How do driving penalties work for foreign licence holders in France?

People driving in France under a foreign licence face various outcomes in case of infractions depending on the origin of their licence and whether or not they are a resident.

Just as with French drivers, drivers with foreign licences who are stopped by police for a minor infraction, or caught on camera committing one, may receive an immediate fine. 

These fines come in the post along with a notification about the offence. 

This system works for drivers with French licences as well as for those from other countries with an agreement on the exchange of driver details. 

However, since Brexit the DVLA does not provide the addresses of UK drivers to the French authorities.

This means that like US licence holders, UK licence holders cannot receive French driving fines in their home countries.

Residents of France, who are obliged to register their vehicle at their address in France, will receive the fine at their home 

For more serious violations the rules are more complex:

French residents with foreign licences who commit driving offences that would usually involve the loss of points are expected to swap their foreign for a French licence in order for the authorities to register the deduction.

This does not apply for minor offences, such as going 5km/h over the limit, which only results in a fine.

If you commit a more serious driving offence in France, your licence can be subject to rétention and suspension just like that of a French driver.

Your foreign licence will be sent to the prefecture in the department where the offence occurred. 

You will then be required to apply for a French licence exchange via the ANTS website - which is mandatory following a suspension. 

This often involves a medical check-up with an approved doctor (required, for example, in speed-related infractions), or in more serious cases involving alcohol or drugs, an appointment with a medical commission. Both are managed by your local préfecture.

If you are not a French resident and your licence is suspended, the prefecture will hold it for the duration of the suspension. 

If your planned stay in France is shorter than the suspension period, the licence may be sent back to the issuing authority in your home country. 

You will need to meet any medical fitness conditions set out in the suspension notice before it can be returned.

Applications for this must also be made online via the ANTS website under the category ‘Annulé/Suspendu’.

For those with a licence issued in another EU or EEA country: if you fail to apply for an exchange, or if your application is refused, your original licence will be returned to the authorities in the country that issued it and you will need to contact them for any conditions to have it reinstated.

If your licence is from a non-European country: again, if you fail to apply or are refused, your licence will be returned to you - but it will no longer be valid for use in France. 

You would not be permitted to drive in France unless you meet all conditions for restoring your right to this, including medical clearance and potentially starting the full process for obtaining a French licence.