Take that, French driving test!
Ok, ok, I still have to pass the behind-the-wheel test, but passing le Code sets me forward one. . . great. . . leap.
Winding roads in the French Alps.
Getting a driver’s license in another country is always entertaining because you get to compare and criticize two cultures. Since the readers of this blog are a diverse bunch, I can’t wait to hear your own comparisons and driving experiences.
Getting a French Driver’s license–is it really that hard?
Initially, I spoke with the owner of a driving school who told me it takes foreigners like me between 12 and 18 months (!!!!!) to pass the code here in France. He said the French usually pass after about 5 months of preparation, but it seemed like I kept meeting people who had taken the damn thing 4 times or who had been studying a year with no results.
How can this be? To pass code, you sit in a large room with other candidates and answer a series of 40 questions based on 40 slides, clicking the answers in by remote control. If you do not speak French or if your French is so-so, understanding the questions will be nearly impossible. Each question is timed and you can’t go back and think anything over–the test simply moves on. You can make up to five mistakes and still pass.
Code de la route: not as hard as some would lead you to believe.
I began preparation for the test in mid-October and took many practice tests–which I failed repeatedly and miserably. I let it all slide when my husband had his car accident and picked things up again in mid January. In all, I spent about 4 months prepping. Based on the actual test, I probably should have spent no more than 2-3 months of preparation. Note: this will take longer if you don’t speak French. Unlike in my native state of California, you can’t take this in one of 30 odd languages–French only, folks.
Cows on the road. It happens.
When I took the test, I noticed that the actual questions on the French driving test were nowhere near as hard as the practice questions from the auto école–which kind of makes me mad. I was woefully over-prepared for the exam. I spent a lot of time needlessly studying the minutiae of French driving laws (which most people here obviously and blatantly ignore). I wonder if the difficulty might not be exaggerated as a means of getting you to pay more for classes. . . anyway, something is amiss.
To illustrate my point, here’s one of my ‘favorite’ practice questions for the théorie portion of the French driving test:
If you hit something going 50 km per hour the impact is equivalent to a fall of
A) 30 meters . . . B) 70 meters
OR the fall from
C) the second floor of a building D) the fourth floor of a building.
I admit–I completely fudged the numbers above–I have no idea whatsoever how many stories you’d have to fall to recreate the impact of driving at 50 kmph and was too mesmerized by the insanity of the question to recall the exact answers. Luckily, most of the questions on the actual test had to do with whether or not it is safe to pass, who has the right of way, parking rules etc. You know, situations relevant to actual driving.
In conclusion, I do think that driving laws in France are more complex than in the US–hands down! Still, the test itself does not include any of the ‘trick’ questions the practice tests do. I overheard one woman at the test site today explaining that the recent lack of ‘technical’ and ‘trick’ questions on the test is part of a recent reform. . .
Need to pass the French driver’s license?
I recommend the following should you ever find that you need to get a French driver’s license . . . and should you not be from one of the countries or states with an equivalency set up. (That’s right folks, people from Colorado are home free . . . but Californians prepare yourselves!)
- Don’t even bother with an Auto École. As far as the CODE is concerned, you don’t need their help. Think about it: you can prepare yourself at your own pace with DVD’s at home or with an unlimited number of tests online. Why would you go sit in an uncomfortable classroom with a test and explanation that is likely to be either too fast or too slow?
- Sign up immediately at your local préfécture to take the test en canditat libre. It’s free! The wait period is typically at least 3 months, so sign up and THEN begin to study. The only benefit of signing up with one of these driving schools is that they can help you get a test date sooner–within a month instead of 3 months. If you find yourself ready to take the test and pressed for time, you can always go that route.
- Sign up for a practice account online. I used permisecole.com. No this is not a paid advertisement; I really think they’re a good deal. You can sign up for 3 months of unlimited access for around 30 euros. . .or you can go to an Auto École when it’s convenient for them and pay about 200–300 euros for the same thing.
But how do you pass the driving test??
Once again, I’ve heard plenty of lore about how hard it is (or isn’t) to pass the test. I’ll let you know the truth on that one when I find out. Shortly after I remember how to drive a stick shift. . .
I am SOOOOOO proud of you!!
Despite being French, it took me 4 times to pass the test.
I was 16 and doing Conduite Accompagnée with my father. You might as well try to feel relaxed… walking on nails. He was HELL. I almost got us into an accident with a huge truck on the highway. I bumped into the neighbor’s wall and it left a huge black mark. I made my father lose his insurance bonus.
