Whether you’re a new driver or an experienced motorist who cannot swap your foreign licence for a French one, Samantha David explains what you need to know about taking the French driving test.
Foreigners living in France are required to swap their driving licence for a French one – but some people have to go back to driving school and start from scratch.
This particularly affects Americans and Canadians whose licence was issued in a state or province that does not have a bilateral agreement with France – find the full list here.
Obviously, people who have never driven will have to start from scratch in order to get a French permis de conduire.
It can seem like a daunting task, but it is far from impossible.
Theory test
There are two tests, one theoretical and one practical.
The theory test (Epreuve Théorique Générale or ETG – more commonly referred to as ‘le code’) is carried out online in a recognised testing centre.
You sit at a desk and answer 40 multiple-choice questions (QMC) which are organised into 10 themes.
A helpful tip is to use an online practice app – paid ones include Codeclic (€17 for a year), DigiSchool (€9.99 per month), and Ornikar (€2.99 per month). Others, like En Voiture Simone are free. All use screen layouts per month very similar to the official one, and you can practice as much as you like until you’re sure you’re ready.
Some of the paid apps will also book the test for you – otherwise, book it yourself through the official ANTS website. It costs €30 per attempt and you can make unlimited attempts.
Once you have passed, the certificate is valid for five years, during which time you need to pass your practical driving test. Otherwise it’s back to learning those pesky QMCs again.
Do I have to do the test in French?
There is some fairly technical vocabulary involved, so people with only basic French may struggle.
In the theory test, non-French speakers are allowed to have the assistance of a certified translator, or traducteur certifié.
This is someone who is on the official roll of the Court of Appeals in France, which is updated yearly. In order to get on to the certified list, translators must prove their competence and have their identity checked.
You would have to pay for this out of your own pocket which would likely set you back at least €100.
An interpreter is not allowed during the practical test.
Practical
You can start your driving lessons before you have passed your theory test, but you can’t take your practical test until you’ve passed the theory.
In some countries using an official driving school is optional – but in France having lessons from a certified instructor is compulsory.
You have to do a certain number of hours of lessons before you are allowed to take your test – even if you already have a foreign permit and have been driving for years.
The minimum requirements are;
Once you have done your minimum hours then, and only then, can you start having practice sessions with another qualified driver (known as conduite supervisée).
Lessons cost around €40-€50 an hour, for people who have never driven before, the average number of lessons is 35 hours.
Once you’re ready to take your practical driving test, you book it online (usually the driving school will do this with you) and then start biting your nails. Be aware that, especially in big cities, there is often a shortage of available test slots, so don’t be surprised if your test date is weeks or even months into the future.
What does the test involve?
The test starts with you showing your ID and other documents showing you have completed your compulsory driving lessons.
You then have to show knowledge of the car you’re driving and answer a few questions from ‘le code’.
The actual driving element only takes around 30 minutes, during which you have to demonstrate that you are a safe and courteous driver – you have to do a manoeuvre in reverse, and you have to do an emergency brake.
It is possible to pass some elements and not others. If this happens, you won’t have to do the entire test again, only the element you got wrong last time.
If you commit an elimination error however (crossing an unbroken central white line, driving on the left, jumping a red light, etc) then you will have to do the whole thing all over again.
The trick with this entire process is persistence and patience. Only around 52 percent of candidates pass the theory test first time and only 58 percent of people pass the practical test first time, so don’t be dismayed if you fail.
A plates
Once you have your licence, you must put an ‘A’ sticker on the back of the car – A for ‘apprenti’ to show that you are a newly qualified driver.
It will stay there for 3 years, when, provided you have not committed any driving offences, you can remove it.
Newly qualified drivers get licences with only six points on them – in France points are subtracted, rather than added, for offences such as speeding or running a red light. Once you get to zero, you lose your licence.
Three years after passing, your licence is upgraded to the full 12 points.
Congratulations! You now have your full French driving licence.
You will only lose your ‘permis’ if you lose all your points, or develop a medical condition which your doctor considers incompatible with road safety.
At present, French driving licences last for life, but the European Parliament has voted to change this, although exact details of what changes in France are yet to be confirmed.
Automatic v manual/stick shift
American licence holders may never have driven a stick shift (boîte manuelle) vehicle, but they are common in Europe.
If you prefer to stick to an automatic (boîte automatique) then you can take the specific automatic licence, but be aware that this will limit your choice when it comes to buying or hiring a vehicle in France, and may incur extra expense.
Automatics are becoming more common in France, however, in 2024 54 percent of new vehicles sold were automatics.
Funding
Learning to drive in France is not cheap – the compulsory lessons will set you back around €800, plus the cost of the theory and practical test.
There is some help available – for people working in France the professional training budget Mon Compte Formation may be used. However, the rules on this were tightened up in 2024, so now you can only use CPF points to get a driving licence if it is for professional reasons ie you need a car to get to work, you need a car to do your work, etc. You can’t use these points if you’ve lost your licence or are taking a course to recuperate lost points.
There is financing in place for young people however. Although you have to be 18 to hold a driving licence, it is possible to start learning at the age of 15 using a scheme called ‘apprentissage anticipé’.
Between the ages of 16-18, having done the initial 20 hours of lessons it is possible to learn ‘en conduite encadrée’ (under the supervision of a qualified driver, for example a parent).
People between 15 and 25 can apply for an interest-free government loan to cover the cost of learning to drive, called ‘le permis à un euro par jour’. Once the candidate has chosen a driving school, they usually help with applying for this.
There are also other grants up to €500 available to help young people get their driving licence. Either ask at the local mairie or do an internet search for ‘aide formation permis de conduire’ to find out how to apply in your area.
No permit
If this all sounds too much, France does have a (tiny) type of car that you can drive without a licence.
The ‘voiture sans permis’ has a top speed of 45km/h which makes them impractical for long journeys but perfectly fine for nipping round town.
