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Driving in France

Information about driving in France and exchanging your driving license.

Valentin Le Louer avatar
Written by Valentin Le Louer
Updated over a week ago

This guide provides you with a few essential rules you should familiarise

yourself with before you get behind the wheel.

If you have a European driver's licence

If you're holding a European driverā€™s license (EU, EEA and UK licenses before 2021), you are not required to exchange it for a French license as long as you have not contravened the French Highway Code.

This means that if your driver's licence is valid and has been issued in one of these countries, you can keep driving without having to exchange:

Exchanging your driving license for a French license is only required if:

  • The validity of your license has ended

  • You are requesting a new license category (extension)

  • You commit a traffic violation in France resulting in a loss of points, restriction, suspension or cancellation of your license

If you do not have a European driver's licence

If you hold a non-European license issued by a foreign authority, you may drive in France during the first year of your residence permit. At the end of the year, you will need to exchange your driving license or, if that is not possible for you, to take the driving text to keep driving in France.

Exchange your driving license

If you obtained your driving license with a country who signed a convention with France, you can exchange your driving license.

Your foreign driver's license must also:

  • Be issued by the country in which you had your normal residence

  • Be valid

  • Be written in French or be accompanied by an official translation. The translation must be legalized or apostilled.

āš ļø You must exchange your driverā€™s license before its expiry date, or one year after the start date of your first residence permit, or one year after the date on which the French Immigration and Citizenship Office (OFII) approved your long-stay visa equivalent to a residence permit (VLS-TS).

You can submit the driving license exchange request online.

Documents:

  • Color image of both sides of the original driver's license

  • Translation of the driver's license if it is not written in French.

    The translation must be legalized or apostilled. If it is done in France, it must be done by an authorized translator or by the embassy in France of the country that issued the permit.

  • Passport

  • Proof of adress less than 6 months old

  • Proof of legal residence in France (residence permit or Ofii sticker affixed to your passport)

  • E-photo code and digital signature.

  • Certificate of driving rights less than 6 months old at the date of the request. This document is issued by the foreign authorities that issued the driving license. It allows to verify that your license has not been suspended, withdrawn or cancelled.

  • If you are not a citizen of the country where the license was issued, proof of normal residence

  • If you have a heavy vehicle license, medical opinion of aptitude to drive heavy vehicles, or declaration of renunciation of heavy vehicles

  • If your license has been cancelled or suspended: decision of cancellation or suspension + letter informing you of the obligation to exchange sent by the prefecture + medical opinion.

All documents written in a foreign language must be accompanied by a translation by a qualified translator.

Take the driving test

If you cannot exchange your driving licence, you will have to take the driving test.

The test consists of a theory exam (the French Highway Code ā€“ Code de la Route) and a practical test.

You have the possibility to take the written test on your own, as well as the practical test as a "candidat libre". More information here.

But the easiest option is to subscribe with a local driving school (auto-Ć©cole) who will take care of all the administrative procedures.

Check if your licence is valid in France

In order for your driver's licence to be recognised as valid:

  • The driverā€™s license must be currently valid.

  • It must be used in accordance with the medical instructions displayed on the license (e.g. mandatory use of spectacles).

  • The license holder must be above the legal driving age (at least 18 years of age for a ā€œBā€ license).

  • The license must still be valid in the country of issuance (i.e. not suspended, not revoked, no usage restrictions).

In addition, for non-European nationals, the license will need to have been:

  • Issued in the holderā€™s usual country of residence prior to their arrival in France.

  • Drafted in French or accompanied by an official translation.

  • Obtained before the start date of their first French residence permit or before their visa was approved by the French Immigration and Citizenship Office (OFII).

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