Letters: I took French driving test at 63 rather than swap my UK licence

To the Editor,

I took my French driving tests rather than swapping my UK driving licence for French permis de conduire for several reasons.

I did not want my driving licence tied up in the CERT office at Nantes because I might have needed to hire a car anytime (although now CERT will accept a colour photocopy of the original UK licence). 

I drive a lot in France so I wanted to ensure that I was as safe as possible. I also enjoy taking & passing exams! I passed my DELF B1 2013 and get by in French. 

I have a lot of spare time, but not a lot of money. I was 63 when I started, and the same age when I finished. I had the advantage that I was still driving, on my UK licence.

I started Jan 2021 by reading Code de la Route Pour les Nuls (€15) and enrolling in an online course (€39).

I passed the theory test April 2021 (€30) with a 39/40 result; the exam was on a Samsung tablet and not difficult. 

Armed with my result, ID etc, I went to the local auto ecole.

How long does it take to swap foreign driving licence to a French one?

They had not come across my problem before and had lots of business already so were looking for other solutions. 

They suggested an international driving licence which is just a translation of your primary driving licence so no help. 

The solution was to treat me like someone who has lost their permis de conduire and needs to retake the test. 

So I had a one-hour appraisal and then 10 hours of lessons (1-2 hour sessions each week, €44 per hour); including the registration and the driving test, this cost €530 in total. 

The examiner was quite chuffed that an Englishman would want to take a French driving test, and he was pleased that I anticipated the HGV speeding onto the roundabout that would have hit him otherwise!

Again the test was not too difficult, passing June 2021 first attempt. 

I also had the advantage that to save time because of Covid the examiner did not ask questions during the practical test. Interestingly, my instructor sat in the car during the test, which was not a problem.

One can do the practical training and test oneself, but one needs a driver to accompany, and the driving instructor knows the driving test routes and one becomes familiar with the language.

Simon Croxson, by email

Did you take the French driving test? What was your experience? Let us know at letters@connexionfrance.com