Driving in France with a foreigners driving license for a short stay or study

Verified 22 June 2023 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

You are making a short stay in France or you are in France for your studies and you want to drive in France with your license European (EU/EEA) ? We present you with the information you need to know.

Attention: the rules are different if you want driving in France with a European driving license (EU/EEA) or if you settle in France.

Short stay

You can drive with your unlicensed European if you are in France for a short stay.

For example, for a holiday.

Your permit must be valid.

Your permit must be written in French or be accompanied by a official translation or a international driving license (except for the UK license).

If you wish to obtain the translation in France, you must contact a certified translator.

Studies

You can drive with your license European during all your studies in France as long as you have student residence permit.

What conditions must your license meet?

  • Be valid
  • To have been issued by the country where you had your normal residence before entering France
  • Be written in French or be accompanied by a official translation in French

What conditions do you need to meet?

  • Have a residence permit with student endorsement valid
  • Have the minimum age to drive in France vehicles of the equivalent category of your license.
    For example, 18 years for the category B license.
  • Respect any medical prescriptions noted on your license.
    For example, eyeglasses are mandatory.
  • Ne not to have been sanctioned in your country (or in the country of issue of the permit if different) by a suspension, restriction or cancelation your right to drive

At the end of your studies, if you get a residence permit other than a student, you must exchange your foreigners license for a french license to continue driving in France.

You must request the exchange of your driving license when exchanging your residence permit and at the latest within one year of the issue of your new residence permit.

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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