Living
Driving Licence
If you’re in possession of a valid driver’s licence (permis de conduire) from an EU or EEA country, you may drive in France with that licence until it expires. If you plan to stay in France for an extended period of time it is a good idea (and your right) to exchange your national licence for a French one. While both French and EU/EEA licences allow you the same rights, you would be well advised to acquire as many official French documents as possible. The more documentation you have the better, and when you’ve just arrived, one official set of paperwork may allow you to receive another so take advantage of the opportunity.
If you have a valid driver’s licence from a non-EU or EEA country and are 18 years old you may drive legally under your national or state licence for one year from the date you received your first carte de séjour. Technically (as with all documents) you must have an official French translation of your driver’s licence. Students are allowed to use their up-to-date home licences for the duration of their studies.
After having lived in France for one year anyone not driving under an EU/EEA licence must convert to a French driving permit. If you’re fortunate enough to have arrived in France from one of the US states with a reciprocity agreement you may simply exchange your licence for a French one. If not, you’ll need to pass a highway code exam and a driving test.
The following US States have a reciprocity agreement with France:
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Florida
• Illinois
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Michigan
• New Hampshire
• Ohio
• Pennsylvania
• South Carolina
• Virginia
The following Canadian provinces have reciprocity agreements with France:
• Newfoundland
• Labrador
• Ontario
• Quebec
Additionally, all Australian and South African territories have agreements with France.
If you are a legally licensed driver from any of the aforementioned states, regions or countries you may go directly to your local préfecture de police and apply for a French driver’s licence. Make sure that you apply three months before the end of your first year. If you wait, you may not be able to benefit from the reciprocal agreement.
It may be worth your time to check with the French consulate in your home country or state to determine whether a reciprocal agreement has been recently negotiated.
To exchange your licence, apply directly to the préfecture de police, 1 rue de Lutèce, 75004, Paris; 01 58 80 80 80 (metro: Cité). The office you’re looking for is the service de permis de conduire. Their hours are: Monday to Thursday 08:35 to 16:45, Friday 08:35 to 16:15.
To complete the exchange you’ll need the following:
• A completed driver’s licence request form (available at the préfecture)
• Your current licence with an official French translation
• Proof of current address
• Passport and photocopy
• Carte de séjour and photocopy
• Two passport photos
Without the benefit of a reciprocal agreement you will have to take a written exam (code) and the driving test (pratique). If you are already licensed in another country it is not necessary to enroll in driving lessons. Keep in mind, that driving tests in France must be done in a ‘dual-command car’. It is therefore necessary to arrange your test through a driving school. It is probably worth your time to take some classes so that you’re familiar with French laws. Some driving schools provide lessons in English and will arrange for you to take the test outside of Paris and with a translator.
The process of getting a French driver’s licence takes, on average, two months. The préfecture demands this waiting period. If you arrive in France without a driver’s licence, or you were under 16 when you were granted your licence, you will need to enroll in a drivers’ training course and 20 hours of driving with an instructor is required.
If you have a valid driver’s licence from a non-EU or EEA country and are 18 years old you may drive legally under your national or state licence for one year from the date you received your first carte de séjour. Technically (as with all documents) you must have an official French translation of your driver’s licence. Students are allowed to use their up-to-date home licences for the duration of their studies.
After having lived in France for one year anyone not driving under an EU/EEA licence must convert to a French driving permit. If you’re fortunate enough to have arrived in France from one of the US states with a reciprocity agreement you may simply exchange your licence for a French one. If not, you’ll need to pass a highway code exam and a driving test.
The following US States have a reciprocity agreement with France:
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Florida
• Illinois
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Michigan
• New Hampshire
• Ohio
• Pennsylvania
• South Carolina
• Virginia
The following Canadian provinces have reciprocity agreements with France:
• Newfoundland
• Labrador
• Ontario
• Quebec
Additionally, all Australian and South African territories have agreements with France.
If you are a legally licensed driver from any of the aforementioned states, regions or countries you may go directly to your local préfecture de police and apply for a French driver’s licence. Make sure that you apply three months before the end of your first year. If you wait, you may not be able to benefit from the reciprocal agreement.
It may be worth your time to check with the French consulate in your home country or state to determine whether a reciprocal agreement has been recently negotiated.
To exchange your licence, apply directly to the préfecture de police, 1 rue de Lutèce, 75004, Paris; 01 58 80 80 80 (metro: Cité). The office you’re looking for is the service de permis de conduire. Their hours are: Monday to Thursday 08:35 to 16:45, Friday 08:35 to 16:15.
To complete the exchange you’ll need the following:
• A completed driver’s licence request form (available at the préfecture)
• Your current licence with an official French translation
• Proof of current address
• Passport and photocopy
• Carte de séjour and photocopy
• Two passport photos
Without the benefit of a reciprocal agreement you will have to take a written exam (code) and the driving test (pratique). If you are already licensed in another country it is not necessary to enroll in driving lessons. Keep in mind, that driving tests in France must be done in a ‘dual-command car’. It is therefore necessary to arrange your test through a driving school. It is probably worth your time to take some classes so that you’re familiar with French laws. Some driving schools provide lessons in English and will arrange for you to take the test outside of Paris and with a translator.
The process of getting a French driver’s licence takes, on average, two months. The préfecture demands this waiting period. If you arrive in France without a driver’s licence, or you were under 16 when you were granted your licence, you will need to enroll in a drivers’ training course and 20 hours of driving with an instructor is required.
