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Retrieval of driving license points
Verified 20 March 2025 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
How can lost points be recovered from the driving license and when? We tell you what you need to know for a normal license to 12 points and for one probationary permit to 6 points.
What applies to you ?
Normal license
The point recovery is automatic after a certain period of time or by participating in a road safety awareness course.
More the offense is serious, plus the time limit is long to collect driving license points.
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6 months deadline
If you lose 1 single point, you get it back after 6 months.
You must not commit a new act infringement at the highway code during this period of 6 months.
Points are removed when the offense is established.
The time limit to retrieve short points from the date on which the infringement is established.
The offense is established by:
- the payment of the last flat-rate fine,
- or the issue of the enforceable title of a flat-rate fine increased,
- or the execution of a penal composition,
- or by a final conviction.
2-year period
You get your 12 points after 2 years if the following conditions are met:
- Your folder does not contain offenses, or serious infringements (infringement of 4th class and 5th class)
- You do not commit a new offense during this 2-year period. The two-year period runs from the last offense committed.
Points are removed when the offense is established.
The time limit to retrieve short points from the date on which the infringement is established.
The offense is established by:
- the payment of the last flat-rate fine,
- or the issue of the enforceable title of a flat-rate fine increased,
- or the execution of a penal composition,
- or by a final conviction.
3-year period
You get your 12 points after 3 years if the following conditions are met:
- Your folder contains a offense or a serious infringement (infringement of 4th class and 5th class)
- You do not commit a new offense within this 3-year period. The three-year period shall run from the last infringement committed.
Points are removed when the offense is established.
The time limit to retrieve short points from the date on which the infringement is established.
The offense is established by:
- the payment of the last flat-rate fine,
- or the issue of the enforceable title of a flat-rate fine increased,
- or the execution of a penal composition,
- or by a final conviction.
10-year period
You're recovering your lost points after 10 years if you are unable to recover them because you commit a new offense each time within the time allowed.
However, the 3 conditions the following must be completed:
- Points withdrawn must relate to contraventions of 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th class
- You must not have reached a zero balance (zero points)
- You must not have returned to 12 points (no total reconstitution since this offense).
Points are removed when the offense is established.
The time limit to retrieve short points from the date on which the infringement is established.
The offense is established by:
- the payment of the last flat-rate fine,
- or the issue of the enforceable title of a flat-rate fine increased,
- or the execution of a penal composition,
- or by a final conviction.
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6 months deadline
If you lose 1 single point, you get it back after 6 months.
You must not commit a new act infringement at the highway code during this period of 6 months.
Points are removed when the offense is established.
The time limit to retrieve short points from the date on which the infringement is established.
The offense is established by:
- the payment of the last flat-rate fine,
- or the issue of the enforceable title of a flat-rate fine increased,
- or the execution of a penal composition,
- or by a final conviction.
2-year period
You get your 12 points after 2 years if the following conditions are met:
- Your folder does not contain offenses, or serious infringements (infringement of 4th class and 5th class)
- You do not commit a new offense during this 2-year period. The two-year period runs from the last offense committed.
Points are removed when the offense is established.
The time limit to retrieve short points from the date on which the infringement is established.
The offense is established by:
- the payment of the last flat-rate fine,
- or the issue of the enforceable title of a flat-rate fine increased,
- or the execution of a penal composition,
- or by a final conviction.
3-year period
You get your 12 points after 3 years if the following conditions are met:
- Your folder contains a offense or a serious infringement (infringement of 4th class and 5th class)
- You do not commit a new offense within this 3-year period. The three-year period shall run from the last infringement committed.
Points are removed when the offense is established.
The time limit to retrieve short points from the date on which the infringement is established.
The offense is established by:
- the payment of the last flat-rate fine,
- or the issue of the enforceable title of a flat-rate fine increased,
- or the execution of a penal composition,
- or by a final conviction.
10-year period
You're recovering your lost points after 10 years if you are unable to recover them because you commit a new offense each time within the time allowed.
However, the 3 conditions the following must be completed:
- Points withdrawn must relate to contraventions of 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th class
- You must not have reached a zero balance (zero points)
- You must not have returned to 12 points (no total reconstitution since this offense).
