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Invalidation of the driving license (withdrawal of all points)
Verified 03 October 2025 - Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
The removal of all your points driving license (zero balance) triggered invalidation from your license? This means that your driving license is canceled and that you have the driving ban. We tell you the steps to take to obtain a new license.
What applies to you ?
FYI
Following a serious traffic offense, several procedures may lead to the withdrawal of the driving license: invalidation, administrative suspension, the judicial suspension and judicial annulment of the permit.
You have been licensed for 3 years or more
Step-by-step approach
You receive a registered letter (letter 48SI).
This letter informs you that your points balance is zero and your driver's license has lost its validity.
You have the driving ban.
You must return your license invalidated to your prefecture in the 10 days following receipt of the letter.
Contact your prefecture to find out how your license is returned.
General case
In Paris
If you refuse to surrender your license, you risk 2 years in prison and €4,500 of a fine.
You also risk additional penalties following:
- Suspension of the license for a maximum of 3 years (possible development outside the professional activity)
- Sentence of community service
- Sentence of fine days
- Prohibition to drive certain vehicles, including vehicles without a license, for a maximum period of 5 years
- Obligation to perform, at your expense, a road safety awareness course
- Confiscation of your vehicle
- Obligation to driving with an alcohol interlock test (EAD) for a maximum of 5 years.
The registered letter (letter 48SI) tells you how to appeal.
You can make a administrative appeal to the Ministry of the Interior and/or a litigation before the administrative judge.
The appeal to the Ministry of the Interior can be made online or by mail.
By mail
Who shall I contact
Ministry of the Interior - National Office for Driving Rights
By mail
Ministry of the Interior
National Office of Driving Rights
Place Beauvau
75800 Paris Cedex 08
You must inform your insurance in case of withdrawal of driving license.
You must inform him by registered letter with AR: titleContent within a period of 15 days from notification the withdrawal of a driving license.
The invalidation drives the driving ban a vehicle whose driving requires a license.
You have to wait 6 months for obtain a new license, or 1 year if you have already lost your license for zero pay in the last 5 years.
The 6 months or 1 year delay starts from the date of delivery of your permit to the prefect.
If you drive while your license is invalidated, you risk 2 years in prison and €4,500 of a fine.
You also risk additional penalties following:
- Suspension of the license for a maximum of 3 years (possible development outside the professional activity)
- Sentence of community service
- Sentence of fine days
- Prohibition to drive certain vehicles, including vehicles without a license, for a maximum period of 5 years
- Obligation to perform, at your expense, a road safety awareness course
- Confiscation of your vehicle
- Obligation to driving with an alcohol interlock test (EAD) for a maximum of 5 years.
FYI
The invalidation of the driving license does not concern the road safety certificate, license category AM. You can therefore apply for a driving license with the AM category only. The request is made online on the website of theANTS: titleContent.
If you wish to drive at the end of the driving ban period, you must pass a psychotechnical examination.
You can take the psychotechnical exam without waiting for the end of the driving ban period.
You must make an appointment with a psychologist registered with the prefect.
The exam lasts minimum 40 minutes. It includes a individual interview, and one or more psychotechnical tests.
The average cost of the psychotechnical examination is €100 about.
The list of registered psychologists is available on the prefectural websites.
General case
In Paris
Please note
Check in the letter of notification invalidation if you need to do other medical tests.
To be able to renew at the end of the driving ban period, you must undergo a medical examination, called medical check.
You can pass the medical examination without waiting for the end of the driving ban period.
1. Make an appointment
The approach varies depending on the offense committed.
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
Alcohol or Narcotics Offense
You must make an appointment with the medical commission on the website of your prefecture.
It can also be, by decision of the prefect, the medical commission of the department where you committed the offense.
General case
In Paris
Who shall I contact
Other offense
You must contact a city doctor approved by the prefect of your department.
This doctor should not be your primary care physician.
You can consult the list of approved doctors on the websites of the prefectures. The list of approved doctors is also available in the prefectures, sub-prefectures and town halls of some municipalities.
FYI
You can pass the medical examination with a licensed doctor in a different department than that of your residence. In this case, it is prudent to attach to your file an explanation of the use of a doctor other than that of your department of residence.
2. Prepare documents provide
On the day of the inspection, prepare the following documents:
- Cerfa form n°14880 pre-filled
- Proof of identity
- Decision to invalidate the license and letter of notification of the decision
- Results of medical examinations if requested in the notification letter
- Result of the psychotechnical examination.
3. Pass the medical check
The medical check is about your physical fitness, cognitive and sensory to drive.
You must present yourself with the results of medical examinations requested in the letter of notification of invalidation.
Some additional examinations and the advice of qualified health professionals may be requested.
The licensed physician may also request that you be summoned to the departmental medical commission. You must then make an appointment on the website of your prefecture.
4. Pay for medical check-up
The price of the medical check is:
- Before a licensed physician: €36
- Before the medical committee: €50
The health insurance does not cover the costs of the check-up or any additional examinations.
