EC licence: vehicle over 3,5 tons with trailer over 750 kg
Verified 01 January 2023 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
Which vehicles can be driven with the EC licence ? What's the minimum age? How do I register, take exams (code and conduct) and apply for a permit? We will inform you of the steps to take to pass the CE permit.
Step-by-step approach
The EC licence permits the driving of a vehicle which presents 4 features following:
- Assigned to transport of goods or equipment
- PTAC greater than 3,5 tons (without upper limit),
- 9 seats maximum (driver included)
- PTAC of the trailer greater than 750 kg (or semi-trailer)
Age
You must have at least 21 years unless you are taking professional driver training (CAP, Bac pro, professional title, Fimo: titleContent).
Prerequisite
You must have permit C to be able to pass the EC licence.
Citizenship - Citizenship
You are French
If you are under the age of 25, you must be in compliance with the defence and citizenship day (JDC).
You are European
If you are a national of Switzerland, Andorra, Monaco or the European Economic Area (EEA), you must have your personal and/or professional ties for at least 6 months in France.
You're foreigners
You must have lived in France for at least 6 months and have a valid residence permit.
Health status
You have to medical check before taking the tests of the EC licence.
Through a training centre
Upon your request, your school will take care of your registration for the permit exam.
However, you must activate the account created on your behalf on theTWO: titleContent. You receive an email to activate the account.
The file must include the following documents photographed or scanned ::
- Certificate of identity
- Proof of domicile
- 1 digital photo signature
- Medical opinion (form cerfa 14880)
- Driver's licence of category C (+ where necessary, copy of the diploma, certificate, certificate or professional title verifying completion of a driver's training)
- For 1re application for a permit, if you are french, 17 years of age or older, but not older than 25 years, individual certificate of participation in the defence and citizenship day (JDC) or an individual certificate of exemption, or a certificate of status vis-à-vis the national service, or a provisional certificate of status vis-à-vis the national service
- If you are a foreigner, proof of your regular stay or, if you are exempt from a residence permit, proof of your presence in France for at least 6 months (payroll, rent receipt...)
On your own
You can choose to register for the permit yourself.
The online service is accessible with FranceConnect or identifiers TWO: titleContent.
If you don't have an ANTS ID, you can create an account to have a personal space on the ANTS website.
Prepare the following documents photographed or scanned ::
- Certificate of identity
- Proof of domicile
- 1 digital photo signature
- Medical opinion (form cerfa 14880)
- Your driving licence of category C (+ if necessary, copy of the diploma, certificate, certificate or professional title verifying completion of a driver's training by road)
- For 1re application for a permit, if you are french, 17 years of age or older, but not older than 25 years, individual certificate of participation in the defence and citizenship day (JDC) or an individual certificate of exemption, or a certificate of status vis-à-vis the national service, or a provisional certificate of status vis-à-vis the national service
- If you are a foreigner, proof of your regular 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 licence: register online for the exam (NEPH number assignment)
You can pass the code (ETG) via a school car or as a free candidate.
To be exempted from passing the code, you must at least one of the following conditions ::
- Have obtained a favourable result for the theoretical test (code) for a maximum of 5 years
- Have a licence category for 5 years or less, except AM category
- Have a French driving licence obtained by exchange (code 70) for 5 years or less
Code 70 should be followed by the following letters: 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).
Code waiver may be granted if you present any of the following:
- Valid driving licence
- Certificate of temporary examination of the valid driver's licence, paper or dematerialised (4 months maximum)
Warning
since 2021, categories A1 or A2 no longer allow a code waiver (general theoretical test or ETG).
Auto-school must offer you a standard contract for the teaching of driving.
This contract shall specify in particular programme and course of training, price training and administrative services, obligations of each means of payment.
Accompanying
Attendants are required for the duration of the tests.
Out of circulation test (HC)
The objective of the HC test is to verify your knowledge in particular as regards transport regulation and load-related safety and mechanics.
She understands several exercises : written and oral questions, tests on routine security checks, manoeuvrability exercises.