Points are removed when the offense is established.
The time limit to retrieve short points from the date on which the infringement is established.
The offense is established by:
- the payment of the last flat-rate fine,
- or the issue of the enforceable title of a flat-rate fine increased,
- or the execution of a penal composition,
- or by a final conviction.
Infographie - Summary of automatic recovery of driving license points
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The more serious the offense, the longer it takes to recover the points, especially if you commit a new offense during the recovery period.
1/If you commit an offense and you lose only 1 point, you recover it after 6 months.
Example: speeding less than 20 km/h.
Condition: do not commit a new offense during this 6-month period.
The recovery period starts from the final date of the infringement
2/If you commit a relatively serious offense (2nd or 3rd class), you get your points back after 2 years.
Example: Change of direction without turn signal
Conditions: not to commit a new infringement during this 2-year period and not to have already points to recover following a serious infringement.
The recovery period shall start from the final date of the last infringement committed.
3/If you commit a serious offense (4th or 5th class or misdemeanor), you get your points back after 3 years.
Example: stoppage at a red light not respected
Conditions: not to commit a new offense during this period of 3 years.
The recovery period shall start from the final date of the last infringement committed.
*
The final date of the infringement shall be the date on which the infringement is established. The offense shall be established by payment of the fine, a final judicial decision, the issue of the flat-rate fine plus a fine, or the execution of a penal composition.
Careful!
The withdrawal of all points (zero balance) results in a driving ban.
You must undergo a medical check before you can reissue the license (code or code + conduct if you have the license for less than 3 years).
Did you know that?
- You can recover up to 4 points per year within the limit of 12 points of the permit by doing a road safety awareness course. The only condition is that your license must not be invalidated (balance at zero).
- An automatic reallocation of points is foreseen after 10 years, subject to conditions.
Example :
You have your 12 points.
You're committing a fourth-class ticket. You lose 4 points. You pay the fine on January 2, 2021.
You should get your 12 points back within 3 years, on January 2, 2024.
However, in the meantime, you are committing a fine of 2e class. You lose 3 points. You pay the fine on January 20, 2022.
You will get your 12 points back within 3 years, i.e. January 20, 2025 provided that no new offense is committed within that period.
Example :
You have your 12 points. You have a contravention resulting in the withdrawal of 1 point. You pay the fine on January 2, 2022.
You should recover this point after 6 months, i.e. July 2, 2022.
However, in the meantime, you are committing a fine of 4e class. You lose 2 additional points by paying the fine on March 10, 2022.
Your point balance is 9 out of 12 points.
You will no longer get the 1-point refund scheduled for July 2, 2022.
You will get your 12 points back within 3 years, i.e. March 10, 2025 provided that no new offense is committed within that period.
Please note
Point recovery is not possible if your license is invalidated by an administrative decision or set aside by a judicial decision.
Yes, you can choose to participate in a road safety awareness course to collect points on your driving license.
The online service My Points Allowed allows you to consult for free the number of points you have on your driving license:
You also receive a letter (letter 48).
This letter indicates the number of points removed and the number of points remaining on your license (balance).
Please note
The address on the vehicle registration certificate carte grise (ex-) be up to date. In case of change of address, the update must be made within one month. If you have moved without changing the address on the registration certificate, you cannot challenge the withdrawal of points on the grounds of lack of information.
One simulator lets you know how many points are deducted according to the offense road haulage operator:
An online service allows you to to file a complaint online and shows how make a claim depending on your situation:
Apply online for a driving license
FYI
The letter notifying you of the point removal also indicates how to make a claim. You can make a administrative appeal to the prefect and/or the ministry of the interior and a contentious appeal before the administrative court.
Proof Permit
The probationary permit concerns you if you have obtained a driving license for the 1re once or as a result of invalidation or judicial annulment.
Rules vary depending on the number of points lost:
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You lost 1 point
If you lose 1 single point during the probationary period, you get it back after 6 months.
You must not commit a new act infringement at the highway code during this period of 6 months.
Otherwise, you lose that point.
Points are removed when the offense is established.
The time limit to retrieve short points from the date on which the infringement is established.
