Are ‘lifetime driving licences’ coming to an end in France?

Reader Question: I have seen media outlets in France talk of ‘the end of lifetime licences’ under new EU rules, but I thought licences had to be renewed every 15 years anyway? Am I mistaken? 

Considerable discussion remains over the recent EU-wide changes to driving licences. 

Fully authorised in autumn 2025, the changes, in a new directive, were aimed at improving road safety across the bloc, and contained several elements. 

These will come into force progressively between now and 2030.

Several media outlets have pointed to an end of ‘lifetime driving licences’ across the EU, but this is an issue that does not directly apply to France. 

Currently, there are no French driving licences that are valid for life.

Modern ‘plastic’ licences must be renewed after a maximum of 15 years, and older ‘pink’ cardboard licences need to be renewed at the latest by 2033. 

Under the incoming EU rules, all EU states will need to implement a maximum validity period of 15 years for licences before renewal – rules already in place in France. 

France has the option to reduce this to 10 years. The EU directive also allows reducing the validity period of licences of people aged 65 or over on their next renewal (for example to just five years).

However, the nation’s strong motorist lobby is averse to these changes and they are unlikely to be implemented.

Self-assessment forms to be required

However, another sense in which the idea of French ‘lifetime licences’ may be said to be coming to an end is that in France exchanging your licence is at present only an administrative formality – you apply for a new licence and it is given.

The new EU plans will see all those renewing their licence – or obtaining them for the first time – required to complete a self-assessment form on their medical fitness to drive, an additional step to the process in France. 

The new EU rules allow member states to require medical examinations on licence renewal (either for all drivers or over-65s), but they leave this to the discretion of individual countries, which will have to decide how to put the new EU rules into national law.

France is one of only a few European countries that still has no form of medical examination for driver (or older driver) renewals, but is considered unlikely to impose this stricter change. 

As of February 2026, no major party has said it is in favour of doing so.

Other changes included in the new EU rules include member states needing to offer digital licences (something France already does through the France Identité app), a probationary period for younger drivers, and changes to make it easier for younger people to enter the professional logistics workforce. 

A full list can be found in our article here.