Failure of the driving license examination: can the results be disputed?

Verified 24 April 2026 - Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

After a driver's license has failed, the candidate can challenge the results by appealing.

What kind of recourse?

You can make a administrative appeal, i.e. an ex gratia and/or a hierarchical appeal.

You do not have to make an ex gratia appeal before a hierarchical appeal.

If you're doing an ex gratia appeal, you can do a hierarchical appeal without waiting for the answer to the ex gratia appeal.

Within what time frame should the administrative appeal be made?

You must file your administrative appeal within the 2 months from the notification the result of your driver's license examination.

In practice, the period runs from the date of online consultation of the result of your examination.

Example :

You can view your exam results online on February 23, 2026. You have until midnight on April 22, 2026 to file your administrative appeal. If the deadline ends on a Saturday, Sunday, public holiday or non-working day, the period shall be extended until 1er business day next.

To whom should the administrative appeal be addressed?

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Claims of grace

The ex gratia is to be sent to the prefect of the place where you have passed your permit (to the police prefecture of Paris if you have lived in Paris).

Who shall I contact

Hierarchical redress

General case

The hierarchical redress shall be addressed to the Minister of the Interior.

Who shall I contact

  • By post

    Ministry of the Interior

    National Office of Driving Rights

    Place Beauvau

    75800 Paris Cedex 08

You pass the license to obtain a professional title

Depending on the institution in which you are enrolled, the hierarchical appeal is to be addressed to the Minister for Labor or the Minister for Education.

Who shall I contact
How to make the administrative appeal?

You can make your appeal on free paper.

You must state the reasons for your appeal, that is to say, explain why you are challenging the results of the driving license.

Attach to your letter a copy of disputed results and any documents you deem useful.

Send your appeal preferably recommended with AR: titleContent to get proof of the shipment.

Keep a copy of the documents sent.

Also keep the proof of the shipment and its receipt by the administration.

The appeal is free.

View the results of your driver's license examination online

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