I. Information on Community law

1. General rule

On 1 July 1996 a standard model of driving licence was adopted in order to make licences easier to understand and to facilitate mutual recognition of them.

Provided that it is still valid, any driving licence issued by one Member State is recognised by the other Member States, irrespective of whether the licence is a new one (and based on the Community model) or an old one. You do not, therefore, have to exchange your original driving licence for a host-country licence when you move to another Member State, but you may do so if you wish.

2. Powers of the Member States

For reasons connected with road safety and traffic, Member States are free to apply to any person residing on their territory their national rules on:

• the period of validity of the licence;
• medical checks (same frequency as for nationals);
• tax arrangements (connected with the holding of a licence);
• penalties (e.g. a penalty-points licence);
• restriction, suspension, withdrawal or cancellation of the licence, 

and they may, therefore, require the original licence to be exchanged, if necessary.

3. What do you have to do as a European citizen?

A number of different situations can arise:

1. You already possess a driving licence issued by a Member State: You are no longer required to exchange it if your "normal residence" is in a Member State other than that which issued your licence. But you may ask to exchange it if you wish.
   
   N.B. "Normal residence" means the place where you live for at least 185 days in each calendar year because of personal and occupational ties. Where your occupational ties are in a different place from your personal ties, the place of your personal ties will be taken into account provided that you return there regularly.
   
   
2. You already possess a driving licence issued by a Member State, but it is about to expire: You must renew it by applying to the appropriate authorities of the Member State in which you are normally resident.
   
   
3. You already possess a driving licence issued by a Member State, but you wish to add a new category of vehicle: You must apply to the appropriate authorities of the Member State in which you are normally resident. You must exchange your original licence if the new category is added.
   
   
4. You already possess a driving licence issued by a Member State, but you lose it or it is stolen: You must apply for a new licence to the appropriate authorities of the Member State in which you are normally resident. You must provide the proof supplied to you by the authorities of the Member State which issued the lost or stolen licence. You cannot ask for a duplicate of your original licence if, in the meantime, you have changed the Member State in which you are normally resident.
   
   
5. You possess a driving licence issued by a country outside the European Union: Since mutual recognition of such a driving licence is not mandatory even if it has already been recognised by one Member State, it is preferable for you to ask the authority responsible whether your licence is valid so that you can act accordingly.
   
   
6. You possess an international driving licence: Such a licence is valid within the European Union only if you can produce a national licence issued by a Member State and if that licence is still valid. You can keep and use your international driving licence when travelling outside the European Union.
   
   
7. You do not possess a driving licence, but you would like to obtain one: You must satisfy a number of conditions:
   
   
   1. you must be normally resident in the Member State in which you make the application;
   2. you must pass the theory examination (knowledge of the highway code) and the practical test (practical driving skills);
   3. you must meet the medical standards (physical and mental fitness), particularly those relating to eyesight, hearing, motor disabilities, cardiovascular diseases, kidney disorders, neurological diseases, diabetes, alcohol, drugs and medicines, mental disorders, etc.;
   4. you must satisfy the minimum age requirement for the category of vehicle in question;
   5. you cannot hold more than one driving licence issued by a Member State, even if your licence has been suspended or withdrawn.

II. Formalities in France

To complete the procedures for the issuing of a driving licence you should apply to the competent authority mentioned in section III "Useful addresses in France". On the practical side, you must submit the following:

• registration form stating your surname, forenames, nationality, address, and date and place of birth;
• an extract from your register office record;
• two passport photos;
• a revenue stamp as evidence that the fee has been paid;
• a photocopy of any driving licence already held.

III. Useful addresses in France:

(1) The authority responsible for:

• issuing driving licences
• exchanging driving licences
• providing information on the cost involved

is your local prefecture, Driving Licence Department (Service des Permis de Conduire).

(2) Where to sit the driving test:

You can obtain the address of the examination centre for your area from: Délégué à la Formation du Conducteur (his name and address can be obtained from your local prefecture).

(3) Association responsible for providing information on international driving licences:

See point (1).

(4) Contact point for disabled drivers

See point (2).

(5) Applicable Community legislation