Permis de conduire / driving licence

A foreign driving licence is valid for one year from the validity date of your initial residence permit (titre de séjour).

If you have passed this exam in an European country it may be exchanged for a French licence. Check at the préfecture.

What are the different types of driving licences ? A, B, A1

If you want to drive a car, you need « permis B »

If you want to drive a moto, you need « permis A »

If your child wants to drive a scooter or a moto until 125 cm3, he needs « permis A1 ». He can take this exam at 16.

How do I do ?

All you need is a good level of French and quite a lot of money.

In France, the « permis de conduire » takes time and is expensive. It's an exam divided into two parts : theory « le code » and practice « la conduite ».

All you have to do is to register to a « auto-école » or « école de conduite ».

Be careful, there are many « auto-école » in France, with different prices... So ask your friends or your neighbours, it will help you in your choice.

You also need an « attestation scolaire de sécurité routière » ASSR. This is a certificate you received at high school (collège). If you don't have it, ask your auto-école especially if you're an adult. A teenager should take this exam anyway and it will probably be done at the auto-école.

Le code

La conduite


  La "conduite accompagnée"

Back to the article "auto / moto"