Legal requirements and formalities of exchanging your license

First things first - don’t believe the stereotypes

France is a country known for its forthright and expressive character – by extension, on first impressions driving here can seem overwhelming for outsiders used to different norms and conventions. While ideas of fearless drivers in fast-paced traffic, liberal use of the horn, and creative interpretation of rules and regulations can exist in larger cities, elsewhere France’s large surface area means driving is more scenic and relaxed thanks to well-maintained road networks covering beautiful landscapes. 

Essentially, driving in France is more than accessible, and certainly nothing to fear – it’s simply a new system that with knowledge and application can be navigated at a pace to suit you.

The basics

Driving is on the right-hand side of the road (cars have their steering wheel on the left side), and passing is on the left only. 

Priority is to the right (priorité à droite) meaning drivers must yield to traffic coming from the right, even on main roads and on intersections without signage – bear in mind that on roundabouts drivers must yield to cars already in the roundabout, and always use their turn signal when exiting. Confusingly, the priorité à droite system doesn't apply at all times and can depend on road signs.

The minimum age to hold a full driver’s license for a car is 18 years old, with accompanied driving (conduite accompagnée) permitted for ages 15-17. For two-wheel motor vehicles the minimum age starts from 14 for mopeds, then 16 for light motorbikes up to 125cc, and 18 for mid-power motorbikes, with a full motorbike license only available with post-license training and a minimum period of 2 years holding a mid-power license. 

For e-scooters (trottinettes électrique) no license is required – all riders must be at least 14 years old to use them on cycle lanes (preferred and mandatory if available) or public roads if cycle lanes are not available, whether the scooter is privately owned or rented.

Legal requirements as a driver

All drivers, whether in a personal or a rental vehicle, are legally required to carry certain documents including ID / passport, license (permis) with International Driving Permit (IDP) if you’re from outside the EU, vehicle registration papers (carte grise / certificat d'immatriculation), insurance documents (attestation d’assurance), and for vehicles over 4 years old, proof of vehicle roadworthiness (Contrôle Technique, typically a window sticker). 

By law they must also carry equipment including a hi-vis reflective jacket within reach from the driver’s seat (ie not in the trunk) and a warning triangle as compulsory, while spare bulbs and a breathalyzer kit were previously legal obligations but are now highly recommended.

Failure to produce the legal requirements when asked by the police can result in on-the-spot fines, though you may be given a short deadline to show these at a police station.

Having a driver’s license in France

Whether you can drive with your US license will depend on your length of stay and your residency status.

For short-term stays less than 90 days, you can drive with your valid US driver’s license which must be valid for the whole time, and accompanied by an International Driving Permit (IDP), obtained before arrival in France. The IDP is an official translation of a valid US driver's license, issued only to US license holders to allow them to drive legally in other countries. It costs $20 and is available through either AAA or AATA as the only two organizations authorized as providers by the US Department of State. Once issued, it is valid for one year. 

For long-term stays with residency, the same applies – however, after the one-year IDP validity has expired you are required to hold a French license.

If your state has a reciprocity agreement with France: you can exchange your US license for a French one, which must be requested within the first 12 months of residency. This is done through the Agence Nationale des Titres Sécurisés (ANTS), also known as France Titres, which holds the list of reciprocal states as the agency responsible for issuing important personal documents such as passports, ID cards, driver’s licenses and car registration documents etc. You will need to register with ANTS to create an account for the process to take place.

Be aware that the timeframe from submission to receipt can be up to 12 months (longer in some cases). Once an application is validated, the original license has to then be sent by registered mail, following which ANTS issues an attestation de dépôt sécurisée (ADS) which is a secure permit allowing you to keep driving legally in France. The ADS is valid for 4 months, and ANTS generally aims to deliver your new French license within that window.

Know that while there is no fee for the process itself, you will need to set aside funds for the component parts (required documents with translation if necessary, ID photos, recorded delivery, etc), which themselves may vary according to your circumstances. 

While there are commercial services available to help with the process that promise speed and efficiency, you will be paying them for assistance in guiding you through the same official ANTS route in accordance with the very same ANTS timeframe.

If your state does not have a reciprocity agreement with France: you will have to take the French driving test which has two sequential parts: the theory test (code de la route), followed by the practical test.

The tests are scheduled through ANTS – the theory test is €30, while the practical is free. 

You can enter as an independent candidate, or through a driving school (auto-école) which will help coordinate the process. For the theory test some centers offer English language as an option, though for the practical all tests are done in French.

The theory test is done in an official center, and is a computer-based series of 40 multiple-choice questions designed to assess understanding of the code de la route (road rules, signs, safe driving behavior etc) requiring a pass mark of 35 correct answers. You can resit as many times as it takes to gain a pass in order to proceed to the practical test.

To submit for the practical test, know that as well as passing the theory test beforehand there is also a legal requirement to undertake a minimum of 20 hours of supervised driving lessons with a certified driving instructor, typically done with tuition at a driving school where free market hourly rates can vary from €40-70.

To gain your minimum 20 hours you must have a learner’s permit, which can only be applied for once you have passed the theory test. Applying for a learner’s permit is done online at and costs €25, paid as a digital tax stamp (timbre fiscal dématérialisé). Once you have received confirmation that your application has been validated, your permit can take up to 4 weeks to arrive, whereupon you can begin your supervised driving lessons.

Once you have passed both tests and have the relevant confirmation paperwork, you apply to receive your full driver’s license via ANTS.

What to do if you break down on the autoroute

Breakdowns on autoroutes fall under strict regulations for safety and traffic flow – you cannot call your own breakdown service to come directly to the scene. Instead, you must use the official motorway assistance system, which dispatches government-approved recovery operators.

If you break down and cannot reach a service station or rest area, park as far to the right as possible, and switch on the vehicle’s hazard lights. Put your hi-vis vest on, and exit the vehicle on the right-hand side to climb behind the safety barrier, if there is one. Find an emergency alert post (usually orange and spaced every 2km). Use this to call rescue services, who should arrive within 30 minutes. Using the emergency point will identify your location.

Alternatively, you can call 112 (EU emergency number) from your cell for an approved recovery service to be dispatched.

Motorway breakdown services have set tariffs. Some insurance policies reimburse the cost of a motorway rescue. The fees can be found online.