Loss of French driving license

Verified 09 July 2026 - Public Service / (Prime Minister)

You have lost your french driving license ? We tell you how to apply for a new license depending on who you are in France or abroad.

You are in France 

If you are in France when you lose your French driving license, the application for a new license is made online on the website of theANTS: titleContent.

Step-by-step approach

The online service My points allowed allows you to download a Certificate of right to drive safely (ADCS) .

The ADCS allows to justify your right to drive.

ADCS is valid for 4 months from its issue and may be reissued.

It is valid only in France.

In case of roadside inspection, you can present it in paper or dematerialized format.

Consult and download driving license information: points balance, full statement, secure certificate of right to drive...

The process is done online on the website of France Titres - ANTS: titleContent.

Prepare the following to numeric format (scanned or photographed):

  • Digital photo-signature. If you wish to send a photo ID in paper format, it is suggested to download and send the photo signature (FPS) filing form during the online procedure.
  • Supporting Document Identity
  • Proof of home less than 6 months
  • If you are a foreigner, proof of your normal residence in France if you are a Swiss, Andorran, Monegasque or state citizen European, or proof of the regularity of your stay in France (residence permit) if you are a national of another State
  • For a Class C or D license, medical advice (form cerfa no. 14880). If you do not provide medical advice, you will get a duplicate repeating the same period of validity as the lost license.
  • Dematerialized tax stamp (€25).

Apply online for the renewal of a lost or stolen driver's license

You are informed by email or SMS when your declaration of loss has been studied.

If you have not downloadedADCS: titleContent, you can download a certificate of loss in your personal area France Titles - ANTS.

This attestation is valid for 2 months and allows you to drive while waiting for your new license to be sent.

If the validity of your license is limited for medical reasons, you receive a duplicate which resumes the same period of validity as the lost license.

Access your ANTS account to apply online for a driver's license

One online service allows you to track your driver's license application

Monitor the progress of a driver's license application

Shipment of driver's license

The driver's license (driving license) is shipped by letter followed. This allows you to track and trace the steps of its routing, from shipment to deposit in the mailbox.

The address provided when applying for the permit online must be as complete as possible. Your mailbox must present the name and surname of the person receiving the mail.

Follow-up of the sending of the driving license

From the reception of the SMS informing you of the validation of your online request, you must count about 15 days to receive your driver's license (driving license).

At the end of the manufacturing stage of your driving license, you will receive a mail containing a mail tracking link. This link allows you to follow the routing of your driving license. The tracking of the sending of your driving license can also be done directly on the La Poste website with the number of the tracked mail.

In case of non-receipt of the driving license

If you have not received your driver's license (driver's license) while the mail tracking consultation displays a distribution made, contact theANTS: titleContent via the contact form:

Who shall I contact

You are abroad

If you are abroad when you lose your French driver's license, the application for a new license from that country varies if your normal residence is in France or abroad.

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Your normal residence is in France

Your normal residence is in France if you are in one of the 2 situations following:

  • You live in France 185 days or more per year (6 months) due to personal and/or professional ties
  • Your personal ties are located in France but you are abroad to pursue your studies, a training, one internship or for the execution of a fixed-term mission.

If you are abroad as part of a Working Holiday Program (WHP), check with your embassy to find out if you have student or worker status.

Your normal residence is in France if you are in one of the 2 situations following:

  • You live in France 185 days or more per year (6 months) due to personal and/or professional ties
  • Your personal ties are located in France but you are abroad to pursue your studies, a training, one internship or for the execution of a fixed-term mission.

If you are abroad as part of a Working Holiday Program (WHP), check with your embassy to find out if you have student or worker status.

You have a postal address in France

The application for a new driving license is made online on the website of theANTS: titleContent.

1. Download a secure certificate of driving rights (optional)

The online service My points allowed allows you to download a Certificate of right to drive safely (ADCS) .

The ADCS allows you to justify your rights to drive. The ADCS is valid for 4 months from its issue and can be reissued. It is valid only in France. In case of roadside inspection in France, you can present it in paper or dematerialized format.

Consult and download driving license information: points balance, full statement, secure certificate of right to drive...

2. Declare the loss of the driver's license

You must make a declaration of loss to the competent local authorities.

3. Have the declaration of loss endorsed by your consulate or embassy

You must then have the declaration or its receipt endorsed by your consulate or embassy.

The receipt is valid for 2 months for French authorities but check with local authorities if it allows you to drive.

4. Apply for a new driving license

The approach is done online on the website of France Titres - ANTS: titleContent.

