

Yes. The red A disc must be displayed at the rear during the probationary period.

Yes. Probationary drivers must comply with the specific lower maximum speeds prescribed on certain higher-speed roads.

The driver receives letter 48N and must complete a road-safety awareness course within four months.

Yes. A six-point offence while the licence has only six points can invalidate it.

AM covers mopeds and light quadricycles within the statutory speed and engine or power limits.

A1 covers motorcycles up to 125 cm³, 11 kW and the prescribed power-to-weight ratio. The minimum age is 16.

A2 covers motorcycles up to 35 kW with the prescribed power-to-weight restrictions. The minimum age is 18.

A covers unrestricted motorcycles after at least two years with A2 and completion of the seven-hour transition course.

B1 covers heavy motor quadricycles. The minimum age is 16.

B covers vehicles up to 3,500 kg with no more than eight passenger seats in addition to the driver.

It can tow a trailer up to 750 kg, or a heavier trailer where the statutory combination limits are satisfied.

It allows a category B combination above 3,500 kg but not exceeding 4,250 kg after the required seven-hour training.

It covers a category B towing vehicle with a trailer or semi-trailer above 750 kg and not exceeding 3,500 kg where the combination exceeds the B96 limit.

Under specified conditions, a holder with at least two years of category B may do so after the required seven-hour training or under an exemption.

C1 covers medium goods vehicles above 3,500 kg and up to 7,500 kg; C covers heavier goods vehicles.

D1 covers smaller passenger vehicles within its seating and length limits; D covers vehicles designed for more than eight passengers.

Not always. Many professional lorry and bus drivers also need the initial professional qualification, commonly called FIMO.

It is the compulsory initial minimum training for many professional goods or passenger drivers who do not hold an exempt vocational qualification.

The formation continue obligatoire is periodic professional training completed every five years.

It normally lasts 35 hours.

Yes. Vocational diplomas or professional qualification routes can allow access below the ordinary category age.

Yes. C and D categories require periodic medical fitness approval.

No. Taxi and VTC drivers must satisfy separate professional-card, examination, medical, good-repute and local requirements.

It is the additional qualification required for drivers transporting dangerous goods under ADR rules.

No. The driver must hold the correct vehicle category as well as the applicable ADR certificate.

The ordinary lower 0.2 g/l limit applies to public-transport drivers and other groups specified by law.

The physical licence document is generally valid for 15 years.

No. The 15-year renewal is normally administrative; the category remains valid for life unless restricted, suspended, cancelled or medically limited.

No. Ordinary document renewal requires neither a driving test nor a routine medical examination.

The three-part pink paper licence remains valid until 19 January 2033, unless replacement is required earlier.

Yes. C and D categories require periodic medical renewal, with shorter periods at older ages.

The application is completed online through France Titres with identity, address and digital photo-signature evidence.

Report the loss or theft where required and request a replacement online.

Yes. An attestation can be available during the replacement procedure and is normally valid for a limited period in France.

No. The electronic driver record controls the entitlement.

A new card may be requested when personal information needs updating, using the France Titres procedure.

Yes. A valid EU or EEA licence is generally recognised while it remains valid and the holder satisfies the French conditions.

No. Exchange is generally optional unless the licence expires, is lost, is damaged, has no valid EU-format duration or the holder commits an offence requiring French registration.

Yes. Since 12 May 2026, the exchange normally requires a €40 electronic tax stamp, with a reduced amount in French Guiana.

Yes, if it is valid and written in French or accompanied by an official translation or accepted International Driving Permit.

It can generally be used during the first year after the relevant French residence status begins.

The deadline depends on nationality and residence document, but many new residents must apply within one year.

No. The issuing country must have a reciprocal exchange arrangement and the licence must satisfy validity and issue-date conditions.

The resident must pass the French theory and practical examinations to continue driving after the recognition period.

It is normally valid for three years, or for the shorter remaining validity of the national licence.

No. It must be carried together with the valid French licence.

A full licence has a maximum of 12 points.

An individual offence can remove up to six points.

The general maximum is eight points, with a special maximum of nine for combined drug and alcohol driving.

Yes. The official Mes points permis service shows the balance and provides driving-rights documents.

Yes. An approved road-safety awareness course can restore up to four points, subject to the eligibility and frequency rules.

The licence is invalidated and the driver must surrender it, observe the prohibition period and complete the medical and examination requirements.

The general maximum is 0.5 g/l of blood or 0.25 mg/l of exhaled air.

No. Driving after using prohibited drugs is a criminal offence and normally removes six points, or nine when combined with alcohol.

Yes. Refusal is a criminal offence carrying major penalties and a six-point deduction.

A psychotechnical examination lasting at least 40 minutes is required, together with the applicable medical assessment.

This FAQ was prepared from current Service-Public, Sécurité routière, France Titres and consolidated Légifrance material.

Last reviewed: 4 August 2026.

This website is an independent educational resource and is not affiliated with France Titres, Sécurité routière, a prefecture, examination centre or driving school.

Official legislation and instructions from the competent authority always take precedence.