B license: car or van

Verified 01 March 2024 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

Which vehicles can be driven with the B license? What's the minimum age? How to register, take exams (code and conduct) and apply for a permit? We tell you the steps to follow to pass the B license.

Step-by-step approach

After the practical test, the inspector does not give you the result orally.

You can view the result online your review of the RdvPermit platform.

Your result is available as of day after examination.

If the result is favorable, you can download your Driver's License Examination Certificate (CRC).

This certificate, accompanied by an identity document, serves as a driving license during 4 months from the day of the examination.

In case of control of law enforcement, you can present the CPTC in hard copy or directly on a smartphone or tablet.

The CRC does not allow driving abroad.

Check the results of your driving license examination online

FYI  

if you fail a driving test, you cannot take the next test before a period of 2 days (date to date).

Car or van

License B permits a vehicle to be driven which has the following 3 characteristics:

  • It is used for the transport of persons or goods
  • Sound PTAC is less than or equal to 3,5 tons
  • It has a maximum of 9 seats (driver included)

This vehicle may be coupled to:

  • a trailer with a PTAC of 750 kg or less
  • or a trailer with a PTAC greater than 750 kg if the sum of the PTACs (car+trailer) does not exceed 3 500 kg.

License B also allows you to drive agricultural or forestry vehicle or apparatus with a speed not exceeding 40 km/h, whatever the weight of its trailer.

The additional entry 96 permit B is required in the following situation:

  • PTAC: titleContent Trailer exceeding 750 kg
  • And sum of PTAC (vehicle + trailer): more than 3 500 kg not exceeding 4 250 kg

2 or 3 wheels (motorbike, scooter...)

Category B of the driving license authorizes the driving of 2 motor wheels or a 3-wheel scooter subject to completion several conditions (training, duration of license B, age).

Motorhome

Motorhome up to 3,5 tons

License B permits the driving of a camper vans whose PTAC is 3,5 tons maximum.

License B permits a vehicle to be driven which has the following 3 characteristics:

  • It is used for the transport of persons or goods
  • Sound PTAC is less than or equal to 3,5 tons
  • It has a maximum of 9 seats (driver included)

This vehicle may be coupled to:

  • a trailer with a PTAC of 750 kg or less
  • or a trailer with a PTAC greater than 750 kg if the sum of the PTACs (car+trailer) does not exceed 3 500 kg.

Motorhome of more than 3.5 tons

Tableau - Rules for driving a motorhome of more than 3.5 tons

Characteristics of permit B

Driving with a B license?

B license issued on or after January 20, 1975

No, no, no.

You have to pass the C1 permit.

B permit issued before January 20, 1975, invalidated or canceled after that date

No, no, no.

You have to pass the C1 permit.

B permit issued before 20 January 1975 obtained by exchange of a permit issued by another State (European (or not) where the exchange took place after January 20, 1975

No, no, no.

You have to pass the C1 permit.

B license issued before January 20, 1975 obtained following the validation of a professional diploma when this validation took place after January 20, 1975

No, no, no.

You have to pass the C1 permit.

B license issued before January 20, 1975 obtained following the conversion of a military driving license where the conversion took place after January 20, 1975

No, no, no.

You have to pass the C1 permit.

B license issued before January 20, 1975

Yes

Age

You must have 17 years or older to obtain the B license.

However, you can register for the exam from the age of 16 (or 15 if you are preparing the license as part of early learning of driving).

Own the ASR or ASR

If you are under 21 and it is 1era category of license you pass, you must hold the 2nd level road safety school certificate (ASSR2) or the Road Safety Certificate (RSC).

In case of loss or theft of these certificates, you can make a declaration of honor.

Citizenship - Nationality

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You're French

If you are under 25 years of age, you must be in compliance with the obligations of the Defense and Citizenship Day (JDC).

You're European

If you are a Swiss, Andorran, Monegasque or national of the European Economic Area (EEA), you must have had your personal and/or professional ties for at least 6 months in France.

You're a foreigner

You must have lived in France for at least 6 months and have a valid residence permit.

Health status

If you have a health problem, you need to take a medical examination before applying for a driving license.

If you take courses in a driving school to prepare for the license examination, the fees vary depending on the institution and the preparation chosen.

Registration for the code cost €30.

If the code fails, you must repay this amount.

Through a driving school

At your request, your driving school will take care of your registration for the examination of the license.

However, you must activate yourself the account created in your name on the websiteANTS: titleContent.

You receive an email to activate the account.

One harmonized prefectural registration number (NEPH) is assigned to you when you register for the exam.

To register, the driving school needs the following documents, in photographic or digitized version :

  • If you are French, aged from 17 years to 25 years, individual certificate of participation in the Defense and Citizenship Day (JDC), or individual exemption certificate, or national service status certificate, or provisional national service status certificate
  • If you are a foreigner, proof of regularity of the stay or, if you are exempt from a residence permit, proof of your presence in France for at least 6 months (payroll, rent receipt...)
By yourself

You can choose to register yourself for the license.

One harmonized prefectural registration number (NEPH) is assigned to you when you register for the exam.

The online service can be accessed through FranceConnect or with your identifiers ANTS: titleContent.

If you do not have ANTS credentials, it is proposed to create an account to have a personal space on the ANTS website.

Prepare the following documents, in photographic or digitized version :

  • If you are French, aged from 17 years to 25 years, individual certificate of participation in the Defense and Citizenship Day (JDC), or individual exemption certificate, or national service status certificate, or provisional national service status certificate
  • If you are a foreigner, proof of regularity of the stay or, if you are exempt from a residence permit, proof of your presence in France for at least 6 months (payroll, rent receipt...)

