Exchanging a Foreign Driving Licence in France

The information you need on how to apply for a French driving licence, learn the Code de la Route, the role of the driving instructor, applying for a learner's licence and taking the oral examination and driving test to get a driving licence in France.

Driving Licence issued by an EU or EEA Member State

People with EU-issued driver's licences who take up residence in France are not required to exchange it for a French licence.
Note that the French licence regulations apply to the non-French EU licence regarding:

The period of validity of the licence
Medical checks
Minimum driver's age
Penalties and restrictions, including suspension, withdrawal and cancellation of the licence

If a driving infraction occurs, the new country of residence can require the holder to obtain a new licence. An exchange becomes compulsory if the licence holder commits a driving offence in France - this is so that points can be retracted.

Note: Obtaining a French licence through exchange can simplify matters in case of loss or theft and to obtain motor insurance. After the French licence has been issued, the original will be kept by the French authorities and returned to the issuing authority.

For information from the French government on driving in France with a valid EU/EEA licence: Click here (in French)
Full details from the EU: Click here (in English)

To request a licence exchange

Apply to the Préfecture for the form Cerfa n°11247 demande d'échange de permis de conduire. Provide the following:

proof of identity: passport, residence permit or carte de séjour (copy both sides)
proof of address: EDF bill or rental contract
- Note: some Préfectures may request a taxe d'habitation or taxe foncier statement. The taxe d'habitation is issued by the local Marie annually in October to the resident of an address)
- Some may request six concurrent utility invoices (EDF or France Telecom bills)
original driving licence (this may need to be officially translated by a traducteur expert-juré, contact details of translators are available at the Mairie and Préfecture)
a student must show proof of student's status for a period of at least six months
proof of no suspensions or limitations on your existing licence
2 identity photographs
photocopies of all documents.
stamped, self-addressed envelope

The licence will be exchanged for one in the equivalent category. Once the French licence is issued, the original is taken and sent to the issuing country. There is a fee payable for an exchange.

Further documents may be needed for light and heavy goods vehicle licences (LGV and HGV - those other than standard category A and B) and medical certificate may be requested.

Note: A towing permit issued on some licences may not be included in the new French licence.

For further information see the French Government website (in French)

Driving Licence Issued Outside the EU or EEA

The conditions of validity of recognition and exchange are fixed by a ministerial decree of February 8 1999.

NOTE: Holders of valid South African and Australian (all States and Territories) licences are entitled to exchange them in the same way as holders of valid EU licences provided the application is made within the first 12-months months of residence. (See above)
Australians note that as Australian licences do not have a "valid from" date noted on the licence, a document from the Australian Authorities stating when the licence was issued may be required.

Drivers 18 years and over may drive in France on a valid foreign licence for one year. It then becomes obligatory that you drive on a French driver's licence. At one year from the date marked on the carte de séjour or residency permit, any foreign driving licence becomes invalid. As a result, the driver is uninsured. Agreements do exist with certain countries and states (Australia, South Africa, and some US states and Canadian provinces), whereby an exchange may be made providing that it is done within your first year of legal residency in France. Check with the issuing country's Consulate, Embassy or Préfecture for a list of countries and states which have a reciprocal agreement with France. New Zealand does not have a reciprocal agreement.

For information from the French government on driving in France with a valid EU/EEA licence: Click here (in French)

If the licence may not be exchanged, a full French theory and practical driving exam must be taken.

See the Driving Licences INFOrmation page on AngloINFO.

Canadian Citizens

Drivers holding licences from Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador and Ontario may exchange their licences for a French licence.
Note: Holders of licences from Ontario may exchange a category G licence for the equivalent (B or E) in France. Also, holders of an Ontario licence must have held that licence for at least 24 months in the prior three years.

Drivers with licences from Quebec, Newfoundland, Labrador and Ontario may exchange their licenses for a French licence within the first year after arrival in France. Otherwise, a full French theory and practical driving exam must be taken to obtain a French licence.

For information from the Canadian Embassy in France on exchanging a licence from Quebec, Newfoundland, Labrador and Ontario for a French licence: Click here

Canadians are advised by the Consulate to report this exchange to the provincial authority that issued the driver’s licence in Canada.

Canadians with licences from provinces other than Quebec, Newfoundland, Labrador or Ontario may drive on their Canadian licence for three months, but must register with a French driving school and take a French driving test within that time.

For further information from the Canadian Embassy in France

US Citizens

US citizens 18 years and over may drive in France on a valid US driver's license for one year from the time of receiving a residency permit. (It is recommended that to attach a French translation by a sworn translator, a traducteur expert-juré to the US driver's license. Contact details of translators available at the Mairie and Préfecture)

Students: The US licence is valid for the full duration of your studies.

Temporary visitors: Visitors on a holiday visa (under 90 day visit) may use a valid US driving licence, an International driving licence is recommended but not essential.

If the licence was issued by any of the following states (check with a US Consulate or Embassy as this list is subject to change), it may be exchanged in the same way as EU and EEA member licences (see above), provided application is made within nine months of being issued a residency permit:

Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, New Hampshire, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Virginia.

If the driver's license is not from one the states mentioned above, the French driving examination must be taken within the first year of residence in France. See Driving Licences.

Clear information for US Citizens is available on the website of the French Embassy

International Driving Licence

The French diver's licence is accepted as valid in all EU countries. Some other countries request that a visitor carry an International Licence (Permis international) along with their valid national licence;

Note: An international licence does not replace a drivers licence - it accompanies it and acts as an official certificate of validity of the national licence. It is an internationally recognised document.

Holders of a French driver's permit may apply for an international one at their local Préfecture. Some Sous-Préfectures also issue International Diver's Permits (IDP).

The following documents are required: