Driving is a great way to go around the different regions in France. However, you will need a driving licence to be able to drive in France. In this article, we will tell you how to get a driving licence in France. Let’s go!
🚙 Which Driving Licence Do You Need?
French Driving Licence
In France, you need a driving licence in order to drive vehicles.
| 🚙 Car | Type B |
| 🚐 Van | Type B |
| 🚲 Bike | No need |
| 🛴 Scooter | No need |
| 🛵 Moped ≤ 50 cm3 | Any type |
| 🛵 Moped ≤ 125 cm3 | Type A1, A2, A, or B |
| 🏍️ Moto | Type B |
| 🚐 Camping-car | Type B |
| 🚛 Truck | Type C, C1, or C1E |
To know more about that, you can check the official article from the government Which Licence for Which Category of Vehicles.
🌍 Can I Use the Driving Licence From My Country?
Depending on which country of issuance you got your driving licence, you will be able to drive with it or not:
- If your driving licence is issued from the EU/EEA, you won’t need additional documents to drive in France.
- If you are in France during your studies or a short stay, you will need to have your driving licence, to be written in French, or be accompanied by an official translation or an international driving licence (except for the British licence).
- For a long stay in France, you will need to exchange your driving licence.
To know more about the situation you are in, you can check the official article from the government Can You Drive in France With a Foreigners Licence?
🧐 How to Get Your Driving Licence in France
Driving theory test
Question during a driving theory test
Driving test
To get your driving licence, you will need to pass two exams:
- 🎥 Driving theory test: you will have to answer 40 questions from a multiple-choice questionnaire, and you pass the test if you have less or equal to 5 mistakes.
- 🚙 Driving test: the test lasts 32 minutes with:
- Driving phase of at least 25 minutes
- Performing 2 different maneuvers (braking to stop with precision and one maneuver in reverse)
- Verification of a technical component inside or outside the vehicle
- Road safety issue
- Question on basic first aid
👨🏫 Where to Get Your Driving Licence in France
There are two ways to get your driving licence:
- 👨🏫 Driving school: you learn how to drive and the driving school registers your application to pass the exams
- 💪 Independent candidate: you know how to drive and you register yourself to pass the exams
Let’s see the different ways to get your driving licence!
Driving Schools “Auto-École”
🌐 Driving schools in France
💰 From 1,000€
👨🏫 Learn and get your driving license with the classic driving schools
Driving schools (“Auto-École” in French) are the usual place to learn how to drive in France.
They usually sell a pack (from 1000€) with:
- Unlimited practice for the driving theory test
- Driving theory test
- 20h of driving with a teacher
- Driving test
🌐 ornikar.com
💰 From 749€
👨🏫 The digital driving school, with freelance driving teachers
Ornikar is a start-up offering a digital experience for the driving license process. Thus, you will practice for the driving theory test online, and you will be able to learn how to drive with a freelancer teacher. This is how the price is usually cheaper (from 749€) than the usual driving schools.
🌐 envoituresimone.com
💰 From 699€
👨🏫 The digital driving school, with freelance driving teachers
En Voiture Simone is the challenger of Ornikar, and they also offer a digital experience for the driving license process. Thus, you will practice for the driving theory test online, and you will be able to learn how to drive with a freelancer teacher.
Rent a dual-control car
🌐 Check on Google
💰 From 7€/hour
🚙 Learn how to drive with a friend for cheap
There are now companies that rent dual-control cars (“voiture à double commande” in French). To use this type of car, you will need someone who has a driving license and wants to be your teacher.
This solution is budget-friendly, but you will need to get along with your teacher 😉.
Apply as an independent candidate
🌐 Government application website
🧐 Apply yourself to the tests
💡 You will have the same priority as the candidate from the driving schools
You can now apply yourself to the different tests to get your driving licence. However, it might not be the best option as you are not a French native speaker to do it yourself. I think you have now many companies that can apply for you at a competitive price.
💡 You will have the same priority as the candidate from the driving schools.
Digital driving schools are offering good plans at a good price. To get the ultimate deal, the best would be to combine Ornikar to learn the driving theory test, and then rent a dual-control car to get the cheapest way to learn how to drive.
Conclusion
Now, you know everything about how to get your driving licence in France. Drive safe!