Category B driver's license as a free applicant

Verified 26 May 2025 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

You are wondering how to pass the B license (car) as a free candidate, without enrolling in a driving school? We tell you what information to know and the steps of the process.

Step-by-step approach

Age

You must have 17 years or more to obtain license B.

However, you can register for the exam from the age of 16 yrs.

Have ASR or ASR

If you are under 21 and it is 1era category of license you pass, you must have the 2nd level road safety school certificate (ASSR2) or the Road Safety Certificate (RSC).

If you have lost your certificate, you can make a declaration of honor.

Citizenship - Nationality

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You're French

If you are under 25 years of age, you must be in compliance with the obligations of the Defense and Citizenship Day (JDC).

You're European

If you are a Swiss, Andorran, Monegasque or national of the European Economic Area (EEA), you must have had your personal and/or professional ties for at least 6 months in France.

You're a foreigner

You must have lived in France for at least 6 months and have a valid residence permit.

Health status

If you have a health problem, you need to take a medical examination before applying for a driving license.

Learning booklet

You must have a apprenticeship book in paper or digital format. You can get it from a driving school.

During the practical training of driving, you must have this learning booklet with you in the vehicle.

Registration for the code cost €30.

The rates for renting a vehicle equipped with dual control devices are free.

Registration for the driving license examination is made online on the website of theANTS: titleContent.

Prepare the following documents, in a photographic or scanned version:

  • Documents related to Defense and Citizenship Day (JDC) if you are French, aged from 17 years to 25 years not yet completed: individual certificate of participation (CIP) in the JDC, or individual certificate of exemption, or attestation of administrative situation issued in case of deterioration, loss or theft, or provisional certificate of situation, including carry-over, vis-à-vis the national service.
  • If you are a foreigner, proof of regularity of the stay or, if you are exempt from a residence permit, proof of your presence in France for at least 6 months (payroll, rent receipt...).

Driver's license: register online for the exam (NEPH number assignment)

Once you have registered for the exam, you will receive a Driver’s License Registration Certificate (PID)) containing your harmonized prefectural registration number (NEPH).

You must request the communication of the harmonized prefectural registration number (NEPH) in the following situations:

  • You have lost your Driving License Registration Certificate (PID) between the time of registration on the website of theANTS: titleContent and the passage of the code.
  • You have more than 5 years between your registration on the ANTS website and the code. Indeed, the NEPH you have may be too old and no longer allow you to take the exams.

An online service allows, after validation by the competent service, to generate a new AIPC including your NEPH.

Driving license: request the communication of a lost NEPH or the reactivation of a NEPH

You must register at an accredited examination center to pass the general theoretical test (code) as a free candidate.

To be exempt from passing the code, you must meet at least one of the following conditions:

  • Have obtained a favorable result for the theoretical test (code) for 5 years or less
  • Have had a license category for 5 years or less, except AM category
  • Have a French driving license obtained by exchange (code 70) for 5 years or less.
    The following letters shall follow code 70: DE (Germany), AT (Austria), BE (Belgium), BG (Bulgaria), CY (Cyprus, Greek), HR (Croatia), DK (Denmark), ES (Spain), EE (Estonia), FI (Finland), GR (Greece), HU (Hungary), IE (Ireland), IT (Italy), LV (Latvia), LT (Lithuania), LU (Luxembourg), MT (Malta), NL (Netherlands), PL (Poland), PT (Portugal), CZ (Czech Republic), RO (Romania), SK (Slovakia), SI (Slovenia) SE (Sweden), IS (Iceland), LI (Liechtenstein), NO (Norway).

The code waiver may be granted if you submit one of the following documents:

  • Valid driving license obtained for 5 years or less 
  • Certificate of temporary examination of the driving license, paper or dematerialized, valid (maximum 4 months)

Warning  

Since 2021, categories A1 or A2 no longer allow for a code exemption (general theoretical test or ETG).

Obligations of the accompanying person

The apprentice driver must be under the constant and direct supervision of an accompanying person while learning to drive.

