How do driving points work in France, how often given and what about foreign licences?

The number of points removed for driving offences has rocketed over recent decades, official data shows.

The number of points being deducted from French driving licences annually is up 14 times and the number of drivers faced with a suspension after losing all their points is up more than 100 times.

Here is how driving penalties work for residents and for foreign licence holders in France.

Driving offences in France result in fines and in most cases also points deductions from the licence (rather than points added as in the UK).

A newly-qualified driver starts with six points on their licence, which increases to 12 at the rate of two points per year. Licences are suspended when they have zero remaining points.

This is the opposite to countries such as the UK where drivers receive points for infractions, up to a maximum of 12.

Historic rise in penalties

A record 16.3 million driving licence points were deducted for offences in 2022 (the most recent data), resulting in the suspension of 60,000 licences.

That year, 11.4 million points were deducted for speeding, 1.6 million for failure to give way, 1.2 million for using a phone, 557,000 for drink-driving, 273,000 for drug use, 250,000 for not wearing a seatbelt and 950,000 for other traffic violations.

58.5% of points were withdrawn for 1-point offences and 6.2% for 6-point offences.

Men accounted for more than two-thirds (65.4%) of the points withdrawn in 2022: 10,646,112 points out of a total of 16,285,534.

However, eight out of 10 drivers still have 12 points on their licence.

2022 also saw almost €1billion in driving fines issued - second only to 2017’s record of €1.013billion.

The rising numbers of fines are in large part due to the 4,600 speed cameras in France. 

How driving licence points penalties work in France

French driving licences: how to check if you have any points

Penalties can be between one to six points, and not exceeding eight points if you are found to have committed multiple road offences at one time.

For example:

• Less than 20 km/h over the limit / or overlapping a solid line: one point

• Less than 30 km/h over the limit / accelerating when being overtaken: two points;

• Less than 40 km/h over the limit / not staying a safe distance from a vehicle in front: three points.

• Less than 50 km/h over the limit / not giving way: four points.

• More than 50 km/h over the limit / driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs: six points.

You can check how many points remain on your French driving licence by visiting the online service Mes Points Permis here.

Since January, drivers in France no longer face an automatic licence point deduction if they are caught speeding 5km/h over the limit.

However, these offences are still subject to a fine of between €45 and €135, depending on the road.

How do driving penalties work for foreign licence holders in France?

If you are stopped by police, you will receive an immediate fine. 

Otherwise, the fine comes in the post along with a notification of the offence if you are driving a car with French plates, or with plates from a European country with an agreement with France on exchange of driver details. 

Note, however, that the DVLA does not provide the addresses of UK drivers to the French authorities since Brexit.

French residents with foreign licences who commit driving offences that would usually involve the loss of points are expected to swap their foreign licence for a French one in order for the authorities to register the deduction.

This does not apply for minor offences, such as going 5km/h over the limit, which only results in a fine.