Driving: which formula to choose?
Verified 18 October 2021 - Legal and Administrative Information Directorate (Prime Minister)
Additional cases ?
Do you want to have a driving experience before taking the driver's licence, but you don't know which driving formula to choose? This page compares the 3 formulas to help you determine which one best fits your situation.
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Driving formulas: early, supervised and supervised

Early Learning to Drive (CAA) is possible from the age of 15 years.
Learning includes:
- 1mother initial training phase provided by the car school (driving code + minimum 20 hours of driving time)
- and 2nde a minimum of 1 year driving with an attendant.
At the end of this period, you can introduce yourself from the age of 17 years the practical test of the driving licence.
If you choose CAA, you cannot pass the permit as a free candidate. CAA requires enrolment in a car school.
The duration trial permit is 2 years in case of early learning of driving, instead of 3 years.
Please note
if you're under 21, ASSR 2 is required to get a 1to driving licence. If you cannot have ASSR2, you must get road safety certificate (ASR). For example, if you did not go to school in France.
Framed driving for young people 16 to 18 years who are preparing a professional diploma leading to the professions of the road.
The diploma must be validated by the Ministry of National Education or Labour.
For example, BEP or CAP of driver.
After you have passed the driving test as part of your professional diploma, you can drive with an accompanying person until you are 18.
Please note
if you're under 21, ASSR 2 is required to get a 1to driving licence. If you cannot have ASSR2, you must get road safety certificate (ASR). For example, if you did not go to school in France.
Supervised Driving Learning is possible from the age of 18 years.
Learning includes:
- 1re initial training phase provided by the car school (driving code + minimum 20 hours of driving time)
- and 2nde supervised driving phase with an attendant.
You can choose the supervised driving phase after initial training or after you have failed the practical test of the licence examination.
If you choose supervised driving, you cannot pass the licence as a free candidate. Supervised driving requires enrolment in a car school.
Please note
if you're under 21, ASSR 2 is required to get a 1to driving licence. If you cannot have ASSR2, you must get road safety certificate (ASR). For example, if you did not go to school in France.
- Route Code: items R211-3 to R211-7Driving Learning
- Order of 20 April 2012 fixing the conditions of establishment, issue and validity of the driving licence
- Order of 30 September 2010 concerning supervised driving
- Decision of 22 December 2009 on the training of motor vehicles of category B in an approved educational institution
FAQ
- What is a probationary licence?
- Which vehicles can be driven with the B licence?
- What auto insurance for accompanied or supervised driving?
- How to pay for the driver's licence: allowed one euro, apprentice, unemployed... ?
- How long is a driver's licence valid?
- Online application for a driving licence: how to be helped in the process?
- Permit B: car or vanService-Public.fr
- Road Safety Certification (ASR)Service-Public.fr
- School Road Safety Certificate (ASSR)Service-Public.fr
- Road Safety Certificate (BSR), driving licence category AMService-Public.fr