French Driving Licences

Find out about getting a French driving licence and driving scooters or mopeds in France...

The minimum driving age is 18 for most categories of vehicles. Learner drivers must be 18 before they can pass the practical driving test for cars.

The licence B permits a driver to drive a vehicle with a maximum weight of 3,5 tons, which seats no more than nine passengers including the driver. This includes standard passenger cars, people carriers and minibuses. Holders of licence B may tow a trailer with a maximum weight of 750 Kg (or at least not heavier than the towing car) with a total weight of 3,5 tons.

Licence validity period

Standard driving permits from group B have a validity of 15 years, after which they must be renewed.

Licences from groups C, CE, D and DE (those permitting driving heavy goods or passenger transport vehicles) must be renewed every five years. A medical certificate must accompany the renewal application.

Two Wheels and Microcars

Holders of driving licences from any category can drive vehicles falling under the AM category.

Mopeds

A moped or scooter up to 50cc must be registered and have certain certificates displayed:

• If the driver is between 14 and 16 years of age, they must participate in a seven-hour training course to obtain a licence of category AM
• A certificate of insurance stating: the name of the insurance company, the identification number of the insurance holder and the engine number of the vehicle
• The proof of insurance certificate

Voitures sans permis

Microcars (also known as voiturettes or quadricycles) require an AM category licence. This is available after a seven-hour training course to drivers over 16 years old. Microcars have:

• a maximum of two seats, an engine size up to 50cc (petrol engines)
• a maximum power of 1 KW (electric cars) or 4 KW (other forms of propulsion, including diesel)
• a maximum speed of 45 Km/h, a maximum unladen kerb weight of 350 Kg
• a maximum load capacity of 200 Kg

Motorcycles

Motorbikes of 50cc to 125cc require an A1 licence, obtainable from the age of 16.

All B licence holders must complete a seven-hour course before being allowed to drive a motorbike of 50cc to 125cc, or a three wheeled motor tricycle over 50cc. The driver must have held the B licence for two years before being allowed to participate in the training course. If the driver can prove that in the previous five years they have a history of driving light motorcycles or motor tricycles, these rules do not apply.

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Further Information

• For more information on driving licences from Service Public: Click here