France faces long driving‑licence exam delays and new CPF funding rules

From 20 February 2026, the French personal training account (CPF) will only finance light‑vehicle licences (categories A1, A2, B1, B) for jobseekers registered with France Travail and employees who receive at least €100 of co‑financing. A decree caps the amount at €900 and adds a €150 flat contribution per dossier, except for the eligible groups.

A recent Ornikar study shows that waiting times for the practical driving‑licence exam vary widely by department, reaching up to 172 days in Côtes d’Armor and a median of 76 days nationwide. The number of candidates rose 15 % since 2019, driven by post‑COVID disruptions and the lowering of the minimum age to 17. Trade unions and the SNICA‑FO syndicate demand urgent recruitment of inspectors; the administration has proposed 47 additional contract examiners up to 2027.

Candidates adopt various tactics to secure earlier slots: relocating to departments with shorter queues, enrolling in premium fast‑track courses, using supervised driving periods, and accepting last‑minute cancellations. The minister for citizenship has ordered a report with 27 recommendations, retaining five priorities such as boosting inspector numbers, creating 83 000 extra exam places in 2025, and aiming to cut the median waiting time to 65 days without lowering exam standards or introducing fees for multiple attempts. Gender‑bias training for inspectors is also planned.