To be admitted, you must get more than 24 points, not have a playoff score and have a favourable result for the manoeuvrability exercise.
You keep the benefit of the HC test for 3 circulating tests (CIR) for a maximum of 1 year from the successful completion of the HC test, provided that the theoretical test is validated.
Running Test (CIR)
The CIR test takes place on varied itineraries.
The following skills are assessed ::
- Settle and ensure safety on board
- Autonomy and risk awareness
- Know and use commands
- Take information
- Adapt your look to the circumstances
- Enforce Regulation
- Contact other users
- Share the pavement
- Maintain security spaces
To be accepted to the CIR test, you must obtain at least 17 points and do not make any eliminatory errors.
FYI
the self-schools preparing for driving licences BE, C1, C, C1E, CE, D1, D, D1E and DE may book tickets for the practical event on site pro.permisdecode.gouv.fr in the following departments:
Ain (01), Aisne (02), Allier (03), Alpes-de-Haute-Provence (04), Hautes-Alpes (05), Alpes-Maritimes (06), Ardèche (07), Ariège (09), Aude (11), Aveyron (12), Bouches-du - Rhône (13), Calvados (14), Cantal (15), Charente (16), Charente-Maritime (17), Cher (18), Corrèze (19), Côtes-d'Armour (22), Creuse (23), Dordogne (24), Drôme (26 Eure (27), Eure-et-Loir (28), Finistère (29), Gard (30), Haute-Garonne (31), Gers (32), Gironde (33), Hérault (34), Indre (36), Indre-et-Loire (37), Isère (3 8), Landes (40), Loir-et-Cher (41), Loire (42), Haute-Loire (43), Ille-et-Vilaine (35), Loire-Atlantique (44), Loiret (45), Lot (46), Lot-et-Garonne (47), Lozère (48), Maine-et-Loire (49), Manche (50), Mayenne (53), Morbihan (56), Nord (59), Oise (60), Orne (61), Pas-de-Calais (62), Puy-de-Dôme (63), Pyrénées-Atlantiques (6 4), Hautes-Pyrénées (65), Pyrénées-Orientales (66), Rhône (69), Sarthe (72), Savoie (73), Haute-Savoie (74), Paris (75), Seine-Maritime (76), Seine-et-Marne (77), Yvelines (7 8), Deux-Sèvres (79), Somme (80), Tarn (81), Tarn-et-Garonne (82), Var (83), Vaucluse (84), Vendée (85), Vienna (86), Haute-Vienne (87), Essonne (91), Hauts-de-Sees China (92), Seine-Saint-Denis (93), Val-de-Marne (94), Val-d'Oise (95), Guadeloupe (971), Martinique (972), Guyane (973), La Réunion (974), Mayotte (976).
After the practical test, the inspector does not communicate the result orally to you.
You should consult the results online on the Road Safety website 48 hours after the exam.
Know and download the results of the driving test
If the result is favourable, you can download your driving licence examination certificate (ECC).
This certificate, together with an identity document, serves as a driving licence for 4 months from the day of the examination.
In case of police control, you can present the CEPC in paper version or directly on a smartphone or tablet.
The CEPC does not allow driving abroad.
FYI
if you fail a driving test, you cannot take the next test before 2 days (date to date).
You must ask as soon as possible new which new category obtained.
Indeed, driving licence examination certificate (ECC) allow 4 months driving a new vehicle category.
The application for a driving licence is made online on theTWO: titleContent.
The validity period of the EC category of the licence depends on your age:
Driver Age | Validity |
|---|---|
Under 55 | 5 years |
55 to 60 years | 5 years or until the anniversary of 60 years |
Ages 60 to 76 | 2 years or until the 76 year anniversary date |
Over 76 | 1 Year |
Warning
you have to pass medical check before you apply for your licence renewal.
The application for renewal is made online on the website of theTWO: titleContent before the expiry of the period of validity of the driving licence.
Online application for a driving licence upon expiry
You can follow the production and sending of your driving licence online.
The online service is accessible via FranceConnect or with your ID TWO: titleContent , in French only
If you don't have an ANTS ID, you can create an account to have a personal space on the ANTS website.