The accompanying person must meet the following conditions :

  • Have had a B license for at least 5 years
  • Not to have been penalized, in the previous 5 years, by a cancelation or invalidation of the driving license
  • Not be paid for this task
  • Sign the accompanying person's charter
  • Ensure that the apprentice driver complies with safety rules, in particular speed limits.

Learning vehicle

The vehicle shall be sure.

The vehicle shall be marked with the mention Learning an inscription at the front and rear of the vehicle, or a panel on the roof. The panel shall be perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. The dimensions of the panel shall be at least 40 × 12 cm but not more than 50 × 15 cm. Any other indication, in particular advertising, is prohibited.

The vehicle must have following equipment :

  • For the apprentice driver: interior rear-view mirror + left exterior side mirror + right exterior side mirror
  • For the accompanying person: interior mirror + mirror or equivalent lateral right-hand side mirror + dual control devices.

Traffic rules

The apprentice driver must comply with the following rules :

  • Drive only in France
  • Do not drive on motorways before being sufficiently familiar with traffic and road safety rules. The apprentice driver must be able to drive at the maximum authorized speed without disturbing or surprising other users.
  • Do not drive in areas where driving is not permitted. Inquire at the city hall to know them.
  • Have on board the vehicle the apprenticeship book and the certificate of registration for the driving license (in the case of a roadside check, if you have not received the validation of your license application, you can present the receipt for submitting your application. The receipt is valid for 2 months).

FYI  

No minimum training hours are required.

You must reserve a test place to take the driving license test on the RdvPermit platform.

You must create an account on RdvPermit.

To create the account, you need your NEPH: titleContent, indicated on the Driver’s License Registration (PID) certificate received when you registered for the license exam online.

Once logged in, you can make an appointment to take the practical test of the permit:

  • You choose a test center, date and time slot
  • You declare the relative who will accompany you on the day of the exam. This person must have a B license. She must not be a professional road educator. The personal or family relationship with the relative must be established by a statement on his honor.

Driving license: book a place online to take the practical test of the license

Please note

On the day of the examination, you must provide a vehicle equipped with dual controls in accordance with the regulations.

One sight test can be realized. In the event of an inconclusive test, the examiner shall inform the local department responsible for driving license examinations of: DDT: titleContent, DDTM: titleContent (road education office) or prefecture. You then have to make an appointment to make a medical examination by an approved doctor.

The practical test shall evaluate the following points: :

  • Compliance with the provisions of the highway code
  • Vehicle knowledge and ability to detect major technical defects
  • Control and vehicle handling
  • Ability to ensure its own safety and that of other road users on any type of road
  • Ability to perceive and anticipate traffic hazards and act appropriately
  • Knowledge of basic first aid
  • Degree of autonomy in carrying out a journey
  • Ability to drive while respecting the environment and adopting a courteous and considerate behavior towards other users.

The practical test lasts 32 minutes.

The practical test shall consist of the following: :

  • Driving phase of at least 25 minutes
  • Performing 2 different maneuvers (braking to stop with precision and one maneuver in reverse)
  • Verification of a technical component inside or outside the vehicle
  • Road safety issue
  • Question on basic first aid.

To be received, you must obtain 20 or more points and do not make a eliminatory error.

For example, crossing a continuous line, left-hand traffic, failure to comply with a stop signal.

After the practical test, the inspector does not give you the result of the examination orally. You can view the result online the day after the exam.

If the result is favorable, you can download your Driver's License Examination Certificate (CRC).

The EPC, accompanied by an identity document, serves as a driver's license for 4 months from the day of the examination. The CEPC is valid only in France. In the case of law enforcement, you can present the CEPC in paper or dematerialized format.

Check the results of your driving license examination online

FYI  

If you fail a driving test, you cannot take the next test before a period of 2 days (date to date).

To obtain your B license, the approach is different depending on whether it is your 1era obtaining a driving license or adding a category.

1st permit

The application is made online on the website of theANTS: titleContent.