The offense is established by:
- the payment of the last flat-rate fine,
- or the issue of the enforceable title of a flat-rate fine increased,
- or the execution of a penal composition,
- or by a final conviction.
You lost 2 points
You can choose to participate in a road safety awareness course to get your points back.
You lost 3 points
You must obligatory participate in a road safety awareness course to get your points back.
You've lost six points
If you lose 6 points during the 1re probationary year, you cannot not get them back.
Your license loses validity.
You can't drive anymore for 6 months, or follow by road safety awareness course.
You must to retake the tests of the permit : general theoretical test (code) and practical test (driving).
You can show up for the tests without waiting for the end of the driving prohibition period.
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You lost 1 point
If you lose 1 single point during the probationary period, you get it back after 6 months.
You must not commit a new act infringement at the highway code during this period of 6 months.
Otherwise, you lose that point.
Points are removed when the offense is established.
The time limit to retrieve short points from the date on which the infringement is established.
The offense is established by:
- the payment of the last flat-rate fine,
- or the issue of the enforceable title of a flat-rate fine increased,
- or the execution of a penal composition,
- or by a final conviction.
You lost 2 points
You can choose to participate in a road safety awareness course to get your points back.
You lost 3 points
You must obligatory participate in a road safety awareness course to get your points back.
You've lost six points
If you lose 6 points during the 1re probationary year, you cannot not get them back.
Your license loses validity.
You can't drive anymore for 6 months, or follow by road safety awareness course.
You must to retake the tests of the permit : general theoretical test (code) and practical test (driving).
You can show up for the tests without waiting for the end of the driving prohibition period.
Reminder
If you commit a infringement road during the probationary period, the annual increase in points shall be interrupted.
Rules vary depending on the number of points lost:
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1 or 2 point indent
The online service My Points Allowed allows you to consult for free the number of points you have on your driving license:
You are informed by single letter (letter 48).
This letter indicates the number of points removed and the number of points remaining on your license (balance).
Indent of 3 or more points
The online service My Points Allowed allows you to consult for free the number of points you have on your driving license:
You are informed by registered letter with ARAR : Acknowledgment of receipt (letter 48N).
The letter informs you of the withdrawal of points and the obligation to follow a road safety awareness course.
You must wait until you receive the letter 48N to register for the internship.
Such training shall enable the fine to be refunded if necessary.
You must take this course in the 4 months upon receipt of the letter.
If you refuse, you risk a fine of €135 and a suspension of the license for 3 years.
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1 or 2 point indent
The online service My Points Allowed allows you to consult for free the number of points you have on your driving license:
You are informed by single letter (letter 48).
This letter indicates the number of points removed and the number of points remaining on your license (balance).
Indent of 3 or more points
The online service My Points Allowed allows you to consult for free the number of points you have on your driving license:
You are informed by registered letter with ARAR : Acknowledgment of receipt (letter 48N).
The letter informs you of the withdrawal of points and the obligation to follow a road safety awareness course.
You must wait until you receive the letter 48N to register for the internship.
Such training shall enable the fine to be refunded if necessary.
You must take this course in the 4 months upon receipt of the letter.
If you refuse, you risk a fine of €135 and a suspension of the license for 3 years.
Please note
The address on the vehicle registration certificate carte grise (ex-) be up to date. In case of change of address, the update must be made within one month. If you have moved without changing the address on the registration certificate, you cannot challenge the withdrawal of points on the grounds of lack of information.
One simulator lets you know how many points are deducted according to the offense road haulage operator:
One online service allows you to to file a complaint online and shows how make a claim depending on your situation:
Apply online for a driving license
FYI
The letter notifying you of the point removal also indicates how to make a claim. You can make a administrative appeal to the prefect and/or the ministry of the interior and a contentious appeal before the administrative court.
On the same subject
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.
Telephone administrative information - Allo Public Service
For more information on this topic, you can contact Allô Service Public.
Attention: the service does not have access to users' personal files and cannot therefore provide information on their status.
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- Service free
The informants who answer you belong to the Ministry of the Interior.
Rules on the point license
Point Removal Procedure
Administrative detention and suspension after a finding of an infringement
FAQ
Ministry of the Interior
Ministry of Transport
Ministry of the Interior