What new licence rules are set to change for older drivers in France

Incoming EU regulations are set to impact all drivers across the bloc, however the changes may be most significant for older drivers. 

These new rules aim to increase road safety, deepen integration between driving authorities in the bloc, and to modernise licences. 

The rules still need to be approved by the Commission and Parliament, this is expected to happen in the coming weeks.

Member States will then have four years to implement the changes, meaning they would be in place by 2029 – countries have slightly longer to make changes to actual licences (see below), having until later in 2030 to do so. 

Read more: Five questions for British and American drivers in France on new driving licence rules

Below, we look at how older drivers may be affected.

Digitisation of driving licences 

There are plans that involve using more advanced technology, such as its increased presence in new driving tests.

However for elderly drivers the main impact of the changes will be the wider rollout of digital licences, set to be available by 2030. 

The digital form of the document will be available in an EU ‘digital wallet’, standardised across the bloc, with the aim of reducing instances where the documents are lost or forgotten and cannot be presented during a police check.

Note the right to have a physical licence will be maintained for all drivers, who will be able to choose this if they wish. 

France already supports digital licences, however they are currently restricted to those who can set up an account using the official France Identité government identification application. 

Currently, this excludes all non-citizens and also French citizens who do not have a modern French National ID card (a prerequisite to use the app). 

Future changes may see the app rolled out to more people, allowing for France to continue providing digital licences (and other official digital documents). 

It is unclear if governments will be able to keep digital driving licences on current apps running alongside the EU’s digital wallet system, or if all licences must move to the EU system.

One other digital change is that all Member States will move the renewal process for driving licences online. This is already the case in France via France Titres (formerly ANTS), so there are effectively no changes here.

More frequent licence renewals? 

The EU agreed that car and motorbike driving licences will be valid for 15 years as standard (shorter for HGVs). 

However, Member States have the opportunity to reduce this to 10 years if the document can also be used as an official form of government ID as is the case with a French licence. 

In addition, it can be reduced further for those drivers aged 65 or older, with Member States given the choice of how often renewals will need to take place for this age group. 

Currently, French motorcycle and car licences have a 15-year validity period for all age groups. This is in comparison to other countries such as Greece or Italy, which require more frequent checks for older groups. 

Whether validity periods for elderly drivers are reduced in France will be a decision for the government in place in 2029. 

However, it is unlikely that any government will opt to lower the current duration as drivers are a powerful voting force in France and are generally opposed to such changes. 

Indeed a proposal to reduce driving licence validity periods is not currently backed by any major political party in France so the chances of this changing in the coming years are considered low.

Are medical tests incoming? 

When voting on the EU bill that formed the proposed rule changes in 2024, MEPs rejected an amendment that would make medical tests mandatory for elderly drivers. 

Instead, the new rules will require all drivers – both those acquiring a licence for the first time and existing drivers upon renewal - to complete at a minimum a self-assessment form alongside the document. 

The EU has asked Member States to bring in more stringent medical checks for elderly drivers, however cannot force this to be implemented due to the 2024 vote, meaning it is up to each individual country what they choose. 

This again means it will be up to the French government in place in 2029 to determine the method. 

Currently, only drivers with certain medical issues need to see a doctor when renewing their licence to have a medical exam, with the decision to whom this applies set by local authorities.

Several other EU countries including Italy and Ireland have mandatory medical exams for all elderly drivers in place, either upon licence renewal or as a regular requirement. 

France has traditionally been against implementing such rules, again due to the strong voice of drivers in the political arena. 

The debate is often brought up after an incident involving an elderly driver, but has so far not led to any wider change. 

Recently, the Dordogne department urged people to report elderly drivers if they were considered a danger on the road, a prerequisite for local authorities to suspend a person’s licence. 

Read more: Report older drivers who are potentially dangerous, prompts French prefect