The rules on exchanging a UK licence for a French licence
Exchange deadline depends on date licence was issued alongside other factors
Licences must be exchanged in certain circumstances regardless of when they were obtained
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Tourists and second-home owners visiting France from the UK for occasional trips can drive in the country on their standard British licence – although they must respect French driving rules and can face having their licence suspended if they do not.
Those making a permanent move across the Channel are subject to different rules, as all drivers moving to France must eventually exchange their licence for a French one.
Recently, France introduced fees for exchanging foreign licences.
The rules on exchanging their licence depends on several factors, which we explain below.
Post-Brexit rules
As stated, those moving permanently to France must exchange their licence to a French one, although the time period for this can differ greatly.
For UK licence holders, licences first obtained (so when the driving test was initially passed) before January 2021 are treated as EU licences.
This means that they can be used in France until the expiry date shown on the front of the licence.
At this point, they must exchange it for a French one via the France-Titres (often known by its former name ANTS) website.
It is recommended to apply for exchange about a year before expiry, in view of the fact that processing delays are common.
For those who first obtained their licence after January 2021, the licence is treated as a standard non-EU licence. This means they must apply to exchange it within 12 months of moving to France (for people coming on standard VLTS visas, this will usually be taken as starting when the visa is validated in France).
If the driver fails to do this, the licence is no longer valid in France and they will need to obtain a French licence via a full driving test (theory and practical, with the latter always in French).
Note there are some circumstances when pre-Brexit UK licence holders living in France must exchange their licence for a French one even before expiry.
These conditions are:
When the licence is lost
When the licence is damaged
When the licence is stolen
When the driver obtains a new category on the licence (for example for driving heavier vehicles)
When the driver commits a driving offence that would see them lose points on their French licence or otherwise see it suspended or cancelled
In the case of the latter, the points are deducted once the exchange is made.
In cases where the licence was lost or stolen you will need the relevant report (from France-Titres or local police officers) when asking for the new French licence.
How to exchange a licence
As mentioned, exchanges are made online through France-Titres.
To apply, drivers must provide:
Proof of identity (national identity card, passport, etc)
A proof of legal residence (valid residence permit, citizenship, etc)
A proof of French address less than six months old
Their current driving licence
A certificate of entitlement to drive less than six months old issued by the foreign authorities that issued the driving licence
A passport-size photo less than six months old (in paper or digital format) .
Documents not in French will need to be officially translated.
Once these are obtained, drivers can create an account with ANTS, then make their application.
Once completing their application, they must pay €40 through a timbre fiscal.
More information about the process can be found in English through the France-Titres website. It also covers exceptional documents required in certain cases.
Our article here covers advice from a reader who exchanged their licence.
