UPDATED SEPTEMBER 2026
Latest news on driving licences from British Embassy
UK residents in France can continue to use valid UK driving licences under the reciprocal agreement between the two countries. Here is the latest 2026 information on when you need to exchange your licence, how to apply through ANTS, the new €40 charge and what happens if your licence expires while you are waiting.
The rules governing UK driving licences for people living in France have now been in place for several years, but there are a few points worth updating.
The most important thing to remember is that if your UK driving licence was first issued before 1 January 2021, you do not normally have to exchange it for a French licence while it remains valid. However, if it has expired or has less than six months’ validity remaining, you must exchange it for a French licence. (SOURCE: GOV.UK)
There is also now a €40 charge for exchanging a foreign driving licence, introduced in France from 12 May 2026. (SOURCE: Permis de Conduire)
Here is the latest information.
The rules governing UK driving licences for people living in France have now been in place for several years, but there are a few points worth updating.
The most important thing to remember is that if your UK driving licence was first issued before 1 January 2021, you do not normally have to exchange it for a French licence while it remains valid. However, if it has expired or has less than six months’ validity remaining, you must exchange it for a French licence. (SOURCE: GOV.UK)
There is also now a €40 charge for exchanging a foreign driving licence, introduced in France from 12 May 2026. (SOURCE: Permis de Conduire)
Here is the latest information.
Q&A
Do I need to exchange my UK driving licence if I live in France?
If your UK driving licence was first issued before 1 January 2021, you can continue to use it in France for as long as it remains valid. You do not have to exchange it simply because you live in France.
Paper licences are usually valid until the age of 70. For plastic photocard licences, the expiry date is shown on the front of the card.
You must exchange your licence if it has expired or has less than six months’ validity remaining. You can exchange it without taking a French driving test. (SOURCE: GOV.UK)
If your licence was first issued on or after 1 January 2021, different rules apply. Your UK licence is recognised in France for one year from the date your French residence permit (carte de séjour) was issued. If you intend to remain in France for longer than one year, you must exchange your UK licence for a French one during that initial one-year period. You do not need to take a driving test. (SOURCE: GOV.UK)
How do I exchange my UK driving licence for a French one?
The exchange is done online through France Titres (ANTS) – exchange a foreign driving licence
You will normally need to provide documents including your current driving licence, proof of identity, proof of address, proof of your right to stay in France and other documents depending on your circumstances. (SOURCE: Service Public)
Is there a charge for exchanging my UK licence?
Yes.
From 12 May 2026, France introduced a €40 electronic tax stamp for the exchange or renewal of a driving licence issued by a foreign authority. (SOURCE: Permis de Conduire)
Can I drive in France if my UK licence has expired?
No. A UK licence that has expired is no longer recognised as a valid licence for driving in France. The French government states that a pre-2021 UK licence is recognised for as long as it remains valid. (SOURCE: Service Public)
If you have applied to exchange your licence, the application process can take several months.
France Titres says that, while the application is being examined, you can continue to drive with your foreign licence. Once the authorities have completed their checks, they will ask you to send in the original UK licence. After they receive it, you can download an Attestation de Dépôt Sécurisée (ADS). This is valid for four months and allows you to drive in France while you wait for your French licence, within the period during which your foreign licence is recognised. (SOURCE: Service Public)
This is why it is important not to leave the exchange application until the last minute.
How long does the exchange process take?
There is no fixed processing time. France Titres says that, depending on the complexity of the application, processing can take several months. (SOURCE: Service Public)
Because of this, if your UK photocard is approaching its expiry date, it is sensible to start the exchange process as soon as you become eligible — that is, when the licence has less than six months remaining.
Can I renew my UK licence with the DVLA if I am resident in France?
No. If you are normally resident in France, you cannot renew your UK driving licence through the DVLA.
You should follow the French procedure for exchanging your UK licence for a French one.
If I am resident in France, can I use my UK licence in other EU countries?
The rules are not necessarily the same in every country.
If you are planning to drive outside France, check the rules for the particular country before travelling.
GOV.UK – Driving in Europe: UK licence holders living in the EU
Can I use my UK licence if I am visiting France?
Yes. If you are visiting France and have a valid UK driving licence, you can drive in France.
The rules for visitors are different from those for people who are resident in France, so make sure your UK licence is valid and check the current French and UK guidance before travelling. (SOURCE: GOV.UK)
Do I need an International Driving Permit (IDP) in France?
No, an International Driving Permit is not normally required for driving in France with a valid UK licence.
If you are travelling to another country, however, check the requirements for that country before you travel. The rules can vary.
GOV.UK – International Driving Permit
What happens if I have lost or had my UK licence stolen?
For a UK licence issued before 2021, exchange becomes compulsory if the licence has been lost or stolen, as well as in certain other circumstances such as expiry, damage, or some driving offences. (SOURCE: Service Public)
The French authorities can ask for additional documentation as part of the exchange procedure.
Do I have to take a French driving test when I exchange my UK licence?
No. The reciprocal arrangements allow eligible UK licences to be exchanged for French licences without taking another driving test. (SOURCE: GOV.UK)
A final word of caution
The basic reciprocal agreement between the UK and France remains in place, but the practical process of exchanging a licence is handled by the French authorities and procedures can change.
If you are applying for an exchange, it is therefore worth checking the official information before submitting your application.
