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
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.
Who can help me?
Find who can answer your questions in your region
Citizens Contact Center - Driving license
Online Contact Form
Access to contact form
By telephone
34,00 (no surtax)
09 70 83 07 07 from overseas and foreigner
Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm.
Recognition and exchange of a foreigner permit
FAQ
Service-Public.fr
Service-Public.fr
Ministry of the Interior
Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs