If you鈥檙e taking a non-French car to France, and need to register it in the French system, we鈥檒l explain how, as well as how to get help. And, if you need to exchange your foreign driving licence for a French one will explain the process for that too 鈥� and again how to get help if you need it. France is notorious for its bureaucracy and when it comes to the administration processes for car registration and licence swaps, well, let鈥檚 just say this is the perfect example of just why that reputation exists. Plenty of people run into difficulties with the French system, but thankfully there is help at hand. We asked Eric Donjon of The European Concierge company, which helps people with all aspects of their move to France, to explain.
Registering a car in France
If you have a foreign registered car (or any other type of vehicle but NOT commercial type vehicles) and want to register it in France, the process is all online and managed by Agence Nationale des Titres S茅curis茅s (ANTS). And it has to be said, the system is far from easy to use and many people, even French people, find it easier to appoint a specialist to apply and see the process through to the end for them. It鈥檚 a time-consuming process, you have to answer questions, provide paperwork from various sources and you may (very likely) be required to provide authorised translations. It is complicated, confusing and onerous if translations are required. If your vehicle isn鈥檛 of standard manufacture (mobile home for example), you will probably need to liaise with the Regional Environment, Planning & Housing Directorates (DREAL) too. After having completed a multipage application form, they conduct inspections and are responsible for signing your car off as EU compliant.
鈥淓very region has a different way of dealing with applications and inspections鈥� says Eric. 鈥淎nd because everything is online, if questions or issues arise, the process can take longer and longer and become more complicated. Getting the paperwork, translations and facts right up front can make things run much smoother.鈥�
Driver鈥檚 licence exchange in France
New residents in France must check to see if their Driving Licence needs to be exchanged for a French one (or not). The list of countries of reciprocity (where exchanges are allowed) is a live and often updated document – you check via the following link, just enter the country of issue of your licence:
If your country has no agreement in place, you will need to re-sit your driving exam in France and most likely attend a few hours of road sign lessons (Le Code). For those lucky enough聽to be on the list of exchangeabilities, the process takes around 8 months from start to finish though can take longer depending of the country聽of origin of the original licence.
鈥淭here鈥檚 no one size fits all鈥� says Eric. 鈥淭he list of documents to be provided varies. A US Driver’s Licence holder will, for聽example,聽need to provide聽a recent聽copy of his/her “Driver’s Record”聽from the State where the DL was issued. And it gets complicated if the Licence holder isn’t of the nationality聽of the country where the Licence was obtained. Generally, those licence holders will聽need to have it exchanged within 12 months of arrival.鈥�
All supporting documents will need to be translated by a French administration approve, authorised translator that Eric has had in his Team since 2016.
British licences issued before 1/1/2021 are accepted without the need to exchange except if the licence is expiring and/or the licence holder has been caught speeding. Then the French Police will want to take points from it so you will be forced to swap your licence for a French one. UK licences obtained after the 01/01/2021 will need to be exchanged for a French one within 12 months of arrival.
Once the online exchange request has been made to swap your licence, the French Driver’s Licence authorities will write to you asking you to send your original licence by post whilst聽giving you a receipt to show the traffic Police if and when required.
The exchange of your Driver’s Licence is free of charge.
As with car registration, the licence exchange process sounds deceptively simple. You apply via ANTS and it鈥檚 all online. It鈥檚 time-consuming 鈥� 8 months is normal. You will need to fulfil certain criteria without which you may need to pass the French driving test. And it can seem frustratingly complicated.
If you鈥檙e finding the system hard to navigate (you鈥檙e not alone), or wondering if the hassle is worth it, don鈥檛 have time or would like help with registering a car or swapping your driver鈥檚 licence for a French one, get in touch with Eric Donjon at The European Concierge who offer a service to apply and conclude the process for you (along with his successful visa applications service), keeping you up to date and dealing with all the questions and paperwork needs as they arise:
