Since 2013, the driving license has taken the form of a small plastic card (the size of a credit card), common to all member states of the European Union. So no more old models, pink and cardboard. They should gradually disappear.
New format driving license: should I change my old pink driving license for the card?
If you had your driving license before 2013 – which is probably the case! – you can absolutely ask to change it to the new format. No urgency, however, as the deadline is… January 19, 2033! From this date, there will no longer be any pink permits in circulation. In the meantime, you might as well keep it: it’s completely valid.
The only exception which requires you to request its replacement is its deterioration, or in the event of loss or theft.
How long is the driving license valid?
If the old pink license was valid for life, this is not the case with the new one. It must be renewed every fifteen years. Here again, we have time to see it coming!
Apply for a new license: where and how to renew your driving license?
In this case, you must complete your request online on the website of the public service and provide yourself with a certain number of supporting documents. It will cost you €25. Once you receive your new license at home, you must destroy the damaged license.
Is the medical examination obligatory for the B driving license?
No medical examination is necessary when you renew your driving license. You must have a medical examination only in the following cases:
- You have an illness incompatible with maintaining your license;
- Your state of health implies a restriction on the validity period of the permit;
- You have a limited validity period license with medico-administrative EAD restriction;
- You wish to be exempt from the compulsory wearing of a seat belt;
- You wish to prove that your state of health justifies an exception to the rules on the transparency of vehicle windows.
Is a driving license an official form of identification?
Yes, because it is issued by the French State. It can therefore help to prove your identity… provided that it is not too damaged and that you can be identified. It is therefore a question of clearly seeing your photograph, which must be similar: be careful if you have an old cardboard license, all damaged, and on which you have a photo of your 20th birthday!
On the other hand, the driving license does not have the same value as the national identity card or the passport, which allow you to prove both your identity and your nationality. Finally, be aware that in your procedures, not all administrations or private organizations always accept this document to prove identity.
Can I travel with my driving license?
With some exceptions, at the discretion of an airline on a domestic flight only (not in the European Union or abroad), the driving license is not valid for air travel. Beware.
If you rent a car in France or Europe, your French license is valid and will be required. Elsewhere, it may be enough for temporary driving in some countries, but not always. Find out well enough before your departure. Some countries require that your French license be accompanied by an international driving license, a document that must be completed several weeks before departure to be sure of receiving it on time.
Why do new licenses have an expiration date?
The expiry date for new driving licenses provides drivers with an opportunity to update the information on their license. During the administrative renewal process, road users are encouraged to replace their photo and update their postal address or other details as necessary.
Expired driving license: what to do?
If your driving license has expired, stop driving. Driving with an expired license can result in legal penalties. Prepare the required documents for renewal. This may include identification, a recent photo, and any other documents specific to your region. Visit the driver’s license office or use the online system to submit your renewal application. Follow the procedures specific to your region. Pay the required renewal fee. Costs may vary depending on region and license type. Once your application is processed, receive your new driver’s license. Be sure to check the details on the document to ensure they are correct. Take this opportunity to update your address and photo if necessary.
How long are the new permits valid for?
Drivers with the new driving license in “credit card” format, issued since September 16, 2013, can observe an expiry date on the front of the document, precisely on line 4b. According to the website of the Ministry of the Interior, this permit “is valid for 15 years”, and the first renewals are planned for 2028.
It is crucial to note that this validity date should not be confused with the validity of the license categories. Even if the title has a validity limited to five or fifteen years, the B license allowing you to drive a car remains valid for life (unless individual restriction), explains the ministry.
Concretely, the validity date does not result in the automatic cancellation of the license after fifteen years. This is simply an administrative procedure to update the address and photo on the document. No driving test or medical check is required for this process, emphasizes the Ministry of the Interior.
However, for holders of a heavy goods vehicle license (C, C1, CE, C1E license and D, D1, DE and D1E licenses), the validity period depends on age. It is also important to note that the validity period of a permit may be reduced for health reasons.
Read also :
⋙ Speeding: is the loss of points on your driving license almost over?
⋙ What documents to renew your driving license?
⋙ How long is the driving license valid?