Driving license BE: car with trailer (car + trailer > 4250 kg)

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

Which vehicles can be driven with the BE permit? What's the minimum age? How to register, take exams (code and conduct) and apply for a permit? We tell you the steps to take to pass the BE permit.

Step-by-step approach

The BE license allows you to drive a vehicle with 5 features following:

  • Used for the transport of persons or goods
  • PTAC less than or equal to 3,5 tons
  • Maximum 9 seating positions (driver included)
  • PTAC Trailer exceeding 750 kg not exceeding 3 500 kg (or semi-trailer)
  • Sum of PTACs (car + trailer) more than 4 250 kg.

The BE permit must not be confused with the extension of the B-permit reported by the endorsement 96 .

Endorsement 96 is required where PTAC: titleContent of the trailer exceeds 750 kg and the sum of PTAC: titleContent (car + trailer) exceeds 3 500 kg not exceeding 4 250 kg.

FYI  

If you have an EB license obtained before January 19, 2013, your grandfathered rights are maintained. Your permit is marked 79.06 to allow you to tow a trailer weighing more than 3,500 kg of TCCA.

Age

You must have at least 18 years.

Required prerequisite category

You must have the B-permit in order to be able to pass the BE license.

Citizenship - Nationality

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You're French

If you are under 25 years of age, you must be in compliance with the obligations of the Defense and Citizenship Day (JDC).

You're European

If you are a Swiss, Andorran, Monegasque or national of the European Economic Area (EEA), you must have had your personal and/or professional ties for at least 6 months in France.

You're a foreigner

You must have lived in France for at least 6 months and have a valid residence permit.

Please note

medical examination is not required to obtain the BE license.

Through a school car

At your request, your driving school will take care of your registration for the examination of the license.

However, you must activate yourself the account created in your name on the websiteANTS: titleContent.

You receive an email to activate the account.

One harmonized prefectural registration number (NEPH) is assigned to you when you register for the exam.

Your driving school needs the following documents to register, in photographic or digitized version :

  • If you are French, aged from 17 years to 25 years, individual certificate of participation in the Defense and Citizenship Day (JDC), or individual exemption certificate, or national service status certificate, or provisional national service status certificate.
  • If you are a foreigner, proof of regularity of the stay or, if you are exempt from a residence permit, proof of your presence in France for at least 6 months (payroll, rent receipt...)
By yourself

You can choose to register yourself for the license.

One harmonized prefectural registration number (NEPH) is assigned to you when you register for the exam.

The on-line service is accessible with FranceConnect or with your identifiers ANTS: titleContent.

If you do not have ANTS credentials, it is proposed to create an account to have a personal space on the ANTS website.

Prepare the following documents, in photographic or digitized version :

  • If you are French, aged from 17 years to 25 years, individual certificate of participation in the Defense and Citizenship Day (JDC), or individual exemption certificate, or national service status certificate, or provisional national service status certificate.
  • If you are a foreigner, proof of regularity of the stay or, if you are exempt from a residence permit, proof of your presence in France for at least 6 months (payroll, rent receipt...)

Driver's license: register online for the exam (NEPH number assignment)

You can pass the code (ETG) via a driving school or as a free candidate.

To be exempt from passing the code, you must complete at least one of the following conditions :

  • Have obtained a favorable result for the theoretical test (code) for 5 years or less
  • Have had a license category for 5 years or less, except AM category
  • Have a French driving license obtained by exchange (code 70) for 5 years or less
    The following letters shall follow code 70: DE (Germany), AT (Austria), BE (Belgium), BG (Bulgaria), CY (Cyprus, Greek), HR (Croatia), DK (Denmark), ES (Spain), EE (Estonia), FI (Finland), GR (Greece), HU (Hungary), IE (Ireland), IT (Italy), LV (Latvia), LT (Lithuania), LU (Luxembourg), MT (Malta), NL (Netherlands), PL (Poland), PT (Portugal), CZ (Czech Republic), RO (Romania), SK (Slovakia), SI (Slovenia) SE (Sweden), IS (Iceland), LI (Liechtenstein), NO (Norway).

