Deterioration of the driving license

Verified 06 March 2026 - Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

Your French driving license is deteriorated (damaged) and wondering if you can apply for a new license? We tell you the procedure to do, depending on whether you are in France or abroad.

You are in France 

Step-by-step approach

You can download a Secure Driving Rights Certificate (ADCS) on the site My Permitted Points. The ADCS allows you to justify your rights to drive in France. She is valid for 4 months from its emission and can be reissued. 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 driving rights certificate...

The application for a new permit is made online on the website of France Titres (ANTS: titleContent).

You need the following documents, photographed or scanned:

  • Impaired driver's license (color and double sided)
  • 1 signature photo, also called e-photo less than 6 months old. If you wish to send a photo ID in paper format, it is proposed to download and send the photo signature form (available at the end of the process.
  • Proof of 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 Union (EU/EEA).
    - Proof of the regularity of your stay in France (residence permit) if you have the nationality of another State.
  • For a Class C or D license, medical opinion (form cerfa no. 14880). If you do not provide medical advice, you will get a duplicaterepeating the same period of validity as the deteriorated license.

Apply online for a new driver's license in case of deterioration

One online service track your driver's license application:

Track the progress of a driver's license application

Shipment of driver's license

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

The address provided when applying for the permit online must be as complete as possible. Your mailbox must present the first and last name 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 La Poste website with the number of the mail tracked.

In case of non-receipt of the driving license

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

Who shall I contact

Upon receipt of your new driver's license, you are asked to destroy the damaged license.

You're abroad

If your French driver's license is damaged while you are abroad, the process to apply for a new license from that country varies depending on the location of your normal residence.

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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 (WVP), 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 (WVP), check with your embassy to find out if you have student or worker status.

The process for applying for a new permit varies depending on whether or not you have a postal address in France.

You have a postal address in France
1. Upload a secure certificate of driving rights (optional)

You can download a Secure Driving Rights Certificate (ADCS) on the site My Permitted Points. The ADCS allows you to justify your rights to drive in France. She is valid for 4 months from its emission and can be reissued. In case of roadside inspection, you can present it in paper or dematerialized format.

2. Apply for a new permit

The application for a new driving license is made online on the website of France Titres (ANTS: titleContent).

You need the following documents, photographed or scanned:

  • Impaired driver's license (color and double sided)
  • 1 signature photo, also called e-photo less than 6 months old. If you wish to send a photo ID in paper format, it is proposed to download and send the photo signature form (available at the end of the process.
  • Supporting document of 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 (EU/EEA)
    - proof of the regularity of your stay in France (residence permit) if you have the nationality of another State
  • Proof of the right to stay in the country where you are established
  • Rationale 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 this country
    - Either 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 opinion (form cerfa no. 14880). If you do not provide medical advice, you will get a duplicate repeating the same period of validity as the deteriorated license.

Apply online for a new driver's license in case of deterioration

3. Monitoring the progress of the driving license application

One online service track your driver's license application:

Track the progress of a driver's license application

Shipment of driver's license

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

The address provided when applying for the permit online must be as complete as possible. Your mailbox must present the first and last name 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 La Poste website with the number of the mail tracked.

In case of non-receipt of the driving license

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

Who shall I contact

Upon receipt of your new driver's license, you are asked to destroy the damaged license.

You only have a postal address abroad
1. Upload a secure certificate of driving rights (optional)

You can download a Secure Driving Rights Certificate (ADCS) on the site My Permitted Points. The ADCS allows you to justify your rights to drive in France. She is valid for 4 months from its emission and can be reissued. In case of roadside inspection, you can present it in paper or dematerialized format.

2. Apply for a new permit

The application for a new driving license is made online on the website of France Titres (ANTS: titleContent).

The home address to be declared on the website of France Titres is the address of residence at the time of issue of the driving license. You can retrieve this information on the My points site allowed.

You need the following documents, photographed or scanned:

  • Impaired driver's license (color and double sided)
  • Consular Registration
  • 1 signature photo, also called e-photo less than 6 months old. If you wish to send a photo ID in paper format, it is proposed to download and send the photo signature form (available at the end of the process.
  • Supporting document of 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 (EU/EEA)
    - proof of the regularity of your stay in France (residence permit) if you have the nationality of another State
  • Proof of the right to stay in the country where you are established
  • Rationale 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 this country
    - Either 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 opinion (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.

Apply online for a new driver's license in case of deterioration

3. Recover the new driving license

Your driver's license will 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 execution of a mission of a fixed duration.

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 execution of a mission of a fixed duration.

If your French driver's license is deteriorated and you have normal residence abroad, the french authorities are no longer competent.

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

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