BE driving license: car with trailer (car + trailer > 4250 kg)

Verified 10 August 2026 - Public Service / (Prime Minister)

You wonder if you should pass the BE permit to drive a car coupled to a trailer? We tell you the information you need to know and the steps to follow to pass the BE permit.

Step-by-step approach

The BE license allows you to drive a vehicle that presents the 5 characteristics following:

  • Used for the transport of persons or goods
  • PTAC less than or equal to 3,5 tons
  • 9 seats maximum, driver included
  • PTAC of the trailer exceeding 750 kg not exceeding 3 500 kg (or semi-trailer)
  • Sum of PTAC (car + trailer) greater than 4 250 kg.

The BE permit should not be confused with the extension of the permit B marked with 96.

The entry 96 is necessary when the PTAC: titleContent of the trailer exceeds 750 kg and the sum of PTAC: titleContent (car + trailer) is over 3,500 kg not exceeding 4 250 kg.

FYI  

The BE license replaced the E/B license on 19 January 2013. If you have an E/B license obtained before this date, your acquired rights are maintained. Your permit is marked 79.06 to allow you to tow a trailer weighing more than 3,500 kg of PTAC.

Age

You must have 18 years or older.

Prior driving license

You must have the permit B to be able to pass the BE permit.

Citizenship - Nationality

Depending on your nationality, different rules apply.

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You are French

If you are under 25, you must be in good standing with the obligations of the defense and citizenship day (JDC).

You are European

If you are a Swiss, Andorran, Monegasque or l' (EEE), you must have had your personal and/or professional ties for at least 6 months in France.

You are a foreigner

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

Please note

Medical examination is not required to obtain the BE permit.

Registration for the driver's license exam is done by the driving school or by yourself.

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Through a driving school

At your request, your driving school will take care of your registration for the license examination. However, you must activate the account created in your name on the France Titres - website ANTS: titleContent. You receive an email to activate the account.

To register, the driving school needs the following documents, in photographed or digitized version:

  • Defense and Citizenship Day (JDC) documents if you are from France, aged 17 to 25: 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 stay or, if you are exempt from a residence permit, proof of your presence in France for at least 6 months (payroll, rent receipt, etc.).

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

By yourself

Registration for the driver's license exam is done online on the website of France Titles - ANTS: titleContent.

Prepare the following documents, in photographed or scanned versions:

  • Defense and Citizenship Day (JDC) documents if you are from France, aged 17 to 25: 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 stay or, if you are exempt from a residence permit, proof of your presence in France for at least 6 months (payroll, rent receipt, etc.).

Register for the driver's license examination

Once registered for the exam, you receive a Driver's License Registration Certificate (PIAC)) 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 driver's license registration certificate (PIAC) between the time of your registration on the PIAC websiteANTS: titleContent and the passage of the code.
  • You wish change driving school and you couldn't get your NEPH back.
  • You have more than 5 years have elapsed between your registration on the website of France Titres - ANTS and the passage of 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 department, to generate a new AIPC including your NEPH. Your driving school can also carry out the process for you.

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

You can pass the code (ETG) via a driving school or as a free candidate.

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

  • Have obtained a favorable result in the theoretical test (code) in France for a maximum of 5 years
  • Have a French driver's license whose last category has been obtained for a maximum of 5 years, except category AM
  • Have a French driver's license obtained by exchange of a license European (code 70) the last category of which has been obtained for a maximum of 5 years, except for category AM. Code 70 should be followed by DE (Germany), AT (Austria), BE (Belgium), BG (Bulgaria), CY (Cyprus, Greek part), 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 exemption may be granted if you submit one of the following documents:

Warning  

Since 2021, categories A1 or A2 no longer allow for exemption from the code (general theoretical exam or ETG).

The driving school must offer you a standard contract for driving education. This contract specifies in particular the program and the course of the training, the price training and administrative services, obligations of each, the means of payment.

Driving school gives you access to a digital learning booklet (objectives of the training and monitoring of your progress).

The content of the booklet is available on the Legitimacy site.

The complete test lasts 60 minutes. It comprises a out-of-circulation test (HC) referred to as a « plateau », and a test in circulation (CIR).

To pass the CIR test, you must obtain a favorable result in the HC test.

Accompanying

The presence of an escort is mandatory throughout the duration of the tests.

Out of circulation test (HC)

The objective of the HC test is to test your knowledge and know-how in the following areas:

  • Highway Code
  • Road safety and signage
  • Checks of the vehicle before departure
  • Coupling and uncoupling of an assembly
  • Performing a maneuver.

The HC test includes several exercises : knowledge tests including routine safety checks, oral interrogation, maneuverability exercise (performing a reverse maneuver describing a curve).

To be admitted, you must obtain more than 18 pointsnot have a knockout score and have a result favorable to the maneuverability exercise.

You Retain the benefit of the HC for 5 Circulating Events (CIR) for 3 years after the HC pass date provided that the theoretical test (code) is validated.

Circulation test (CIR)

The objective of the CIR test is to control your skills in the following areas:

  • Knowledge and safety on board
  • Autonomy and risk awareness (analysis of situations, adaptation to situations, autonomous driving)
  • Know and use commands
  • Take the information
  • Adapt your pace to the circumstances
  • Enforce regulations
  • Communicating with other users
  • Share the road
  • Maintain safe spaces.

The CIR test takes place on varied routes.

To be received in the CIR test, you must obtain at least 17 points and do not make a knockout error.

FYI  

The driving schools preparing for driving licenses BE, C1, C, C1E, CE, D1, D, D1E and DE may reserve places for the practical event on the site pro.permisdeconduire.gouv.fr.

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

View the results of your driver's license exam online

FYI  

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

You must apply for a new license that incorporates the new category obtained.

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

The period of validity of the driving license in « credit card » format depends on your situation.

FYI  

The obligation of medical check-up for the renewal of the driving license category BE is deleted since 3 june 2016. This means that you can continue to use your license with the BE category in the non-extended state until it expires. However, you must not be deprived of your right to drive and the BE category must not be limited for health reasons. The expiry date of a credit card license is shown on the front of the license in line 4B. A permit in the format "folding pink 3 shutters" is valid until 19 january 2033.

Register for the driver's license examination

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