Prepare the following documents in a photographic or scanned version:

You must provide the following documents in a scanned version:

  • Documents related to Defense and Citizenship Day (JDC) if you are French, aged from 17 years to 25 years not yet completed (unless you have already provided them at the time of registration for the examination of the license): individual certificate of participation (CIP) in the JDC, or individual certificate of exemption, or certificate of administrative situation issued in case of deterioration, loss or theft, or provisional certificate of situation, including postponement, vis-à-vis the national service.
  • If you are a foreigner, proof of regularity of the stay or, if you are exempt from a residence permit, proof of your presence in France for at least 6 months (payroll, rent receipt...).

Apply online for a driving license following the passing of an exam

Please note

If it's your 1er driver's license, this is a probationary permit. You must affix the sign "A" in the back of your vehicle

Adding category B to your license

If you already have a driving license (motorcycle license) A, A1, A2 or AM), you must have category B added on your license.

An online service allows track your driver's license application.

Track the progress of a driving license application

Driving license dispatch

The driving license (driving license) is shipped by Letter Followed.

This type of dispatch traceable, with mailbox delivery, is different from traditional mail.

You must pay attention to the address you provide in the online procedure. It must be as complete as possible (building number, apartment number, mailbox number, floor, hallway, staircase, "resident", etc.).

Your mailbox should contain the first and last name of the person who receives the mail.

Follow-up of the dispatch of the driving license

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

At the end of the stage of manufacturing your driving license, you receive a mail containing a mail tracking link. This link allows you to track the progress of your driving license.

Tracking the dispatch of your driving license can also be done directly on the La Poste website with the number of the mail followed.

Please note

In order to stay informed of the status of your application and the dispatch of your driving license, remember to provide your phone number and email during the teleprocedure.

In the event of failure to obtain a driving license

If you did not receive your driving license (driving license) while the mail tracking view shows a distribution made, contact theANTS: titleContent via the contact form:

Who shall I contact

  • Citizens Contact Center - Driving license

    Online

    https://permisdeconduire.ants.gouv.fr/

    Online Contact Form

    Access to contact form

    By telephone

    34,00 (no surtax)

    09 70 83 07 07 from overseas and abroad

    Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm.

The period of validity of a driving license (driving license) in format credit card is 15 years.

At the end of this period, the renewal is a simple administrative procedure : there is no driving test or medical examination to be taken.

So, even if your driving license is valid 15 years, your license category remains valid for life (unless individually restricted).

However, the period of validity of the title may be small for health reasons.

The validity of the certificate should not be confused with the validity of the license categories :

  • The date of end of validity of the driving ticket is indicated in front, at the line 4b.
  • The dates for obtaining and end of validity of categories of permits are listed in back the permit, columns 10 and 11.
Infographie - Decrypt driving license
Illustration X - Decrypt driving license - plus de détails dans le texte suivant l’infographie
Illustration X
Crédits: Direction de l’information légale et administrative

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The infographic explains the information on the driving license.

Front of the driving license:

1. Name of holder

2. Surname of the holder

3. Date and place of birth of holder

4a. Date of issue of the certificate

4b. End date of validity of the security

4c. Issuing authority

5. Title number

7. Signature of the holder

9. Categories of permits

Unnumbered legend: symbol and name of the State which issued the driving license

Reverse side of the permit:

9. Categories of permits

10. Date of 1re issue of each category of permit

11. Expiry date of each license category

12. Restrictive codes. For example: 01.01 for glasses

Unnumbered Legend: File Number (NEPH Number)

Decrypt driving license

Download
Decrypt driving license - plus de détails dans le texte suivant l’infographie
Crédits: Service Public (DILA)Infographie - Decrypt driving license

The infographic explains the information on the driving license.

Front of the driving license:

1. Name of holder

2. Surname of the holder

3. Date and place of birth of holder

4a. Date of issue of the certificate

4b. End date of validity of the security

4c. Issuing authority

5. Title number

7. Signature of the holder

9. Categories of permits

Unnumbered legend: symbol and name of the State which issued the driving license

Reverse side of the permit:

9. Categories of permits

10. Date of 1re issue of each category of permit

11. Expiry date of each license category

12. Restrictive codes. For example: 01.01 for glasses

Unnumbered Legend: File Number (NEPH Number)

Driver's license: register online for the exam (NEPH number assignment)

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