i just tried to apply to exchange my Colorado license on the ANTS site, after filling it all in it informed me I didn’t need to ???
Hello Glade66 and I can 101% guarantee it was because of the choice you made on “do you hold one of these titles”. I’m guessing you have a CdS Temporaire and unless it’s only been issued for 185 days then you have misread the options as it actually states this. If you do hold one of those on that list then you are not deemed a resident.
So have I guessed correctly?
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kaching! i thought the 185 days referred to the last category not my retired one. So I should cancel this application and wait a little longer ? Thanks for the speedy reply.
You should be able to delete it, if not possible don’t worry it will eventually go away. Just start again and say NON to that section. I always recommend that you start a non-EU licence exchange as soon as possible as they can take months and your CdS is likely to expire during the process and you will be asked for your new one, but if applied for soon enough you get the French licence before the residence permit expires, I hope that made sense.
Anyhow you need your DMV record. Both licence and DMV record require certified translations and both original copies and translations must be uploaded.
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Thank you Kim, some things are lost in translation, I must be losing my faculties , I seem to have a problem following French directions.
Best regards
Gary
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This is the first time I’ve seen this.
You have to live in France for 6 months before you can exchange your licence, then you have 12 months to submit it, in this time they think that you can provide evidence of entering the French system generally the best one is the health system once you have been here 3 months, so at some point you will have an attestation de droits for this evidence. However they also want evidence of your arrival date, boarding pass etc will cover that.
I wonder if they have changed the law for exchanging HGV/PL permits. 
When I came here in '99 and was offered a job with a local transport company the boss saw my HGV licence and said ok start tomorrow. Just to be sure he rang the sub-prefecture and was told no, HGV permits must be changed before driving here. In those days no problem, I simple went there and swapped it over the counter and started work a day later.
Might be useful info for aspiring Routiers to know.
Which comment are you replying to.
The one above, this one. In view of that comment I was wondering if the law had changed since 1999 because it certainly didn’t apply to HGV licences at that time.
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It’s been a requirement for years if you hold EU citizenship that you have to provide evidence of living here for 6 months, what they call “normal residence”.
I believe it’s since 2012 when licences in the EU were aligned.
My understanding is that training to take the driving test, and doing it, in France is quite expensive. Over a 1000€, at least one person told me here. Is this not at all the case?
For people who have never driven in their lives nor done any theory, yes. You have to pass the theory (‘le code’) then have 20 or more lessons. Someone who already has a licence from another country would just need to learn the theory and possibly have a refresher session an hour long to get used to French expectations.
Hi Kim, is it correct that I must already reside in France to be admitted to this FB group? When I tried to request admittance last week it indicated that some sort of proof of French residency (posts, photos etc) would be required. I’m trying to prepare for a move to France, including getting a license in an exchange state (CO), and would like to join this FB group to be sure I get all the steps right. If that’s possible I would be most grateful!
Hi Kaysera, yes as I have so many people apply to join who never turn up.
However, I also run a general Driving in France group which you are eligible and welcome to join. It has the basic info you need. Questions can also be asked if you don’t find what you need.
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Ah, that makes sense. I just applied for the appropriate group. Thank you so much for all you’re doing to help ease the stress and confusion around this element of relocating!
Hi Chris!
Quick update on D-day (last year) I received my French license in April 2026, after translating my fresh Oklahoma and New Jersey drivers license & some other documents in August 2026. Albeit, the French drivers license doesn’t allow me to rent a car for the first two years, and some other restrictions on a scooter I wanted to buy, I’d like to say IT WAS COMPLETELY WORTH IT! Exchange it if you can! Will save you thousands of euros and having to deal with driving school! Thanks to everyone for the info and encouragement! 15/10 recommend!!
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hi Roger, I also had a weird error pop up at the last minute in ANTS, it asked for more documentation (automated message when they manually reviewed my exchange request file) I logged in and there were no other documents to submit, literally nothing else that they asked for so I had my partner just resend proof of address (utility bill update, since it was months that had elapsed) and then my request was approved and two weeks later I sent my Oklahoma license in the mail and received my French license about a month after that. So needless to say, definitely keep an eye out for the automated emails and check up on your submission often, in case of buggy errors or whatever
Just got my French license today after switching from NY to CT after my arrival in France
Due to emergency surgery we ended up not being able to change the paperwork for the CT license before we left for France.
Here was our timeline if it helps anyone else.
April arrived in France
September went back to the US and changed our NY to CT DL
February applied for French license
Mid June received request for CT and mailed in and received the French License a couple weeks later
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Wow you were very lucky that they missed the fact that you left the country and changed to a different state after you had validated your visa.
I have seen many of these rejected over the years.
Good news.
Perhaps they could see I had an application that didn’t go through before I moved. I had legally changed my address before the move just didn’t change the license.