Invalidation of the driving license (withdrawal of all points)
Verified 19 June 2026 - Public Service / (Prime Minister)
The removal of all your points driving license (zero balance) triggered invalidation from your license? This means that you have the driving ban. We tell you the procedures to obtain a new permit.
What applies to you ?
FYI
Following a serious traffic violation, 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 that your driver's license has lost its validity. This means that you have the driving ban.
You must surrender your license invalidated to your prefecture in the 10 days following receipt of the letter. Contact your prefecture to find out how the license is handed over.
General scenario
In Paris
Refusing to surrender your license is punishable by 2 years' imprisonment and €4,500 of 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 period of up to 5 years
- Obligation to perform, at your expense, a road safety awareness course
- Confiscation of your vehicle
- Obligation to driving with a breathalyzer interlock (EAD) for a maximum of 5 years.
The registered letter (letter 48SI) that you have received indicates how to make a recourse: 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 post
Who shall I contact
By post
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 : titleContent within 15 days from notification the withdrawal of a driving license.
The invalidation coaches the driving ban a vehicle that requires a license to drive.
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 period starts from the date of handing over of your permit to the prefect.
Driving a vehicle when you had to hand over your license to the prefecture is punishable by 2 years in prison and €4,500 of 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 period of up to 5 years
- Obligation to perform, at your expense, a road safety awareness course
- Confiscation of your vehicle
- Obligation to driving with a breathalyzer interlock (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 France Titres - ANTS.
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 declared to 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 scenario
In Paris
Please note
Check in the letter of notification invalidation if you need to do other medical tests.
To be able to drive again at the end of the driving ban period, you must undergo a medical examination, called medical check.
You can pass the medical check-up without waiting for the end of the driving ban period.
1Make an appointment
The approach varies depending on the offense committed:
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
Offense related to alcohol or narcotics
You must make an appointment to the medical commission on the website of your prefecture. It may also be, by decision of the prefect, medical commission of the department where you committed the offensen.
General scenario
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 check with a certified doctor in a department other 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.
2Prepare documents provide
On the day of the inspection, prepare the following documents:
- Form cerfa n°14880 pre-filled
- Proof of identity
- Decision to invalidate the permit and letter of notification of the decision
- Results of medical examinations if requested in the notification letter
- Result of the psychotechnical examination.
3Pass 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 invalidation. Of further examinations and the advice of qualified health professionals may be requested.
The licensed physician may also request that you are summoned before the departmental medical commission. You must then make an appointment on the website of your prefecture.
General scenario
In Paris
4Pay for medical check-up
The price of medical check-ups performed by a licensed physician is fixed at €36.
The price of medical check-ups carried out by a certified physician sitting on a departmental commission is fixed at €50.
The health insurance does not cover the costs of the check-up or any additional examinations.
5Maintain the result of the medical check
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 the driver's license exam.
If the opinion is unfavorable
A decision of unfitness to drive is notified.
The letter specifies the remedies and time limits for appeal.
The letter to you notifier the prefect's decision following the medical check indicates how to appeal.
You can make a litigation before the administrative judge.
You can also refer the matter to the Medical Appeals Board. The commission examines you, consults if necessary the certified doctor and sends its opinion to the prefect. If the prefect again makes an unfavorable decision, you can request a new medical check-up within 6 months of this decision or make a appeal to the administrative court.
Your appeal does not prevent the prefect's decision from applying.
General scenario
In Paris
You must sign up for the permit review within 9 months from surrender of your license to the prefecture.
Registration for the permit examination is made online on the website of France Titres - ANTS: 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:
- The categories of license and the tests you need to iron
- Until what date you are banned from driving.
Once registered for the exam, you can retake the driver's license.
You must only retake the theoretical test (code) if you fill the following 3 conditions :
- You had the license for 3 years or more at the date of the loss of license validity
- You were prohibited from applying for a new license for less than 1 year
- You have registered for the examination of the permit within 9 months from the delivery of your permit to the prefecture.
If you do not meet these 3 conditions, you must iron again the code and driving.
FYI
If successful, you get a probationary permit. You get the license category you had before your invalidation, or the equivalent category if the rules have changed in the meantime.
If you have passed the driver's license exam, you can apply for your driver's license. However, you must wait until the end of the period of prohibition from obtaining the issuance of a new permit.
Ask your driving school if they are in charge of applying for your driver's license or if it is up to you to apply. If it is up to you to request it, the process is done online on the website of France Titres - ANTS: titleContent. Prepare the following documents in a photographed or scanned version:
- Proof of identity
- Proof of address
- 1 photo id or 1 digital photo-signature
- Decision to invalidate the license
- Medical advice delivered at the end of the medical check.
You will find category A of the driver's license if you meet the following 4 conditions:
- You had the license for 3 years or more on the date of invalidation of the license
- You were prohibited from applying for a new license for less than 1 year
- You have registered for the permit review within 9 months of the end of the prohibition period to apply for a new permit
- You have ironed the motorcycle code (motorcycle theory test).
If you do not meet these 4 conditions, you first get the permit A2 and you'll have to take training to obtain permit A.
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 that your driver's license has lost its validity. This means that you have the driving ban.