Prepare the following documents in digital format (scanned or photographed):

  • Receipt of the declaration of loss made by the foreign authorities and endorsed by the competent consular or diplomatic post, and its translation into French by a certified translator
  • Digital photo-signature. If you wish to send a photo ID in paper format, it is suggested to download and send the photo signature (FPS) filing form during the online procedure.
  • Supporting Document Identity
  • Proof of home less than 6 months
  • If you are a foreigner, proof of your normal residence in France if you are a Swiss, Andorran, Monegasque or state citizen European, or proof of the regularity of your stay in France (residence permit) if you are a national of another State
  • Proof of the right to stay in the country where you are established
  • Justification for maintaining your normal residence in France: either a document certifying that you are pursuing studies, training, an internship or that you are carrying out a fixed-term mission in that country, or a document certifying your residence in France for 185 days or more during the year preceding the receipt of your request by the instructor service. For example, lease agreement, rent receipt, gas, electricity, or landline telephone bills, certificate of domicile issued by the energy supplier.
  • For a Class C or D license, medical advice (form cerfa no. 14880). If you do not provide medical advice, you will get a duplicate repeating the same period of validity as the lost license.
  • Dematerialized tax stamp (€25).

Apply online for the renewal of a lost or stolen driver's license

5. Monitoring the progress of the driving license application

One online service allows you to track your driver's license application

Monitor the progress of a driver's license application

Shipment of driver's license

The driver's license (driving license) is shipped by letter followed. This allows you to track and trace the steps of its routing, from shipment to deposit in the mailbox.

The address provided when applying for the permit online must be as complete as possible. Your mailbox must present the name and surname of the person receiving the mail.

Follow-up of the sending of the driving license

From the reception of the SMS informing you of the validation of your online request, you must count about 15 days to receive your driver's license (driving license).

At the end of the manufacturing stage of your driving license, you will receive a mail containing a mail tracking link. This link allows you to follow the routing of your driving license. The tracking of the sending of your driving license can also be done directly on the La Poste website with the number of the tracked mail.

In case of non-receipt of the driving license

If you have not received your driver's license (driver's license) while the mail tracking consultation shows a distribution made, contact theANTS: titleContent via the contact form:

Who shall I contact
You have a postal address only abroad

The application for a new driving license is made online on the website of theANTS: titleContent.

The address to be declared on the website of France Titres - ANTS is the address of residence at the time of issuing the driving license.

You can retrieve this information via the online service My points allowed.

1. Download a secure certificate of driving rights (optional)

The online service My points allowed allows you to download a Certificate of right to drive safely (ADCS) .

The ADCS allows you to justify your rights to drive. The ADCS is valid for 4 months from its issue and can be reissued. It is valid only in France. In case of roadside inspection in France, you can present it in paper or dematerialized format.

Consult and download driving license information: points balance, full statement, secure certificate of right to drive...

2. Declare the loss of the driver's license

You must make a declaration of loss to the competent local authorities.

3. Have the declaration of loss endorsed by your consulate or embassy

You must then have the declaration or its receipt endorsed by your consulate or embassy.

The receipt is valid for 2 months for French authorities but check with local authorities if it allows you to drive.

4. Prepare the documents to be provided and apply for a new driving license

Prepare the following documents in digital format (scanned or photographed):

  • Receipt of the declaration of loss made by the foreign authorities and endorsed by the competent consular or diplomatic post, and its translation into French by a certified translator
  • Consular Registration
  • Digital photo-signature. If you wish to send a photo ID in paper format, it is suggested to download and send the photo signature (FPS) filing form during the online procedure.
  • Supporting Document Identity
  • Proof of home less than 6 months abroad
  • If you are a foreigner, proof of your normal residence in France if you are a Swiss, Andorran, Monegasque or state citizen European, or proof of the regularity of your stay in France (residence permit) if you are a national of another State
  • Proof of the right to stay in the country where you are established
  • Justification for maintaining your normal residence in France: either a document certifying that you are pursuing studies, training, an internship or that you are carrying out a fixed-term mission in that country, or a document certifying your residence in France for 185 days or more during the year preceding the receipt of your request by the instructor service. For example, lease agreement, rent receipt, gas, electricity, or landline telephone bills, certificate of domicile issued by the energy supplier.
  • For a Class C or D license, medical advice (form cerfa no. 14880). If you do not provide medical advice, you will get a duplicate repeating the same period of validity as the lost license.
  • Dematerialized tax stamp (€25)

Apply online for the renewal of a lost or stolen driver's license

5. Recover the new driver's license

Your driving license will be sent to your consulate/embassy abroad.

Your normal residence is abroad

Your normal residence is abroad if you stay there more than 185 days per year (more than 6 months) for reasons other than continuing your studies, following a training course, an internship, or the performance of a fixed-term assignment.

Your normal residence is abroad if you stay there more than 185 days per year (more than 6 months) for reasons other than continuing your studies, following a training course, an internship, or the performance of a fixed-term assignment.

If you have normal residence when you lose your french driver's license, the french authorities are no longer competent.

  • If you reside in a country European , contact the competent authorities in that country to obtain a new permit.
  • If you reside in a non-EU country European, go to the local authorities to request the exchange of your driving license, or in the absence of a reciprocal agreement, pass the local driving license exam.

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