5. Maintain the result of the medical check-up
The approach varies depending on whether the opinion is favorable or unfavorable.
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
If the opinion is favorable
The medical opinion is given to you.
The medical opinion has a validity of 2 years.
This document is to be attached to your application for registration to the driving license examination.
If the opinion is unfavorable
A decision of unfit to drive is yours notified.
The letter specifies the remedies and time limits for appeal.
The letter you notifier the prefect's decision following the medical check-up indicates how to appeal.
You can make a litigation before the administrative judge.
You can also refer the matter to the Medical Appeals Board.
Your appeal does not prevent the prefect's decision from applying.
The commission examines you, consults if necessary the approved doctor and sends its opinion to the prefect.
If the prefect again makes an unfavorable decision, you can request a new medical examination within 6 months of this decision or make a appeal to the administrative judge.
General case
In Paris
You must register for the permit review on the ANTS website within 9 months from surrender of your license to the prefecture.
Registration for the permit examination is done online on the website of theANTS: titleContent.
Prepare the following documents in a photographed or scanned version:
- Proof of identity
- Proof of address less than 6 months
- 1 photo id or 1 digital photo-signature
- Medical advice delivered at the end of the medical check.
Once your request has been processed, you will receive an email certificate of registration (or return to license form).
The certificate shall specify in particular:
- What license categories and tests you need to iron
- Until what date you are banned from driving.
Once registered for the exam on the website of the ANTS: titleContent, you can retake the driving license.
If you have your license for 3 years or more, you must only retake the theoretical test (code).
However, you must complete the 2 conditions following:
- The duration of invalidation of your license must be less than 1 year. In general, the duration of invalidation is 6 months.
- You must be registered for the permit examination on the website of theANTS: titleContent within a period of 9 months from the delivery of your permit to the prefecture.
If you do not meet these 2 conditions, you must iron again the code and driving.
FYI
If successful, you get a probationary permit. You get the class of license you had before your invalidation, or the equivalent class if the rules have changed in the meantime.
You first get the permit A2.
- If you had taken the training to move from A2 to A, you can apply for the permit A after 2 years. The certificate of completion of the training will be attached to your online application on the website of theANTS: titleContent.
- If you had not taken this training, you will have to take it after 2 years before applying for the A license.
You have had the license for less than 3 years
Step-by-step approach
You receive a registered letter (letter 48SI).
This letter informs you that your points balance is zero and your driver's license has lost its validity. You have the driving ban.
You must return your license invalidated to your prefecture in the 10 days following receipt of the letter.
Contact your prefecture to find out how your license is returned.
General case
In Paris
If you refuse to surrender your license, you risk 2 years in prison and €4,500 of a fine.
You also risk additional penalties following:
- Suspension of the license for a maximum of 3 years (possible development outside the professional activity)
- Sentence of community service
- Sentence of fine days
- Prohibition to drive certain vehicles, including vehicles without a license, for a maximum period of 5 years
- Obligation to perform, at your expense, a road safety awareness course
- Confiscation of your vehicle
- Obligation to driving with an alcohol interlock test (EAD) for a maximum of 5 years.
The registered letter (letter 48SI) tells you how to appeal.
You can make a administrative appeal to the Ministry of the Interior and/or a litigation before the administrative judge.
The appeal to the Ministry of the Interior can be made online or by mail.
By mail
Who shall I contact
Ministry of the Interior - National Office for Driving Rights
By mail
Ministry of the Interior
National Office of Driving Rights
Place Beauvau
75800 Paris Cedex 08
You must inform your insurance in case of withdrawal of driving license.
You must inform him by registered letter with AR: titleContent within a period of 15 days from notification the withdrawal of a driving license.
The invalidation drives the driving ban a vehicle whose driving requires a license.
You have to wait 6 months to obtain a new license, or 1 year if you have already lost your license for zero pay in the last 5 years.
The 6 months or 1 year delay starts from the date of delivery of your permit to the prefect.
If you drive while your license is invalidated, you risk 2 years in prison and €4,500 of a fine.
You also risk additional penalties following:
- Suspension of the license for a maximum of 3 years (possible development outside the professional activity)
- Sentence of community service
- Sentence of fine days
- Prohibition to drive certain vehicles, including vehicles without a license, for a maximum period of 5 years
- Obligation to perform, at your expense, a road safety awareness course
- Confiscation of your vehicle
- Obligation to driving with an alcohol interlock test (EAD) for a maximum of 5 years.
FYI
The invalidation of the driving license does not concern the road safety certificate, license category AM. You can therefore apply for a driving license with the AM category only. The request is made online on the website of theANTS: titleContent.
To be able to renew at the end of the driving ban period, you must pass a psychotechnical examination.
You can take the exam without waiting for the end of the driving ban period.
You must make an appointment with a psychologist registered with the prefect.
The exam lasts minimum 40 minutes. It includes a individual interview, and one or more psychotechnical tests.
The average cost of the psychotechnical examination is €100 about.
