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

Verified 15 January 2025 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

You're wondering if you need to pass the BE permit to drive a car with a trailer attached? We tell you the information to know and the steps to follow 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 marked 96.

Endorsement 96 is required where PTACPTAC : Total permissible laden weight of the trailer exceeds 750 kg and the sum of PTACPTAC : Total permissible laden weight (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.

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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 websiteANTSANTS : National Securities Agency. You receive an email to activate the account.

To register, the driving school needs 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...).

Once you have registered for the exam, you will receive a Driver’s License Registration Certificate (PID)) containing your harmonized prefectural registration number (NEPH).

By yourself

Registration for the driving license examination is made online on the website of theANTSANTS : National Securities Agency.

Prepare the following documents, in a photographic or scanned 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)

Once you have registered for the exam, you will receive a Driver’s License Registration Certificate (PID)) containing your harmonized prefectural registration number (NEPH).

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

To be exempt from passing the code, you must meet 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 digital learning booklet (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 skills the following are evaluated:

  • 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
  • Maintain 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 of the examination orally. You can view the result online the day after the exam.

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

The EPC, accompanied by an identity document, serves as a driver's license for 4 months from the day of the examination. The CEPC is valid only in France. In the case of law enforcement, you can present the CEPC in paper or dematerialized format.

Check the results of your driving license examination online

FYI  

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

You must apply for a new license that incorporates the new category obtained.

One on-line service allows you to track your driver's license application.

Track the progress of a driving license application

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.

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

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