You must surrender your license invalidated to your prefecture in the 10 days following receipt of the letter. Contact your prefecture to find out how the license is handed over.
General scenario
In Paris
Refusing to surrender your license is punishable by 2 years' imprisonment and €4,500 of 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 period of up to 5 years
- Obligation to perform, at your expense, a road safety awareness course
- Confiscation of your vehicle
- Obligation to driving with a breathalyzer interlock (EAD) for a maximum of 5 years.
The registered letter (letter 48SI) that you have received indicates how to make a recourse: 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 post
Who shall I contact
By post
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 : titleContent within 15 days from notification the withdrawal of a driving license.
The invalidation coaches the driving ban a vehicle that requires a license to drive.
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 period starts from the date of handing over of your permit to the prefect.
Driving a vehicle when you had to hand over your license to the prefecture is punishable by 2 years in prison and €4,500 of 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 period of up to 5 years
- Obligation to perform, at your expense, a road safety awareness course
- Confiscation of your vehicle
- Obligation to driving with a breathalyzer interlock (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 declared to the prefect. The exam lasts minimum 40 minutes. It includes a individual interviewand 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 scenario
In Paris
Please note
Check in the letter of notification invalidation if you need to undergo medical examinations.
To be able to drive again at the end of the driving ban period, you must undergo a medical examination, called medical check.
You can pass the medical check-up without waiting for the end of the driving ban period.
1Make an appointment
The approach varies depending on the offense committed:
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
Offense related to alcohol or narcotics
You must make an appointment to the medical commission on the website of your prefecture. It may also be, by decision of the prefect, medical commission of the department where you committed the offensen.
General scenario
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 check with a certified doctor in a department other 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.
2Prepare the documents to be provided
On the day of the inspection, prepare the following documents:
- Form cerfa n°14880 pre-filled
- Proof of identity
- Decision to invalidate the permit and letter of notification of the decision
- Results of medical examinations if requested in the notification letter
- Result of the psychotechnical examination.
3Pass 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 invalidation. Of further examinations and the advice of qualified health professionals may be requested.
The licensed physician may also request that you are summoned before the departmental medical commission. You must then make an appointment on the website of your prefecture.
General scenario
In Paris
4Pay for medical check-up
The price of medical check-ups performed by a licensed physician is fixed at €36.
The price of medical check-ups carried out by a certified physician sitting on a departmental commission is fixed at €50.
The health insurance does not cover the costs of the check-up or any additional examinations.
5Maintain the result of the medical check
The approach varies depending on whether the opinion is favorable or unfavorable:
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
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 the driver's license exam.
The opinion is unfavorable
A decision of unfitness to drive is notified.
The letter specifies the remedies and time limits for appeal.
The letter to you notifier the prefect's decision following the medical check indicates how to appeal.
You can make a litigation before the administrative judge.
You can also refer the matter to the Medical Appeals Board. The commission examines you, consults if necessary the certified doctor and sends its opinion to the prefect. If the prefect again makes an unfavorable decision, you can request a new medical check-up within 6 months of this decision or make a appeal to the administrative court.
Your appeal does not prevent the prefect's decision from applying.
General scenario
In Paris
Before you go to the permit tests, you must register for the exam.
Registration for the permit examination is made online on the website of France Titres - ANTS: 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:
- The categories of license and the tests (code or code + conduct) that you must retake
- Until what date you are banned from driving.
Once you have registered for the exam, you can take the permit tests.
You can take part in the permit tests without waiting for the end of the driving ban period.
Considering you had the license for less than 3 years on the date of its invalidation, you must rewrite the code and conduct. If you had multiple categories from the license, 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 license category you had before your invalidation, or the equivalent category if the rules have changed in the meantime.
If you have passed the driver's license exam, you can apply for your license. However, you must wait until the end of the period of prohibition on obtaining the issuance of a new permit.
Ask your driving school if they are in charge of applying for your license or if it is up to you to apply. If it is up to you to request it, the process is done online on the website of France Titres - ANTS: titleContent. Prepare the following documents in a photographed or scanned version:
- Proof of identity
- Proof of address
- 1 photo id or 1 digital photo-signature
- Decision to invalidate the license
- Medical advice delivered at the end of the medical check.
If you had the license for less than 3 years at the time of invalidation of your license, you do not directly find the category A of the license. You first get the permit A2 and you'll have to take training to obtain permit A.
Driver's license - Medical advice
Who can help me?
Find who can answer your questions in your region
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By phone
34,00 (number not overtaxed)
09 70 83 07 07 from Overseas France and the foreigner
Monday to Friday from 9 am to 5 pm.
For more information on this subject, you can contact Allô Service Public.
Please note: the service does not have access to users' personal files and therefore cannot provide information on their progress.
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- Mardi : de 08h30 à 12h15Horaires exceptionnels le mardi 30 juin de 08h30 à 11h00
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- 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 invalidation of the permit (Article R223-3)
License invalidation: conditions for obtaining a new license (sections R224-20 and R224-21)
Organization of the medical check of driving ability
Driver's license examination certificate (Article 4)
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Service Public
Service Public
Ministry of the Interior