The legal age for a driving license will be lowered to 17 years from January 1, 2024, according to a decree published on December 20, 2023 in the Official Journal. Young people aged 17 or over will therefore be able to enroll in a driving school and drive as soon as they obtain their B license next year. This measure, announced in June by Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne, delivers on a government campaign promise.
Unchanged conditions for the probationary license of young drivers
Speed limits on motorways remain set at 110 km/h instead of 130 km/h for novice drivers with less than 2 years of license. The maximum authorized alcohol level does not change and remains at 0.2 g/l of blood compared to 0.5 g/l for other motorists.
The probationary license is valid for 6 points for the first 3 years, instead of 12 points for a classic license. The minimum practical training required is maintained at 20 hours of driving school driving lessons before taking the exam. These measures aim to strengthen road safety for this category of new drivers.
800,000 young people affected by 2024 according to INSEE
This reform, which aims to facilitate the mobility of young people in rural areas poorly served by public transport, should concern around 800,000 young people when it is implemented next year, according to the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. (INSEE).
Theoretical and practical courses can begin at the age of 15, instead of the current age of 16. However, the highway code exam remains mandatory before taking the practical driving license test. Early road learning is thus brought forward by one year.
Accompanied driving accessible from 16 years old
As part of accompanied driving, training can start at the age of 16, i.e. one year earlier than before. It involves 20 hours of practice in a driving school and a year of driving supervised by a guide. However, the practical exam can only take place at the age of 17.
This lowering of the legal driving age to 17 offers new mobility possibilities for young people, particularly those residing in rural areas far from public transport networks. An expected measure which comes into force at the beginning of 2024.
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