How to recover lost points in the French driving licence points system.

In line with other European countries, France operates a points-based system. A new driver has 6 points on their license, while an experienced driver has 12.

A deduction of points is made for many offences. For example, a speeding excess of up to 20 km/h results in a deduction of 1 point; accelerating when you are about to be overtaken is a loss of 2 points; failure to wear a helmet on a motorbike is a 3-point offence; driving in the prohibited direction can result in a loss of 4 points; and driving with an alcohol level of between 0.5 and 0.8 g per litre of blood is punishable by a loss of 6 points from the licence.

Since 1 January 2024, speeding under 5 km/h is no longer punished by a point deduction, but only by the payment of a fixed fine. You can read more at Speed Limit Offences and Penalties.

If the number of points reaches zero, the licence holder is no longer allowed to drive and the licence must be returned to the prefecture. The driver must also advise their insurer. A new licence cannot be obtained until at least 6 months has expired since the loss of the original licence. To obtain a new licence the driving test written examination is obligatory (sometimes also the practical driving test itself). The driver must also undergo psychological and medical tests, the later valid for 2 years. The new permit will only have 6 points on it.

Residents holding a foreign licence who commit a driving offence are required to change their licence for a French one, so that the points deduction can be applied. In practice, however, the rule is not always enforced as it is at the discretion of the local prefectures.

The period for recovering points begins from the date of payment of the fixed fine.

The time it takes to recover points depends on the number of points lost.

• To recover 1 point, the period is six months eg, speeding excess under 20 km/h.
• If you have suffered a loss of 2 points, you can recover them after two years.
• For a loss of 3 to 6 points, you have to wait two years before recovering them for a Class 2 or 3 fine, and three years for a Class 4 or 5 fine (all minor offences). A breakdown of the offences and penalties can be found at Driving Offences and Penalties.

Not all offences result in a points loss. Some offences can also come with a licence suspension.

The points can only be recovered provided you do not commit another offence which results in a loss of points during the validity period. If an offence is committed the waiting time for the points to be recovered can be up to 10 years.

It is also possible to take a road safety awareness course (stage de sensibilisation). To do this you need a valid licence, with at least one point remaining.

With this course, it is possible to recover up to 4 points, within the limit of the maximum 12 points of the license.

The course lasts 2 days and costs about €200. It is possible to do one per year.