France bans powerful cars for new drivers, rolls out blue licence cards

From mid‑July 2026, France’s Ripost law will prohibit drivers in the probationary period – three years after a standard licence, two years after supervised driving – from operating vehicles classified as too powerful. Violations can lead to up to one year in prison and a €15,000 fine, while rental firms or employers that provide such cars to probationary drivers face fines of up to €1,500. The exact power threshold has not yet been set; a detailed decree is expected in autumn 2026.

Separately, France is replacing the long‑standing pink paper driving licence with a blue, credit‑card‑size plastic version. Holders of the pink licence must exchange it by 19 January 2033, after which the old document will be invalid and may incur fines ranging from €11 to €135 and possible vehicle immobilisation. The new card, already used across most of the EU and the United States, is free, can be linked to a smartphone, and allows online checking of remaining points.