EC permit: vehicle over 3.5 tons with trailer over 750 kg

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

Which vehicles can be driven with the EC permit ? 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 CE permit.

Step-by-step approach

The EC license allows you to drive a vehicle with 4 features following:

  • Used for the transport of goods or equipment
  • PTAC more than 3,5 tons (without upper limit),
  • Maximum 9 seating positions (driver included)
  • PTAC of 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).

Required prerequisite category

You must have license C in order to be able to issue the EC permit.

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

You have to make a medical examination before taking the EC permit tests.

Through a training center

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.

The file should include 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.

The on-line service is accessible with 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).

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

Accompanying Person

An accompanying person must be present throughout the tests.

Non-circulation test (HC)

The objective of the HC test is to check your knowledge in particular as regards transport regulations and loading safety and mechanics.

It includes multiple exercises : written and oral queries, tests on routine safety checks, maneuverability exercises.

To be admitted, you must get more than 24 points, not have a playoff score and have a result favorable to the maneuverability exercise.

You retain the benefit of the HC test for 3 circulating tests (CIRs) for a maximum of 1 year from the successful completion of the HC test provided that the theoretical test is validated.

Test in circulation (CIR)

The CIR test takes place on varied routes.

The following competencies are assessed :

  • Know how to settle and ensure safety on board
  • Autonomy and awareness of risk
  • Know and use commands
  • Take the information
  • Adapting its pace to circumstances
  • Enforce regulation
  • Communicate with other users
  • Share Pavement
  • Maintaining safe spaces

To be accepted in the CIR test, you must obtain at least 17 points and do not make a eliminatory error.

FYI  

the driving schools driver's license preparation BE, C1, C, C1E, CE, D1, D, D1E and DE may reserve seats for the practical test on-site pro.permisdeconduit.gouv.fr.

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

You need to see the results online 48 hours after examination.

Check the results of your driving license examination online

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 driver's license for 4 months from the day of the examination.

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

The CRC does not allow driving abroad.

FYI  

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

You must ask as soon as possible a new permit which incorporates the new category obtained.

Indeed, the Driver's License Examination Certificate (CRC) allow for 4 months driving a new category of vehicle.

The driving license application is done online on the websiteANTS: titleContent.

The period of validity of the EC category of the license depends on your age:

Tableau - Period of validity of the license according to age

Driver age

Period of validity

Under 55

5 years

55 to 60 years

5 years or until the anniversary date of 60 years

60 to 76 years

2 years or until the 76 year anniversary date

Over 76 years

1 year

Warning  

you must pass a medical examination before applying for your license renewal.

The application for renewal is made online on theANTS: titleContent before the end of the period of validity of the driving license.

Apply online for a new driving license in case of expiry

One on-line service allows you to follow manufacture and dispatch your driver's license.

Track the progress of a driving license application

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

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