Driving license exchange

Foreign residents of France are allowed to drive in France for up to one year with their foreign driving license.

• European license holders can drive indefinitely with their European license (unless the French authorities wish to deduct penalty points, at which time they must exchange their European license for a French license so that points can be deducted from their license).
• If the foreign non-European driving license was issued before the foreigner’s arrival in France by a state which has an exchange agreement with France, the exchange must be made within the first year in France.
• If no exchange agreement exists between the state which issued the license and France, either the driver must renounce driving in France at the end of the first year of residence or take the French written and practical driving tests.