The French points-based driving licence: how does it work?

Introduced in France by the law of 10 July 1989 and in force since 1 July 1992, the points-based licence is a system for monitoring driving behaviour. Every driver holds a points balance that changes based on offences committed and time spent offence-free. It's designed to encourage responsible driving and reduce accidents on French roads.

Starting balance: 12 points (6 while on probation)

Every category B licence holder starts with a balance of 12 points. New drivers, however, go through a probationary period during which the balance is capped at 6 points. This balance increases gradually:

• +2 points per full offence-free year under standard driving
• +3 points per year if the licence was obtained through accompanied driving (AAC)
• The balance reaches the full 12 points after 3 years (or 2 years for AAC)

How are points deducted?

Points are automatically deducted once an offence resulting in a point loss is confirmed and the penalty becomes final (after paying the fixed fine, or following a court ruling). The number of points deducted depends on the severity of the offence.

How do you get points back?

There are two ways to recover points on your licence: waiting (automatic recovery) and attending an approved points recovery course.

Automatic recovery over time

• +1 point after 6 consecutive offence-free months (if your balance is below 12)
• Full recovery of all lost points after 10 years with no point-deducting offence
• 2 offence-free years also trigger full recovery, provided you only ever lost 1 or 2 points and had no serious offence

Points recovery course (4 points in 2 days)

The fastest, most effective method is the points recovery course. Run over two consecutive days (16 hours of training) by centres approved by a Prefecture, it credits 4 points to your licence the working day after the course ends, per the official data processing decree.

Conditions to be eligible:

• A points balance between 1 and 11 (a 12-point licence can't be topped up)
• Not being on a probationary licence already at its 6-point ceiling
• Only one course allowed per calendar year
• No ongoing court proceedings for serious offences

Recovery methods at a glance

What happens if your balance reaches zero?

When your points balance hits zero, your licence is invalidated. You'll receive an official letter from the Prefecture notifying you of the invalidation. You'll then need to:

• Hand in your licence within 10 days
• Serve a minimum 6-month driving ban
• Retake both the theory and practical driving tests

To avoid getting to that point, it's strongly recommended to keep an eye on your points balance and book a course as soon as your balance drops below 6 points.