Road police checks can be nerve-wracking for even the most law-abiding driver, so it can be helpful to know the rules on what to show authorities if you are pulled over in France.
Who has the right to stop you for a check in France?
Only law enforcement officers are permitted to stop you for a roadside check. This means:
Police officers and police agents
Gendarmes.
They can signal to you to pull over, and they will usually then explain why they have stopped you. They will then ask for the vehicle’s documents, and will then check the vehicle itself (e.g. checking headlights and the tyre treads, etc).
This is the same for any vehicle, whether a motorbike, family car, or lorry.
What documents do I need to show?
The documents and items you need to have in your vehicle when driving in FranceService-public.gouv.fr / Canva
MOT certificate (contrôle technique) if the vehicle is over four years old.
This means you should always carry the originals of these documents in your vehicle with you when you drive (and keep them safe when the vehicle is not being used).
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Authorities can also check that you are complying with the conditions that you must follow when driving, which are shown on your licence (e.g. you must be wearing your glasses when driving where necessary).
If you are unable to show these documents because you do not have them with you, you are breaking the law, and can be fined up to:
€38 for your driving licence
€38 for your vehicle registration document
€130 for the MOT certificate
€150 for the car insurance certificate
€750 if you are not complying with licence conditions (e.g. not wearing your glasses)
As well as paying the fine, you must show these documents within a certain time frame, usually at the local police station or gendarmerie office (within three days for the MOT certificate, and five days for the others).
If you fail to do so, your fine (or fines) will be increased to €750.
Driving licence alternatives
Instead of a licence, you can also present an attestation de droits à conduire sécurisée (ADCS, secure driving licence certificate). This certificate, which can be downloaded from the Mes Points Permis website, is valid for four months from the date of issue and can be reissued. It is only valid in France. You can present it in paper (printed copy) or electronic format on your smartphone.
If you do not have your driving licence because it has been lost or stolen, you can present an ADCS. You can also show your receipt for the loss or theft report, which can replace your licence for a maximum of two months.
If the driver who is stopped is an ‘accompanied driver’ (e.g. a learner driving with someone who has a full licence), the person accompanying the learner driver must present their licence or an ADCS.
If you have just passed your driving test and do not yet have the physical licence, you can present an ADCS, or the certificat d'examen du permis de conduire (CEPC, driving licence examination certificate).
If you are driving a voiture sans permis (a small car that people without licences are allowed to drive), you must still comply with all law enforcement requests, and must still have valid insurance.
Carte grise alternatives
In the case of your carte grise, if the application is pending, you can present the certificat provisoire d'immatriculation (CPI, provisional registration certificate) instead.
What are the permitted reasons for a stop?
Law enforcement officers are permitted to stop you to check your vehicle documentation, for the following reasons:
A routine check, or for safety (e.g. on an accident-prone route)
Because you are suspected of committing an offence.
The automatic deduction of six points from your driving licence (half of the 12 points on a full, clean licence).
Your driving licence can also be suspended for up to three years and/or your driving can be severely restricted (e.g. only allowed to use a vehicle for work, or to attend community service).
Where do police checks most often take place?
Roadside checks often take place in accident-prone areas, on roads that are typically busy, or in areas in which high levels of crime are suspected.
They tend to happen more:
Near speed cameras
At roundabouts
At motorway exits
At crossroads in large cities
At traffic lights at the entrance to built-up areas.
For example, the department of Aude (Occitanie) recently launched a new campaign to increase roadside checks after a “catastrophic” year; road traffic accident deaths there have risen by 20% in 2025 so far.
What else must I have in my car when driving in France?
In addition to the documents listed above, it is also a legal requirement in France to carry, at all times:
A high-vis safety jacket within easy reach (fine of €750 if not used in case of emergency/accident)
A warning road sign triangle to place on the road (fine of €750 if not used in case of emergency/accident).
You must also have:
Tyres in a good state (no slashes or cuts, sufficient tread; fine of €750 and possible impounding of your vehicle if not)
A clear windscreen with working wipers (fine of €750 and three points on your licence if not)
Headlights in good working order (fine of €450 if not).
Number plates must also be visible and conform to the law, and your vehicle must also have a working horn that is loud enough to be heard by other vehicles.
Law enforcement officers can check all of the above during a roadside stop.
