France to replace pink driving licenses

France plans to replace its traditional three-panel pink paper driving licenses with a more secure credit card-sized format by January 19, 2033. This change is required by the European directive 2006/126/EC, which mandates that driving licenses meet the ID-1 format as defined by the ISO 7810 standard.

New licenses offer better security and scanning

The new credit card-sized licenses are made of polycarbonate and include an automatic reading zone (MRZ), allowing law enforcement to scan the document in under 0.5 seconds. This enables quick checks against national and European databases such as RESPER or EUCARIS, improving efficiency and accuracy in verification.

Old licenses will no longer be valid after 2033

Although the pink paper licenses will remain legally valid until January 19, 2033, using them after that date could lead to fines between 135 and 750 euros if not replaced. The transition aims to modernize the system and reduce issues caused by the fragility and poor readability of the older licenses.

New licenses require a photo but no exams

The new credit card-sized licenses have an administrative validity of 15 years for standard categories, meaning holders must renew the physical document periodically but without retaking exams. Replacement is currently free through the official portal, though users must pay for a high-resolution ePhoto taken by an approved professional.

ANTS faces a large administrative challenge

The National Agency for Secure Titles (ANTS) is expected to handle between 10 and 30 million license replacements, which could strain its systems if there is a surge in applications near the deadline. This may lead to delays in processing and issuing the new licenses.