Fine for driving without a license

Verified 01 March 2024 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

What are the penalties for driving without a license ? Is the fine lower if you do that? offense for 1re once? How do I pay the fine? How do I challenge the notice of violation? Here are the main rules to know about the offense of driving without a license.

If you drive a motor vehicle, you must have a license corresponding to the category of the vehicle.

For example, the B-permit for a car.

If you drive a motor vehicle without a license, or without a license corresponding to the category of that vehicle, it is a offense.

For example, if you are driving a motorcycle under the A permit while you only have the B-permit, or if you are driving while your license has been invalidated (zero points balance).

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You're driving without a license for the first time

A procedure flat-rate fine can be implemented if 3 conditions the following are completed:

  • You're doing the offense driving without a license for the 1era time
  • You're an adult
  • If you have committed several offenses, all of them are punishable by a lump sum fine

If you meet these conditions, law enforcement can, after the vehicle is intercepted, determine the offense by electronic minutes (PVe).

You receive at your home a notice of infringement, a notice explaining how to pay the lump sum fine and a exemption request form.

Your vehicle may be immobilized and impounded.

Other situation

The offense driving without a license is punishable by a prison sentence (maximum 1 year) and a fine of up to €15,000 of fine.

Minutes shall be drawn up and sent to the public prosecutor.

The public prosecutor decides on the continuation of the judicial proceedings.

Your vehicle may be immobilized and impounded.

You may also additional penalties following:

The amount of the flat-rate fine is fixed at €800.

You have to pay the flat-rate fine in a 45-day period (60 days in case of electronic payment by credit card of the notice of infringement).

The time limit shall be either from the time the infringement is established or, if notice is sent, from this submission.

Yeah. Yeah. The amount of the flat-rate fine shall be underrated in the following 2 cases:

  • You pay immediately in the hands of the agent. You will receive at your home the notice of violation with the words “ fine paid ”.
  • You pay in a 15-day period (30 days in case of electronic payment by credit card of the notice of infringement). The period for payment shall run from the date on which the infringement is established or, if a notice is sent, from this submission.

The amount of the flat-rate fine underrated is fixed at €640.

Yeah. Yeah. The amount of the flat-rate fine shall be increased if you don't pay the flat-rate fine within a period of 45 days (60 days in case of electronic payment by credit card of the notice of infringement).

The period for payment shall run either from the date on which the infringement is established or, if a notice is sent, from that date.

You receive a opinion inviting you to pay the amount plus the fine.

Amount of the fine increased

The amount of the flat-rate fine increased is fixed at €1,600.

Deadline for paying the increased fine

You must pay the fine increased in a 30-day period from the date of dispatch of the notice (45 days in case of electronic payment by credit card of the opinion) in order to benefit from reduction of 20 % of its amount.

If you do not meet this deadline, the Treasury can initiate a mutual agreement or legal procedure to obtain the payment.

If you have difficulty paying a flat-rate fine increased, you can request a payment delay or a gracious delivery.

You must send your request to public accountant.

Your request must be reasoned : Explain why you need time to pay or discount.

Attach the proof of your expenses and resources in particular.

If the public accountant considers your request to be justified, he or she may grant you either a payment period, or a gracious delivery partial or total (if necessary by applying a 20 % reduction).

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To the law enforcement officer if the vehicle is intercepted

You can pay by credit card, by check or cash.

You can request to receive a receipt by email (sending is systematic if you pay in cash).

Over the Internet (on your computer or smartphone)

You can pay via the Internet if the payment reference (e.g. e-payment number + key) appears on the payment card.

Payment can be made on the fines.gouv.fr website or on smartphone by downloading the fines.gouv mobile app on the App Store or Google Play.

Pay your fine online at fines.gouv.fr

By telephone

You can pay by phone if the payment reference (e.g., e-payment number + key) is on the payment card.

Who shall I contact

  • Call center to pay your fine by phone

    By telephone

    0806 20 30 40

    24 hours a day

    No surtax number

From a buralist or certified partner

You can pay by credit card or in cash from an authorized dealer or partner Proximity Payment if the notice includes a  Datamatrix.

You need the payment card attached to the notice.

A proof of payment will be provided.

To a public finance center

You can pay the fine at the counter of a public finance center.

You need the payment card attached to the notice.

You can pay by credit card or check.

By mail (check)

You can pay the fine by check made payable to the public treasury.

Send the check and payment card in the envelope attached to postage.

Please note

The payment of the fine means that you acknowledge the offense. You will no longer be able to challenge the notice of violation.

Reminder

You cannot challenge a notice of violation if you have paid the fine.

What's the deadline to challenge?

You have a deadline of 45 days to challenge a flat-rate fine.

The period shall run from the date on which the offense or, if an infringement notice is sent, from that dispatch.

How do I make the request?

Online

You can challenge the notice of violation online on the website of theANTAI: titleContent.

See the notice for information on how to proceed.

Lump-sum Notice of Assessment: Designation of another person or online challenge

By mail

You must complete the form of request for exemption attached to the notice of infringement.

The form explains how to fill it out and what supporting documents to attach depending on the reason for your challenge.

Send these documents by post RAR: titleContent at the address indicated on this form.

What are the supporting documents to attach?

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You had the license at the time of the finding of the offense

You must attach a copy of your valid driving license at the time of the finding of the facts.

You are a victim of identity theft

You will need to attach a copy of the receipt of the complaint for impersonation.

Other reason

You must attach a letter indicating the reasons for your objection.

You must also pay a consignment equal to the amount of the flat-rate fine, or €800 (€4 000 for a legal person).

The process for paying the deposit is the same as the process for paying the fine.

However, use the consignment card attached to the exemption request form, not the payment card.

FYI  

The deposit will be returned to you at the end of the procedure in case of no follow-up classification or relaxation.

What's the deadline to challenge?

You have a deadline of 30 days to contest a lump sum fine plus a surcharge.

The period shall run from the date on which the notice of flat-rate fine plus the penalty is sent.

Please note

You can't challenge a flat-rate fine increased (complaint procedure) if you have started to pay it following a payment deadline or obtained a gracious delivery.

How do I make the claim?

Online

You can challenge the Notice of Increased Fine online at theANTAI: titleContent.

See the notice for information on how to proceed.

Lump-sum Notice of Assessment: Designation of another person or online challenge

By mail

You must complete the form of complaint attached to the notice of infringement.

The form explains how to fill it and what supporting documents to attach depending on the reason for your challenge.

Send these documents by post RAR: titleContent to service for handling notices of tortious flat-rate fines (AFD).

The address shall be indicated on the notice.

What are the supporting documents to attach?

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You had the license at the time of the finding of the offense

You must attach a copy of your valid driving license at the time of the finding of the facts.

You are a victim of identity theft

You will need to attach a copy of the receipt of the complaint for impersonation.

Other reason

You must attach a letter stating the reasons for your complaint.

You must also pay a consignment equal to the amount of the flat-rate fine plus, or €1,600 (€8 000 for a legal person).

The procedure for paying the deposit is the same as that for paying the increased fine.

However, use the consignment card attached to the claim form, not the payment card.

FYI  

The deposit will be returned to you at the end of the procedure in case of no follow-up classification or relaxation.

Pay your fine online at fines.gouv.fr

Lump-sum Notice of Assessment: Designation of another person or online challenge

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