The list of registered psychologists is available on the prefectural websites.
General case
In Paris
Please note
Check in the letter of notification invalidation if you have to undergo medical examinations.
To be able to renew at the end of the driving ban period, you must undergo a medical examination, called medical check.
You can pass the medical examination without waiting for the end of the driving ban period.
1. Make an appointment
The approach varies depending on the offense committed.
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
Alcohol or Narcotics Offense
You must make an appointment with the medical commission on the website of your prefecture.
It can also be, by decision of the prefect, the medical commission of the department where you committed the offense.
General case
In Paris
Who shall I contact
Other offense
You must contact a city doctor approved by the prefect of your department.
This doctor should not be your primary care physician.
You can consult the list of approved doctors on the websites of the prefectures. The list of approved doctors is also available in the prefectures, sub-prefectures and town halls of some municipalities.
FYI
You can pass the medical examination with a licensed doctor in a different department than that of your residence. In this case, it is prudent to attach to your file an explanation of the use of a doctor other than that of your department of residence.
2. Preparing the documents to be provided
On the day of the inspection, prepare the following documents:
- Cerfa form n°14880 pre-filled
- Proof of identity
- Decision to invalidate the license and letter of notification of the decision
- Results of medical examinations if requested in the notification letter
- Result of the psychotechnical examination
3. Pass the medical check
The medical check is about your physical fitness, cognitive and sensory to drive.
You must present yourself with the results of medical examinations requested in the letter of notification of invalidation.
Some additional examinations and the advice of qualified health professionals may be requested.
The licensed physician may also request that you be summoned to the departmental medical commission. You must then make an appointment on the website of your prefecture.
General case
In Paris
4. Pay for medical check-up
The price of the medical check is:
- Before a licensed physician: €36
- Before the medical committee: €50
The health insurance does not cover the costs of the check-up or any additional examinations.
5. Maintain the result of the medical check-up
The approach varies depending on whether the opinion is favorable or unfavorable.
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
If the opinion is favorable
The medical opinion is given to you.
The medical opinion has a validity of 2 years.
This document is to be attached to your application for registration to the driving license examination.
If the opinion is unfavorable
A decision of unfit to drive is yours notified.
The letter specifies the remedies and time limits for appeal.
The letter you notifier the prefect's decision following the medical check-up indicates how to appeal.
You can make a litigation before the administrative judge.
You can also refer the matter to the Medical Appeals Board.
Your appeal does not prevent the prefect's decision from applying.
The commission examines you, consults if necessary the approved doctor and sends its opinion to the prefect.
If the prefect again makes an unfavorable decision, you can request a new medical examination within 6 months of this decision or make a appeal to the administrative judge.
General case
In Paris
Before you take the permit tests, you must register for the exam on the website of theANTS: titleContent.
Prepare the following documents in a photographed or scanned version:
- Proof of identity
- Proof of address less than 6 months
- 1 photo id or 1 digital photo-signature
- Medical advice delivered at the end of the medical check.
Once your request has been processed, you will receive an email certificate of registration (or return to license form).
The certificate shall specify in particular:
- What categories of license and what tests (code or code + conduct) you need to iron
- Until what date you are banned from driving.
Once registered for the exam on the website of the ANTS: titleContent, you can take part in the permit tests.
You can take part in the permit tests without waiting for the end of the driving ban period.
If you have your license for less than 3 years, you must replay the code and driving.
If you had multiple categories of the permit, you must retake the practical tests of each category.
The date used to calculate the 3-year period is the date of obtaining the 1re category.
FYI
If successful, you get a probationary permit. You get the class of license you had before your invalidation, or the equivalent class if the rules have changed in the meantime.
You first get the permit A2.
- If you had taken the training to move from A2 to A, you can apply for the permit A after 2 years. The certificate of completion of the training will be attached to your online application on the website of theANTS: titleContent.
- If you had not taken this training, you will have to take it after 2 years before applying for the A license.
Driver's license - Medical advice
Who can help me?
Find who can answer your questions in your region
France Titles - Driving license
Online contact form
Access to contact form
By phone
34,00 (number not overtaxed)
09 70 83 07 07 from overseas and foreigner
From Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm.
Administrative information by phone - Allô Service Public
For more information on this subject, you can contact Allô Service Public.
Attention: the service does not have access to users' personal files and therefore cannot provide information on their progress.
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- Mercredi : de 08h30 à 12h15
- Jeudi : de 08h30 à 17h30
- Vendredi : de 13h00 à 16h15
- Service free
The informants who answer you belong to the Ministry of the Interior.
Invalidation of the permit (Article L223-5)
Issuance of driving license
Medical check of driving ability (Article R211-13)
Notification of the invalidation of the license (Article R223-3)
License invalidation: conditions for obtaining a new license (sections R224-20 and R224-21)
Organization of the medical examination of driving ability
Driver's license examination certificate (Article 4)
FAQ
Service-Public.fr
Service-Public.fr
Ministry of the Interior