French driving licence: exchange and application

If you have recently moved to France and have a driving license issued by a non-European state, you must exchange it for a French driving license within 1 year (18 months if you are from the EU) to be able to continue driving in France. The request is to be made online via the ANTS website. If you meet the conditions, you will be issued a French driving license for free.

Applying for a French driving license

To be exchanged, your driving license must meet the following conditions:

• Be valid
• Have been issued by the country in which you had your normal residence: country where a person lives for more than 6 months (185 days minimum) per calendar year, due to personal or professional ties. However, the normal residence of a person whose personal ties are located in France but who is abroad to follow his studies, training, internship or to accomplish a mission of a fixed period, is in France. before settling in France
• Have been issued by a State practicing reciprocal permit exchange with France
• Be written in French or be accompanied by an official translation. The translation must be legalized or apostilled: Formality consisting, after verification of the quality, seal and signature of the author of an act, in affixing a stamp, called apostille, on the act. This formality certifies the origin and signature of the deed but does not confirm its content. if it is made abroad. If it is done in France, it must be done by an authorized translator

You must also meet the following conditions:

• Have the minimum age to drive vehicles in the equivalent category of your license in France
• Have your main residence in France: Country where a person lives for more than 6 months (185 days minimum) per calendar year, due to personal or professional ties. However, the normal residence of a person whose personal ties are located in France but who is abroad to follow his studies, training, internship or to accomplish a mission of a fixed period, is in France
• Hold a valid residence permit if you are neither European nor French
• Have passed the permit exam when you had your normal residence: country where a person lives for more than 6 months (185 days minimum) per calendar year, due to personal or professional ties. However, the normal residence of a person whose personal ties are located in France but who is abroad to follow his studies, training, internship or to accomplish a mission of a fixed period, is in France. in the country of issue of the permit
• Observe any medical prescriptions mentioned on your licence. For example, wearing glasses is compulsory if your eysight is not optimal
• If necessary, have passed a medical examination for fitness to drive in France. For example, if your state of health implies a restriction on the period of validity of the permit
• Not have been sanctioned by a suspension, withdrawal or cancellation of your right to drive in the country of issue of the license
• Not to have been sanctioned in France, before having obtained a driving license in another State, by a cancellation or invalidation of your right to drive

If you cannot satisfy all those criteria, you must pass the French driving test.

Apply for french driving licence online

To exchange you driving license with the French one, you must apply for a French driving licence online via the ANTS website. The ANTS deal with request regarding car registration certificates in France, passports, identity cards and driving license. To proceed to the exchange, you will have to provide:

• Scanned color image of the original driver’s license (both sides)
• Translation of the driving license if it is not written in French. The translation must be legalized or apostilled. This formality certifies the origin and signature of the document but does not confirm its content. if it is carried out abroad. If it is done in France, it must be done by an authorized translator
• Proof of identity
• Valid proof of address in France (less than 6 months old)
• Proof of legal residence in France (residence permit or Ofii sticker affixed to your passport)
• Digital photo-signature (if you do not have access to a photo and digital signature service, you are asked to complete and send by mail a photo-signature form (FPS) during the teleprocedure)
• Certificate of driving rights of less than 3 months issued by the foreign authorities having issued the driving license. This document ensures that your license has not been suspended, withdrawn or canceled in your country
• Translation of the certificate of driving rights if it is not written in French, by a translator authorized in France
• If you do not have the nationality of the country of issue of the permit, proof of normal residence: Country where a person lives for more than 6 months (185 days minimum) per calendar year, due to personal or professional ties. However, the normal residence of a person whose personal ties are located in France but who is abroad to follow his studies, training, internship or to accomplish a mission of a fixed period, is in France. in the foreign state at the time of issuance of the foreign permit. For example, registration certificate and removal from consular registers, employment contract, pay slips, work certificates, etc.
• If you have a truck license, medical opinion of fitness to drive heavy categories, or declaration of waiver of heavy categories
• If your driving license has been canceled or suspended: cancellation or suspension decision + letter informing the prefecture of the obligation to exchange + medical opinion

French driving license swap after Brexit

As you might have guessed, Brexit has changed the rules regarding the valitidy of a UK driving license in France. However there is a good news. If you got your driving license before Brexit (2021), your British license is still recognized in France as long as it is valid. Therefore you do not have to request the exchange of your UK license for a French driving license. On the other hand, any license granted as of 2021 must be exchanged.

French driving licence categories

Motorcycles

• AM: 50cc mopeds – It corresponds to the Road Safety Certificate (BSR). Not covered by the points permit scheme.
• A1: Motorcycles with or without sidecar, 125 cm3 max, power not exceeding 11 kilowatts and having a power-to-weight ratio not exceeding 0.1 kilowatt perkilogram
• A2: Motorcycles with or without sidecar of a power not exceeding 35 kilowatts and whose power to weight ratio does not exceed 0.2 kilowatt per kilogram. Power cannot result the clamping of a vehicle developing more than double its power.
• A: Motorcycles with or without sidecar; Motor tricycles with a power greater than 15 kilowatts.

Cars

• B: Motor vehicles with a permissible gross vehicle weight (GVWR) that does not exceed 3.5 tonnes, used for passenger transport and comprising, in addition to the driver’s seat, 8 seats max.
• B1: Vehicles belonging to category L7e.
• BE: Category B vehicles to which a trailer or semi-trailer is coupled which has a permissible gross vehicle weight (GVWR) not exceeding 3,500 kilograms

Trucks

• C: trucks/lorries other than those of categories D and D1. Vehicles of this category may be coupled with a trailer whose total authorized weight in load (PTAC) does not exceed 750 kilograms
• C1 Motor vehicles other than those in category D and D1, the total authorized weight of which load (PTAC) is greater than 3,500 kilograms without exceeding 7,500 kilograms and which are designed and constructed for the transport of not more than eight passengers in addition to the driver. To vehicles of this category can be hitched a trailer with a permissible gross vehicle weight (GVWR) does not exceed 750 kilograms
• CE: Category C vehicles coupled to a trailer or semi-trailer, the weight of which permissible gross vehicle weight (GVWR) exceeds 750 kilograms
• C1 E: Vehicles in category C1 coupled to a trailer or semi-trailer with permissible gross weight (GVWR) exceeds 750 kilograms
• Category B: vehicles hitched to a trailer or semi-trailer, the weight of which the total authorized load exceeds 3,500 kilograms. The permissible total rolling weight of combinations of vehicles in category C1E cannot exceed 12,000 kilograms

Bus and coaches

• D: Motor vehicles designed and constructed for the transport of persons with more than eight seats in addition to the driver’s seat or carrying more than eight people, not including the driver. Vehicles in this category may be coupled with a trailer whose total authorized weight in load (PTAC) does not exceed 750 kilograms
• D1: motor vehicles designed and manufactured for the transport of persons comprising, in addition to driver’s seat, sixteen seats maximum and no more than eight in length meters. Vehicles in this category may be coupled with a trailer whose total authorized weight in load (PTAC) does not exceed 750 kilograms
• D1 E: Vehicles in category D1 coupled to a trailer with a total weight authorized in load (PTAC) exceeds 750 kilograms
• DE: Vehicles in category D coupled to a trailer, the total weight of which is above 750 kg

French driving license after 70

The elderly must pass a medical test before reaching 75 and 80 years. After that, the test must be performed every 2 years. In case of issues, the driving license can be subject to limitations (must drive an automatic car, with glasses, during dyalight etc.). If medical conditions prevent safe driving, the driving license will be cancelled.

FAQ French driving license