Is there financial help for foreign people in France towards driving test costs?

Reader Question: I recently moved to France with my family and my son wants to learn to drive (he did not have a licence before moving here). Are there aids to help cover the costs of learning for him? He is not French.

Recent studies estimate it costs between €1,500 to €2,000 to pass a driving test in France when taking into account lessons and tests (excluding the cost of a licence itself). 

Some of the aid available is limited in scope, applying only to apprentices under the age of 18 (who can obtain a €500 payment to help cover costs) or to former French military personnel and army reserves

The main aid for covering driving tests costs is known as ‘Le permis à un euro par jour’ (€1 per day driving licence). 

It is a zero-interest loan of between €600 and €1,200, paid by the government to help cover upfront costs of learning to drive.

It is then paid back over a number of installments, although these will never reach above €30 per month (hence the name). 

People can apply for the loan if they are: 

• Aged between 15 and 25 “on the date of signing the training contract”

• Looking to obtain a standard ‘B’ car licence, or an A1 (up to 125cc scooter) or A2 motorbike license

• Enrolling in a training course for the first time 

If you have previously failed a test, you can obtain up to €300 through the scheme to take an additional test. 

You do not need to be French to benefit from the scheme, but must take lessons through an eligible driving school to benefit. 

You can only apply for the scheme once, and can find out more details about it on the official government website.

Using training funds for lessons

An alternative is to use your CPF (compte personnel de formation) training funds towards learning to drive, if you have earned the funds through working in France. 

However, you can only use this to pay for training if it is your first time obtaining a licence overall – for example, if you already have a motorbike licence, you cannot use CPF funds to go towards learning to drive a car or vice versa. 

This includes any licence already valid in France (including licences from other countries).

CPF funding can be used cumulatively with the €1 per day loan.

Read more: Workers in France to pay €100 towards previously free training

French language used for tests

Note that you have to take the tests in French.

It is possible to have a translator with you for the theory part of your test, but not for your practical, meaning you will need to know enough French to satisfy your examiner and follow their instructions. 

Read more: Is a translator allowed during French driving tests?