What is the period of validity of a driving license?
Verified 10 September 2021 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
Wondering how long your driver's license is valid? This page shows how long a credit card format permit and a permit in cardboard format (pink with 3 flaps).
Credit card
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General case
A driving license in "credit card" format issued since 2013 is valid 15 years.
The 1ers renewals will take place in 2028.
Renewal will consist of simple administrative procedure : there will be no driving test or medical examination.
This renewal will update your address and photo.
Heavy goods vehicle license
In case of a medical condition
The period of validity of a driving license may be reduced for health reasons.
Warning
the validity of the driving license should not be confused with the validity of your license categories. So even if your license is only valid for 5 or 15 years, your B license allowing you to drive a car remains valid for life (unless individual restriction).
The date on which the driving license expires is indicated on the front, line 4b.
The dates of obtaining and ending the validity of the license categories figures on the back of the permit, columns 10 and 11.
In image
Decrypt driving license

Pink cardboard
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General case
Your pink hard driving license remains valid until january 19, 2033.
You can request its replacement only if deterioration, loss or theft.
Heavy goods vehicle license
In case of a medical condition
The period of validity of a driving license may be reduced for health reasons.
Warning
the validity of the driving license should not be confused with the validity of your license categories. Thus, even if your license is valid only until January 19, 2033, your B license allowing you to drive a car remains valid for life (unless individual restriction).
- Highway Code: Articles R221-4 to R221-8Categories of permit
- Highway Code: Articles R221-9 to R221-13Renewal after medical advice of licenses C1, C1E, C, CE, D1, D1E, D and DE (section R221-10)
- Order of 20 April 2012 laying down the conditions for the issue, issue and validity of driving licenses
- Order of 28 March 2022 listing medical conditions incompatible or compatible with the obtaining or maintenance of a driving license or which may result in limited validity
FAQ
- Driving license and medical examination for health reasonsService-Public.fr