How to Get a Category D1 Driving Licence in France?

France's D1 license validity drops sharply after 60, from a comfortable 5-year cycle to just 1 year at a time. Notably, if you've held Category B for less than 5 years, you're exempt from retaking the theory test for D1. This piece covers what D1 authorizes, the professional training shortcut to 18, and the steep age-related change in validity.

What Category D1 covers

D1 authorizes vehicles for transporting people with no more than 16 seats in addition to the driver (17 total, including the driver) and a maximum length of 8 meters. You can also tow a trailer with a maximum authorized total towing capacity (PTAC) of up to 750 kg.

Minimum age

You need to be 21 to sit the D1 exam. Exceptions exist through professional driver training (CAP, professional baccalaureate, FIMO, or a professional title), which can lower this to 18, or if your job specifically requires it.

You need Category B first

You can't sit the D1 exam unless you already hold a Category B license.

A genuine shortcut if you passed Category B recently

This is useful to know before you start preparing. If you've held Category B for less than 5 years, you're exempt from retaking the general theory test (the code) for D1, a genuine time and cost saving.

Nationality and residency requirements

• If you're French and under 25, you need to be in order regarding your citizen registration (JDC, Journée Défense et Citoyenneté)
• If you're a foreign national, you need to have lived in France for at least 6 months and hold a valid residence permit
• Swiss, Andorran, Monegasque, or EEA nationals need at least 6 months of personal or professional ties in France

Medical requirements

You need a favorable medical opinion from an approved doctor during your health examination.

Applying online through ANTS

Your driving license application is submitted online through the ANTS (Agence nationale des titers sécurisés) website, where you can also register yourself directly for the exam and track the manufacture and dispatch of your finished license.

The temporary certificate after passing

Once you pass, you should request a new license that includes your D1 category as soon as possible. In the meantime, your Certificat de Réussite à l'Examen du permis de conduire (CRC), combined with an identity document, serves as a valid driving license for 4 months from your exam date, and you can present it as a hard copy or directly on your phone if stopped.

Checking your practical exam results

After your practical test, the examiner doesn't tell you the result on the spot; you check it online 48 hours after the exam.

Automatic transmission

As with other EU-aligned systems, testing on an automatic-transmission vehicle typically restricts the resulting license to automatic machines only.

The steep validity drop after 60

This detail matters. D1 is valid for 5 years if you're under 55. Between 55 and 60, it's valid for 5 years or until your 60th birthday, whichever comes first. From 60 onward, validity drops to just 1 year at a time, requiring more frequent medical renewal.

Renewing your D1

Renewal requests are made online through ANTS before your current license expires and require a fresh medical examination.

Where D1 sits in France's licensing system

Above D1, full Category D covers buses and coaches carrying more than 8 passengers, with no upper limit, for professional drivers.

The 2024 reform lowering Category B to 17

Worth knowing as context: since January 2024, France lowered the minimum age for Category B to 17, a really popular reform, with around 290,000 17-year-olds taking the exam and a notably higher 73% pass rate compared with 58% across all ages combined.

Tips that actually help

• If you've held Category B for under 5 years, remember you're exempt from the D1 theory test.
• Weigh the professional training route (CAP, bac pro, FIMO) if you want to start D1 at 18 rather than waiting until 21.
• Keep your CRC handy for the four months after passing, while your physical license is being produced.
• Plan renewal timing carefully once you pass 60, since validity shortens to just 1 year at a time.

Where this fits going forward

D1 in France offers a genuine, well-structured route into passenger transport, with real shortcuts for recent Category B holders and younger candidates in professional training. If your plans involve professional driving down the line, take a look at the driver section, browse current vacancies, see which employers are hiring on FastDriver.eu, and explore our broader job guides. Our driving license in France and license eligibility pages cover the broader picture.

Declaration

This article is provided for general information only and does not constitute legal or professional advice. Fees, training requirements, and administrative rules can change. Always confirm current requirements with official French sources, such as Service-Public.fr, before making decisions. FastDriver.eu accepts no liability for decisions made based on this information.