Once connected to your space TWO: titleContent, you view your request in the dashboard.
Driver's licence: keep track of the progress of your application to drive
Shipping driver's licence is Expert Letter
This is a secure shipment, with hand-over against signature.
- The address that you specify during the online procedure must be the fullest possible
(building number, flat number, mailbox number, floor, corridor, staircase, "resident",...) - Your mailbox shall submit first name of the person receiving the mail.
If you are absent when passing the factor, you must go to the Post Office in 15 days with your notice of passage or with the number of the Expert Letter.
If you could not go to the Post Office within 15 days, you have nothing to do.
Your permit will be sent to you.
In other cases, contactTWO: titleContent via the contact form:
Who shall I contact
By Email
Access to contact form
By phone
34 00
Monday to Friday from 7.45am to 7pm and Saturday from 8am to 5pm. Cost of a local call
09 70 83 07 07 from overseas and the foreigner
Driver's licence: find a school near you
Driver's licence: register online for the exam (NEPH number assignment)
Know and download the results of the driving test
Online application for a driving licence following passing an examination
Driver's licence: keep track of the progress of your application to drive
Who can help me?
Find who can answer your questions in your region
- School of Driving (self-school, association)
By Email
Access to contact form
By phone
34 00
Monday to Friday from 7.45am to 7pm and Saturday from 8am to 5pm. Cost of a local call
09 70 83 07 07 from overseas and the foreigner
- Digital Home
- Route Code: sections R221-4 to R221-8Issuance and Categories
- Route Code: sections R221-9 to R221-13Proficiency Check
- Route Code: sections R226-1 to R226-4Organisation of the medical check of driving ability
- Decree No. 2020-142 of 20 February 2020 defining the standard contract for the teaching of driving
- Order of 25 April 2022 concerning the progressive generalisation of a system of allocation of places for the practical test of driving licences BE, C1, C, C1E, CE, D1, D1E and DE
- Order of 22 October 2014 fixing the national method for the allocation of driving licence examination places
- Order of 12 May 2014 concerning the learning booklet of categories C1, C1E, C, EC of the driving licence
- Order of 26 April 2013 concerning the notification of the results of driving licence examinations
- Order of 31 July 2012 concerning the organisation of the medical check on fitness for driving
- Order of 23 April 2012 concerning the examination of the driving licence of categories BE, C1, C1E, C, CE, D1, D1E, D and DE
- Order of 20 April 2012 laying down the conditions for the establishment, issue and validity of the driving licence
- Circular of 3 August 2012 on the organisation of the medical check on drivers' driving ability
- Driver's licence: find a school near you
Search tools
- Driver's licence: register online for the exam (NEPH number assignment)
Online service
- Driver's Licence - Medical Notice
Form
- Know and download the results of the driving test
Online service
- Online application for a driving licence following passing an examination
Online service
- Driver's licence: keep track of the progress of your application to drive
Online service
- Online application for a driving licence upon expiry
Online service
FAQ
- How do I get a driver's licence when I have a disability?
- Which licence for which category of vehicles?
- How do I get a new category added to my driver's licence?
- Application for a driver's licence: what ID can be presented?
- Application for a driving licence: what proof of domicile?
- Driver's licence: how to pass the code (common theoretical test or GSS)?
- How do I know what is the status of my driver's licence application?
- Class C HGV Licence: Over 3.5 tonsService-Public.fr
- C1 licence: vehicle between 3.5 and 7.5 tonsService-Public.fr
- C1E licence: vehicle between 3.5 and 7.5 tons with trailer over 750 kgService-Public.fr
- Permit D: Carriage of Persons - More than 8 PassengersService-Public.fr
- PERMIT: Carriage of persons + 8 passengers and trailer + 750 kgService-Public.fr
- Permit D1: 16 passengers and 8 metresService-Public.fr
- D1E Permit: Carriage of Persons - 16 Passengers and Trailer of + 750 kgService-Public.fr
- Professional driving licence: medical check requiredService-Public.fr
- Model contract for the teaching of drivingLegifrance