Can I drive in France with a foreigners license?
Verified 13 August 2025 - Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
It depends on the country where you got the driver's license.
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European country (EU/EEA)
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom (permit issued before 2021)
You can driving in France with your permit obtained in a european countries as long as he's valid.
It is not necessary to ask the exchange of your driving license against a French license.
The exchange of your license is mandatory only in the following cases:
- The validity of your license has expired
- You are applying for a new license category (extension)
- You commit a traffic violation in France resulting in loss of points, restriction, suspension, or cancelation of your license
- Your license was stolen
- You lost your license
- Your license is deteriorated.
Other country
If you settle in France, you must request the exchange of your license for a french license.
If your driver's license foreigners cannot be exchanged for a french license, you must pass the french driving license to be able to continue driving in France.
On the same subject
Who can help me?
Find who can answer your questions in your region
Citizen Contact Center - Driver's License
Online contact form
Access to contact form
By phone
34,00 (number not overtaxed)
09 70 83 07 07 from overseas and foreigner
From Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm.
Recognition and exchange of a foreigner license
FAQ
Service-Public.fr
Service-Public.fr
Ministry of the Interior
Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs