New €40 fee for exchanging non-French driving licence proposed

Drivers needing to exchange a foreign driving licence for a French one may soon be charged €40 under proposals in the draft 2026 budget. Currently, the procedure is free.

The fixed charge would apply to all exchanges, including mandatory switchovers for new residents in France, as well as renewals in the case of an old non-French licence expiring or in the case of loss, theft, or a driving offence.

It comes alongside other new fees directed at non-French citizens in the budget, including a €100 increase in the cost of residency cards.

The combined measures included in article 30 of the draft budget, are set to generate a reported €160 million in revenue for the state, as it looks to find billions in savings amid a financing black hole.

In the budget itself, the government says the €40 fee is “intended to cover the costs of manufacturing and delivering the new driving licence.”

The budget is yet to reach its final stage, however, and if it fails to pass or the measure is removed, the fee will not come into force. 

MPs in the Assemblée nationale did not modify or cancel the proposed fee during their initial reading of the bill, so it is likely to remain in the final text (however they did reject the budget as a whole before it was sent to the Senate after failing to come to a consensus overall).

Rules on licence exchanges 

All drivers living in France and using a non-French driving licence must eventually exchange this for a French one, although the deadlines to do so can vary considerably.

These rules apply to people who have their main residence in France. 

International drivers visiting the country can continue to drive on their foreign licence (provided it is valid) although in some cases may need an International Driving Permit.

Drivers with an EU/EEA licence (excluding Swiss licences) or a UK licence first obtained before January 2021, do not need to exchange their licence in France until their original one expires. ‘First obtained’ refers to when they passed the relevant test and their first licence was issued.

When it does expire they must apply for a new French licence, and cannot apply for a renewal in the country where they no longer live – for example, the UK’s DVLA issues reminders that UK licences cannot be renewed from or sent to addresses outside of the country. 

Drivers who move to France from another non-EU/EEA country with a reciprocal licence exchange agreement with France, must make the switch within 12 months of relocating. 

Note, this includes Britons with a licence first obtained after January 2021, as well as Australians, New Zealanders, Japanese people, Brazilians and many others – you can use the government simulator to check the rules for your country.

If reciprocal exchange agreements are in place, there are no additional rules or tests required for exchanging the licence aside from the 12-month deadline. 

For other countries where reciprocal exchange rules do not exist with France, drivers must take a full French driving test to obtain a French licence.

In the US and Canada, agreements are made on a state-by-state basis, so it depends on where your driving licence is issued whether you can simply exchange it or must take a test. 

Regardless of the licence you hold and the above rules, in certain circumstances you must apply for a French licence regardless of if your non-French licence remains otherwise valid. 

This can include: 

• If you commit a driving offence that would see points deducted from a French licence (eg. speeding, going through a red light etc)

• Your non-French licence is lost, stolen, or damaged 

• You obtain a new category on your driving licence (for example, the ability to drive ‘C’ or ‘D’ category vehicles) 

Licence exchange requests are made online, and depending on your country of origin and the reason for exchanging the licence, requirements may vary. 

Read our article for further information on how to renew a non-French licence.