Can you drive in France with a foreigners license?

Verified 23 June 2023 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

It depends on the country where you got the driver's license.

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European country (EU/EEA)

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain (permit issued before 2021), Sweden, United Kingdom

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain (permit issued before 2021), Sweden, United Kingdom

You can driving in France with your permit obtained in a European country as long as he's valid.

There is no need to ask the exchange of your driving license against a French license.

The exchange of your license is only mandatory in the following cases:

  • Your license has expired
  • You are applying for a new license category (extension)
  • You commit a traffic violation in France resulting in a loss of points, restriction, suspension, or cancelation of your license
  • Your license has been stolen
  • You lost your license
  • Your license is damaged

Other country

You can driving in France with your permit obtained in a non-European country during a short stay or during your studies subject to conditions.

If you settle in France, you must request the exchange of your license against a French license.

If your foreigner driving license is not exchangeable, you must take the exam of the french driving license to continue driving in France.

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