GOV.UK – Driving in Europe: UK licence holders living in the EU
French Government – Exchange a foreign driving licence
France Titres (ANTS) – Exchange a foreign driving licence
Reader’s comment – September 2026
Thank you to Emma, who sent this comment today.
Please be aware that ANTS are taking longer than 6 months to do UK > France licence exchanges. Current timings are estimated at 8 months. You can actually submit your request to exchange 12 months before the photocard expiry. I strongly recommend you do this! I am 6 months into the process and still don’t have the Attestation and my photocard has expired.
Please be aware that ANTS are taking longer thatn 6 months to do UK > France licence exchanges. Can you update this page to inform people? Current timings are estimated at 8 months. You can actually submit your request to exchange 12 months before the photocard expiry. I strongly recommend you do this! I am 6 months into the process and still don’t have the Attestation and my photocard has expired.
I have a problem exchanging my longstanding UK licence for a French permis conduire — the reason for refusal is that my carte sejour ( 5yrs) says “retraité » on the rear
This is apparantly one of the groups NOT permitted exchange— wot? Can anyone tell me why? And what to do. This must affect masses of expats HELP!!!
A friend has recently exchanged a newly renewed UK licence for a French permis, having belatedly thought he ought to comply with the law.
The new French licence arrived – minus several categories he had specifically asked for, notably Group A, unlimited motorcycles. After eventually getting in touch with Nantes, he has found, to his utter dismay, that Group A was not included in the arrangements covered by the Withdrawal Agreement, so he is only credited with A1 (125cc machines). As his bikes are all large, classic machines, his only real prospect is to take a test for A2, wait 2 years and take another for A and pay for a lot of training. At the age of 76, having ridden unlimited capacity bikes for 50 years, you can imagine his feelings.
In the absence of any exchange process being available earlier this year I took the (slightly dodgy) decision to renew my UK driving licence in the UK, despite the fact that I’ve lived in France for some time now. I didn’t renew it before now as at the time there was some chance that I might return to live in the UK. So finally this summer I applied to exchange my licence for a French one and after many months of inactivity I have just received notice that it my request has been rejected. The statement (as others above have received) was …
“Holders of a British Driving Licence and residing in France, whose driving rights were acquired before 1st January 2021, may continue to drive with their valid original DL.\nOnly expired, lost, stolen, deteriorated, suspended, canceled or with an infraction leading to point withdrawal in France, or with a class extension can be exchanged.”
My UK licence (plastic card) clearly shows that it was renewed after 1st January 2021 so I am rather confused. I also do not fully understand the reference to ‘”driving rights” in the above statement. Does this refer to the date that a UK plastic card licence was renewed or the date of passing a driving test in the UK. I assume from this ANTs reply that I should just keep driving on this UK licence ….all very confusing. Is anyone in a similar position?
I applied to exchange my UK licence on the 3rd of July. It expires on the 12th of December 2021 so less than 6 months left right?? Well in the usual French custom I got a big fat NON! My application was rejected with the following statement:
“Holders of a British Driving Licence and residing in France, whose driving rights were acquired before 1st January 2021, may continue to drive with their valid original DL.\nOnly expired, lost, stolen, deteriorated, suspended, cancelled or with an infraction leading to point withdrawal in France, or with a class extension can be exchanged.”
I of course phoned them and they just read out this statement to me word for word and in English?? I speak french fluently and started the conversation in French… Anyway when the agent kept repeating the same answer to my questions I asked to speak to a manager, NON she replied zis is against zee law?!? I laughed for quite a while before I hung up on her as obviously I wasn’t going to get anywhere! I did call back to see if I could speak to a more coherent human but I got the same again except I found out that I need to apply only once my licence has actually expired!! Where has logic gone? I did ask so if I take my vehicle now and go over the speed limit to set off a camera according to your rules you’ll exchange my licence?? Yes she replied??????????????? WTAF Might have to start looking at moving to a country that hasn’t lost the plot… Cheers for reading hope this helps someone!
Thanks Loic, your post does provide an answer to the madness, my partner’s licence also expires on 12 Dec 21 and who also has an application “stagnating” with ANTS – the situ is crazy and utter madness and must be making many trapped in this cycle of bureaucracy mentally ill. – I hope you’ve made some progress and received your French licence by now. UK DVLA is no better and are running months behind!
My UK driving license expired on 4/03/2021 (for some administrative reason my license didn’t expire on my 70th birthday) and I renewed it until I was required to renew it again at my 70th Birthday on 29/07/2021.
I applied for a French license and received a Justificatif de dépôt de demande dated 21/11/2020 acknowledging my application and giving me 2 months to drive on my UK license until my French one arrived.
In the absence of any communication I renewed my UK license from my UK address which is dated 29/07/2021 for 3 years.
I have now received an email from ANTS saying that I need to get a D737.
My application for the French license is obviously very much still active but I can only print off a license summary from the DVLA site which states my license details which are different (date) to the license I gave on my application. All other proofs have been accepted. What should I do? If I send this license summary are they likely to question why the license details are different. I will surrender the latest license when my French licenser is issued but how can I tell ANTS this?
I am resident in France and have a post Brexit Carte de Séjour although we have a UK address. I am very concerned that I might have to start the application process over again.
I have tried to start the process of exchanging my licence which runs out of date soon many times since it came online on the Ants site. Today we rang the site and were told it’s not possible to do so and no good to keep trying, it’s a political thing and they still have not reached an agreement .