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Swapping a foreign licence now carries a €40 charge

From 12 May 2026 · updated 7 July 2026

Exchanging a non-EU licence for a French one now carries a €40 stamp duty for the first time. The good news for most British drivers: you probably don't need to swap in the first place.

What changed

The licence exchange, done through the ANTS portal, now carries a €40 stamp duty. It was free before 12 May 2026. The process itself is unchanged — it's the fee that's new.

Do you even need to swap?

For most British residents, no. Thanks to the UK–France licence agreement, a pre-2021 UK photocard is generally fine to keep driving on in France until it expires. You only get pulled into the exchange (and therefore the fee) if:

  • your licence is lost, stolen or damaged;
  • it's expiring or you've turned an age that shortens its validity;
  • you've committed a driving offence that requires a French licence; or
  • your licence was issued after 1 January 2021 under post-Brexit rules.

What to actually do

Check the issue date on your photocard. If it's pre-2021 and not close to expiry, do nothing — keep driving, keep the €40. If one of the triggers above applies, budget the fee and start the ANTS exchange in good time, because it isn't a fast process.

Our take

Most Brits don't need to swap at all — a pre-2021 UK licence is fine to keep driving on. This only matters if you're actually going through the exchange (points, expiry, a lost card, or a post-2021 licence). Check your issue date before you do anything.

Sources & where to check

service-public.fr — exchanging a foreign licence

Pimpernel explains what changes mean in practice. It isn't legal, tax or immigration advice — for your own situation, check the official source above or speak to a qualified professional.

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