The code waiver may be granted if you submit one of the following documents:

  • Valid driving license obtained for 5 years or less 
  • Certificate of temporary examination of the driving license, paper or dematerialized, valid (maximum 4 months)

Warning  

Since 2021, categories A1 or A2 no longer allow for a code exemption (general theoretical test or ETG).

The driving school must offer you a standard driving education contract.

That contract shall specify in particular the program and the course of training, on price training and administrative services, obligations of each, the means of payment.

The driving school gives you access to a apprenticeship book digital (training objectives and monitoring your progress).

Accompanying Person

An accompanying person must be present throughout the tests.

Non-circulation test (HC)

The objective of the HC test is to test your knowledge in the following subjects:

  • Highway Code
  • Road safety and signaling
  • Vehicle checks before departure
  • Coupling and uncoupling of an assembly
  • Performing a maneuver

The HC test consists of several exercises: knowledge tests, oral questioning, maneuverability exercise.

To be admitted, you must obtain more than 18 points, not have a final grade and have a result favorable to the maneuverability exercise.

You retain the benefit of the HC test for 5 circulating tests (CIR) during 3 years which follow the test pass date HC provided that the theoretical test (code) is validated.

Test in circulation (CIR)

The CIR test takes place on varied routes.

The following competencies are assessed :

  • Know how to settle and ensure safety on board
  • Autonomy and awareness of risk
  • Know and use commands
  • Take the information
  • Adapting its pace to circumstances
  • Enforce regulation
  • Communicate with other users
  • Share Pavement
  • Maintaining safe spaces

To be accepted in the CIR test, you must obtain at least 17 points and do not make a eliminatory error.

FYI  

the driving schools driver's license preparation BE, C1, C, C1E, CE, D1, D, D1E and DE may reserve seats for the practical test on-site pro.permisdeconduit.gouv.fr.

After the practical test, the inspector does not give you the result orally.

You need to see the results online 48 hours after examination.

Check the results of your driving license examination online

If the result is favorable, you can download your Driver's License Examination Certificate (CRC).

This certificate, accompanied by an identity document, serves as a driver's license for 4 months from the day of the examination.

In case of law enforcement control, you can present the CEPC in hard copy or directly on a smartphone or tablet.

The CRC does not allow driving abroad.

FYI  

if you fail a driving test, you cannot take the next test before a period of 2 days (date to date).

You must ask as soon as possible a new permit which incorporates the new category obtained.

Indeed, the Driver's License Examination Certificate (CRC) allow for 4 months driving a new category of vehicle.

The driving license application is done online on the websiteANTS: titleContent.

The period of validity of a driving license (driving license) in format credit card is 15 years.

At the end of this period, the renewal is a simple administrative procedure : there is no driving test or medical examination to be taken.

So, even if your driving license is valid 15 years, your license category remains valid for life (unless individually restricted).

However, the period of validity of the title may be small for health reasons.

FYI  

since 3 June 2016, you no longer have to go through a medical examination to extend the validity of your BE driving license (formerly EB) unless it is limited for health reasons.

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Secure driving ticket in "credit card" format

You can use your driving title in which category BE appears in the unextended state until the end of the period indicated on the front of the title in row 4B.

However, you must meet the following 2 conditions:

  • Your BE category should not be limited for health reasons
  • You must not be deprived of your right to drive

The application for renewal is made online on theANTS: titleContent before the end of the period of validity of the driving license.

The reason for the application to be ticked off is: "I request the production of a driving license"

If you do not have a heavy group category (C1, C, C1E, CE, D1, D, D1E or DE), you will be issued a driving license with a validity of 15 years.

Apply online for a new driving license in case of expiry

One on-line service allows you to follow manufacture and dispatch your driver's license.

Track the progress of a driving license application

Driving title in the format "pink 3 flaps"

You can use your driving title on which the category BE (formerly EB) appears in the unextended state until 19 January 2033 (including if your title was issued before 3 June 2016).

However, you must complete the 2 conditions following:

  • Your BE category should not be limited for health reasons
  • You must not be deprived of your right to drive

Driver's license: register online for the exam (NEPH number assignment)

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