I’m struggling with the ANTS site.
I need to exchange my licence so I can have a point removed. Unfortunately, all I’ve achieved is a letter which I can produce to confirm I don’t need to exchange (which supports what others say about some police not knowing the law).
I’m probably missing something.
To save a visit to France Services, is there a straightforward way of getting ANTS to let me change?
Hi @kim I’ve just signed up to this website as my partner and I are in a similar situation, but we can’t seem to find a definitive answer to our question - hoping you can help?
We moved to France in December 2020 under the Withdrawal Agreement. Both of our UK driving licences expired whilst we were in France, and we renewed our UK licences with the DVLA (on both occasions, we were in the UK for a few months due to family illness and death, and we thought we may have to move back to the UK). However, we eventually remained in France, although we now have renewed licences (mine in 2024, licence originally issued in 1992, my partner renewed in Jan 2022, licence originally issued in 2003).
From much of what we have read, it would seem that it is now illegal for us to drive in France with our renewed UK licences, although I did see a link on another forum on here which suggested the issue date is the date of original issue, and not the renewal date. We only became aware of the issue when we tried to hire a camionette for an upcoming move, and we were told that we needed an international driving permit alongside our renewed UK licences issued after January 2021.
Can you shed any light on our situation please? Are we able to drive? I started the process of exchanging my UK licence for a French licence on 1 December 2025, but the waiting time is currently 6-8 months. Given the fact that I have renewed my UK licence, I’m not sure if ANTS will issue a French licence to me, or if I will need to take a French driving test. Any help you can give would be gratefully received! Thanks.
You are not retraite, you do not hold a retraite CdS, it’s what is on the front of your card that the question of the CdS is asking. I can guarantee you selected yes to that question which is why you were told you don’t need to apply which would be correct if you held on of those in the list.
You apply again this time selecting NON, you will also need your attestation from the DVLA, and please don’t say there’s no where to upload it. It the document upload section you will find a section saying 7 additional documents can be uploaded here.
Are you on FB if yes I recommend you join this basic group and read Guide 4, D1 the exchange conditions are all covered there for a UK licence test passed pre 2021.
You are now not eligible to submit an exchange application until 12 months before your 4b date, in the meantime you can continue to drive. The offence you committed was in the UK not France.
I imagine the option to upload appears only when you get the first part right 
so, since I didn’t …
Thanks very much!
You have to fill in the details, your details and then you will eventually get to the upload utility bill, CdS front and back in colour, Licence front and back in colour, and in the 7 additional documents to support your application you upload the DVLA check code and your infraction for 1 point.
I forgot to add the check code is a pdf not the code number itself, you generate the code and send it to print which will save as a pdf ready to upload.
Thanks @kim - there’s so much confusing and conflicting information about driving in France with a UK licence (even on the French and UK government websites). We are really concerned about doing the right thing legally regarding driving in France! I’ve requested to join the group on FB.
Its my group so the information contained there is correct. I was involved and continue to be involved in the UK agreement so I know first hand what is correct.
I’ve just accepted your application plus your application to the Article 50 CdS group.
@Kim I wonder if you or someone else can confirm. My UK driving licence was renewed in December 2024. We moved to France in Jan 2025. I have a CdS member of family of a citizen of EU. I thought I could use my UK driving licence until it expired next year but a post on FB prompted me to check. AI tools tell me that French admin will only consider the renewal date and not original issue. I accessed ANTS which told me I needn’t do anything but I did enter Rétraite. Looking at the thread am I right in thinking I must apply again and not enter rétraite. If I do indeed to exchange my licence and I am over the 12 month limit will they insist I take a driving test here? Many thanks
Hello Michael, which FB post did you see as it was possible me.
There has been an update and it’s recommended that if your 4a date on your photocard is after 2021 that you exchange your licence. We are absolutely fed up fighting the MOI on what was agreed, it should have been test passed pre 2021 and test passed from 2021 but officials and insurance companies are taking the 4a date.
If your photocard 4a has a date pre 2021 you can continue to use it and exchange when you meet the criteria or an old original paper licence however even that can be exchanged now.
You are not retraite your own status is irelevant, it is what is on the front of your card, and all those options are not residents or deemed to be residents.
I’m not sure which post it was Kim. My date for 4a is Dec 2024. When I was on the ANTS site there was a list to choose from and the only one I related to was retraite. So looks like I need to exchange but am I allowed to drive? How frustrating. I’ve just applied to join the FB group
You should have selected non to the CdS question as you don’t hold one in the list is yours is issued as the family member EU citizen.
Are you MA who has applied to join DLs?
Yes you can drive.
Sorry Kim but not sure what you mean in the first sentence. My initials are ML
You need to join the main DL group not the general one.
I only had one Michael and it was MA not ML
Thanks Kim. I’ve applied for that FB access now
Application accepted and it was After Brexit group where I posted.
Hello, i need some advice please as am getting in a pickle with applying to exchange my uk licence for a french one.
I am pre brexit and my photocard licence expires aug 2026, I applied to exchange end Jan (yes too late i think). My actual paper counterpart licence expires 2028, can I still drive if my insurers accept this until 2028 or will i be off the road in august this year?
Also when applying i did not send all pages of my passport, do I need to?
Also did not send DVLC attestation to drive, can I add this, or just wait till asked?
Also stupidly didnt send a pdf of both sides of my uk photocard, again can I add?
and finally….. my residency card expires end this month and they are finally getting round to issuing a new 10 year one .. so again another issue.
any help much appreciated! and sorry this is in another thread too…
I’ll try to answer based on my experience.
You dont need to send all passport pages, just the double one with your photos on.
Just wait until asked for the DVLA attestation, they normally ask for it when they’re (nearly) ready to issue your french licence.
I think you can add additional info at any time but not sure. Both sides of your uk licence need to be on the same image though - easy enough to do.
If @kim is around today I’m sure she’ll put me right 
I replied on your other thread. If it is just photo then you are not in serious breach if you have an application in the system. If it is the licence itself (column 11) then stop driving now.
Your paper counterpart is meaningless now as these no longer recognised.