You are a british citizen


Driving licence

Until the date the UK leaves the EU, your rights remain the same and you can continue to drive in France with a British driving licence. Should the UK leave without a withdrawal agreement and if you live in France, recognition of your British licence will be contingent on the measures that the French government will adopt. If you wish to settle in France, your British driving licence will be valid for one year but you will be required to exchange it for a French driving licence during this period.


You are concerned if you are a British citizen living in France and having a British driving licence to drive in France.

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Frequently

asked questions


  • My British driving licence allows me to drive in France. Do I need to exchange it and, if so, when ?

  • With a withdrawal agreement

    The withdrawal agreement does not contain any provisions on driving licences. It does however provide for a transition period.

    During this period, EU rules will continue to apply in France and in the UK, and there will be no impact on driving licences.

    Thereafter, there will be three main scenarios depending on whether you are driving in France as a tourist or resident.

    If you live in France, special and reciprocal provisions will subsequently set out the conditions of exchange for British driving licence holders who are resident of France.

    If you are a tourist in France, you can drive with your licence obtained by means of a driving test in the UK for the duration of your stay. You will not need an international driving licence if you have the translation of your British driving licence.

    If you intend to settle in France, after the transition period, your British driving licence will be recognised in France for one year but you will be required to apply to exchange it during this period.


    Without a withdrawal agreement

    In this case, there will be no transition period and the conditions set out below, depending on whether you are driving in France as a tourist or resident, will apply as from the date the UK leaves the EU.

    If you have acquired your habitual residence in France on the date the UK leaves, your driving licence will be recognised under the same conditions as for holders of a licence issued by an EU Member State without any formalities being required. Exchanging the licence has not been provided for and is not compulsory and will only be compulsory or required in the event of a violation, the expiry of the licence or passing a test for a new category, loss or theft. These provisions are stipulated in theOrder of 3 April 2019 on driving licences issued by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, which was published in the French Official Journal on 7 April 2019.           

    If you are a tourist in France, you can drive with your licence obtained by means of a driving test in the UK for the duration of your stay. You will not need an international driving licence if you have the translation of your British driving licence.

    If you intend to settle in France after the date the UK leaves the EU, your British driving licence will be recognised for one year after you acquire your habitual residence in France. You will have to apply to exchange it within this period. Special and reciprocal provisions will subsequently set out the conditions of exchange.


  • If I exchange my British driving licence for a French one, will I be able to drive in other EU Member States?

  • A French driving licence allows you to drive in EU Member States.

    During the transition period, you will be able to drive in the other EU Member States with your British driving licence.

    However, after the transition period or if there is no withdrawal agreement, if you have a British driving licence and wish to drive in other Member States you should contact those States. Each EU Member State has sovereign authority to determine the regulations applying to recognising and exchanging driving licences with non-EU countries.


  • What documents are required to exchange my British driving licence ?

    • Form cerfa n°14879*01 completed and signed (a mobile telephone number and/or email address must be provided)
    • Form cerfa n°14948*01 reference 06 completed and signed
    • Original driving licence
    • Proof of identity
    • Proof of residence
    • Proof of the lawfulness of residence in France (temporary residence permit, residency card, multi-annual permit, etc.)
    • Proof of residence in the UK when the licence was issued unless you only have British nationality (at least 185 days during the calendar year when the licence was obtained, with personal and/or business connections)
    • Certificate of entitlement to drive dating back less than three months from the British authorities attesting to the fact that you are not subject to a suspension, withdrawal or cancellation of your right to drive; this certificate should be accompanied by a translation from a sworn translator
    • Official translation of the driving licence into French, either done in France by a sworn translator , or done abroad and legalised or stamped with an apostille
    • Four photos including one on each of the two Cerfa forms)

    If you live in Corsica or in certain overseas départements (Réunion, French Guiana, Martinique or Mayotte), payment of the amount of the regional taxby cheque made out to the régisseur des recettes (revenue manager).

    If you comply with the conditions for the exchange, you will be asked to send the original of your licence. In return, you will receive a certificate that is valid for a maximum of twelve months. It will allow you to prove that your licence has been sent and that you cannot be held liable for failure to present it.