Driver's license: register online for the exam (NEPH number assignment)

You can pass the code (ETG) via a driving school or as a free candidate.

To be exempt from passing the code, you must complete at least one of the following conditions :

  • Have obtained a favorable result for the theoretical test (code) for 5 years or less
  • Have had a license category for 5 years or less, except AM category
  • Have a French driving license obtained by exchange (code 70) for 5 years or less
    The following letters shall follow code 70: DE (Germany), AT (Austria), BE (Belgium), BG (Bulgaria), CY (Cyprus, Greek), HR (Croatia), DK (Denmark), ES (Spain), EE (Estonia), FI (Finland), GR (Greece), HU (Hungary), IE (Ireland), IT (Italy), LV (Latvia), LT (Lithuania), LU (Luxembourg), MT (Malta), NL (Netherlands), PL (Poland), PT (Portugal), CZ (Czech Republic), RO (Romania), SK (Slovakia), SI (Slovenia) SE (Sweden), IS (Iceland), LI (Liechtenstein), NO (Norway).

The code waiver may be granted if you submit one of the following documents:

  • Valid driving license obtained for 5 years or less 
  • Certificate of temporary examination of the driving license, paper or dematerialized, valid (maximum 4 months)

Warning  

Since 2021, categories A1 or A2 no longer allow for a code exemption (general theoretical test or ETG).

Driving school

The driving school must offer you a standard driving education contract.

That contract shall specify in particular the program and the course of training, on price training and administrative services, obligations of each, the means of payment.

The contract must comply with the model defined for permit B.

If you wish, you can choose a guided driving learning formula :

The driving school gives you access to a apprenticeship book digital (training objectives and monitoring your progress).

As a free candidate

You can prepare for the exam with a relative in free candidate.

PermitApr is a platform for the nominal reservation of seats for the practical test driver's license.

You choose the examination center, date and time slot, according to your trainer and your training schedule.

Once logged in with the credentials provided by your driving school, you can follow the steps made by the school (appointment booking...).

Online reservation of a place to take the practical test of the driving license (RdvPermit)

If you have followed the early learning of driving formula, your certificate of completion of initial training shall be verified.

One sight test can be realized.

In the event of an inconclusive test, the examiner shall inform the local department responsible for driving license examinations of: DDT: titleContent, DDTM: titleContent (road education office) or prefecture.

You then have to make an appointment to make a medical examination by an approved doctor.

The practical test shall evaluate the following points: :

  • Compliance with the provisions of the highway code
  • Vehicle knowledge and ability to detect major technical defects
  • Control and vehicle handling
  • Ability to ensure its own safety and that of other road users on any type of road
  • Ability to perceive and anticipate traffic hazards and act appropriately
  • Knowledge of basic first aid
  • Degree of autonomy in carrying out a journey
  • Ability to drive while respecting the environment and engaging in courteous and considerate behavior towards other users

The practical test lasts 32 minutes.

The practical test shall consist of the following: :

  • Driving phase of at least 25 minutes
  • Performing 2 different maneuvers (braking to stop with precision and one maneuver in reverse)
  • Verification of a technical component inside or outside the vehicle
  • Road safety issue
  • Question on basic first aid

To be received, you must obtain 20 or more points and do not make a eliminatory error.

For example, crossing a continuous line, left-hand traffic, failure to comply with a stop signal.

After the practical test, the inspector does not give you the result orally.

You can view the result online your review of the RdvPermit platform.

Your result is available as of day after examination.

If the result is favorable, you can download your Driver's License Examination Certificate (CRC).

This certificate, accompanied by an identity document, serves as a driving license during 4 months from the day of the examination.

In case of control of law enforcement, you can present the CPTC in hard copy or directly on a smartphone or tablet.

The CRC does not allow driving abroad.

Check the results of your driving license examination online

FYI  

if you fail a driving test, you cannot take the next test before a period of 2 days (date to date).

To obtain your B license, the approach is different depending on whether it is your 1era obtaining a driving license or adding a category.

1st permit

Ask your driving school if it is taking care of asking for your driving license or if it is up to you to ask for it.

If you apply yourself, the application is made online on the website of theANTS: titleContent.

The online service can be accessed through FranceConnect or with your IDS ID, in French only.

If you do not have ANTS credentials, it is proposed to create an account to have a personal space on the ANTS website.

You need the following documents in photographic or digitized version:

  • Documents relating to the Defense and Citizenship Day (JDC) if you are french, aged from 17 to 25 years old (unless you have already provided them at the time of registration for the license examination). These shall be the individual certificate of participation in the JDC, or the individual exemption certificate, or the national service status certificate, or the provisional national service status certificate
  • If you are a foreigner, proof of regularity of the stay or, if you are exempt from a residence permit, proof of your presence in France for at least 6 months (payroll, rent receipt...)

Steps to follow :

1/ Sign in or create an account ANTS: titleContent

2/ Click on "New request"

3/ Choose the reason for your request "I request the production of a driving license"

3/ Complete the entries and add the required supporting documents

4/ Confirm the approach

Online application for a driving license following the passing of an examination

Please note

if it's your 1er driver's license, this is a probationary permit. You must put the sign "A" on the back of your vehicle.

Adding category B to your license

If you already have a driving license (motorcycle license) A, A1, A2 or AM), you must have category B added on your license.

One online service allows you to follow online the manufacture and sending of your driving license.

Track the progress of your driving license application

The period of validity of a driving license (driving license) in format credit card is 15 years.

At the end of this period, the renewal is a simple administrative procedure : there is no driving test or medical examination to be taken.

So, even if your driving license is valid 15 years, your license category remains valid for life (unless individually restricted).

However, the period of validity of the title may be small for health reasons.

Driver's license: register online for the exam (NEPH number assignment)

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