BUT!
I passed the driving test in 1999. Never got into a car crash.
But it wasn’t thanks to my father.
I learned driving while in the US, because I learned being relaxed and careful.
Good luck with the driving. I hope Hubby is better.
PS: My lover is the best ever… She passed the driving test only once and the Code twice because she has a problem with the boitier that didn’t work properly. But still, she got her licence in just a few months and is a great driver!
Just found your blog recently! After seven years in Germany, you have my sympathies. Oh how I remember. Do they require you to be able to drive a standard as well. Not only is the written German test more difficult than any American test I have ever seen, but the driving test was a killer!!
I’m French too…
I had my driving license on the first try 15 years ago after 28 hours of driving lessons, I don’t know if it was easier at this time…
About the code exam,I remenber too that the actual exam was really easier than all the test whe did at the auto-école
Laura–I’d get the ‘booklet’ if I was changing states too. It’s crazy but there are differences, speed limits, right turn on red and passing on the right are three I can think of just between California, Oregon, Washington and Alaska! Excellent work on the NC license. Incidentally, when my husband needed to get the CA driver’s license upon arriving from France, that’s the technique he used.
Sophie–oooh, I know all about driving under stress and I won’t drive with people who stress me out. It’s dangerous for all involved. I’m glad to know that the French struggle with the code as well. . .I’ll have to see how the driving test goes. It’s reassuring that your partner only had to take driving test once to pass. As for the boitier/remote control not working–I wondered what they do when that happens. They guy running the test today said, “Oh, great, it looks like no ones remote failed.” That would make me mad!
Barb–Welcome. I see you blog on quilting (I’ll have to check that out!). The only time I’ve ever been to Germany was in the airport and I have to say, the Germans at passport control and security strike me as fairly stern! I think I’d be really nervous taking a driving test there. I just read an article in a French magazine or cars and driving about how under the new ‘reforms’ the driving test proctors are to adopt a more ‘cool’ and friendly attitude during the test. The idea is that that decreased stress will allow more people to pass. Oh, AND they now make you chose your own route for a portion of the test. That sounds like a trick to me–and yes, I have to drive a stick shift.
Muriel, welcome! I’m always happy to have French readers stop by. I’m glad to hear that you passed the driving test on the first try, by the way. Since I technically already know how to drive, I’m going to take a few driving classes here in town so that the instructor can show me the route and the ‘traps’ not to fall into. Thanks for stopping by.
I got my first license in a friend’s automatic (drive around the block, easy multiple choice questions), Washington State. Then I managed to trade for first a European and finally Canadian license. No further tests. Now I think its gotten stricter.
PS Congratulations! That was quite an effort and not in your native language.
ET–nice work on the trades! I know that certain States have better exchange systems set up than others. But yes, I can imagine how things would get stricter over time. Thanks for the congratulations–my in-laws were actually rather surprised I passed the first time. Hah!
Congratulations on conquering le Code! And “bonne chance” on the driving test. I still remember my test as an eager 16-year-old Californian, many years ago. I lost 5 points immediately because I forgot my hand signals for indicating right and left turns. I was mortified and promptly drove like an idiot. I passed, but just barely. Ah, good times…
Maus–hah! That California driver’s test. A couple of years ago I had to retake the CA driver’s test because I passed out once and they couldn’t figure out why. i was so afraid that I’d get all nervous and fail the thing! I can see that happening. Glad you passed. I’m picturing a completely freaked out 16 year old. Those DMV people must have some stories to tell.
I first joined an English-language driving school called Fehrenbach Driving School in Suresnes, in Mar 2009, and passed the written test on the first attempt, sometime in mid-July. I appeared for the driving test first in September and then again in the following month. I have since appeared in Jan this year and last month on the 13th, which I passed. I mention all these dates to give you an idea of the time it took me – almost an year! I believe it is good to join a school, take the driving lessons and then appear for the driving test.
Nagesh–I’m taking a few driving classes now. It’s not taking me as long as someone who has never driven, but I do have some very strong habits and reflexes that don’t work here in France–that’s what I have to correct! I’m actually quite glad I’m taking the driving lessons. The instructor is very good at spotting my bad habits and what I’m doing wrong as I drive, while I just feel flustered and think, “Ugh! that doesn’t seem right!”
Hi,
Thanks for the report on the ‘code’ test. I’m another Californian who has been living in France for 3 years (Paris, and now faced with signing up for and taking the test. I rode my motorcycle for about 1-1/2 years and recently found out that my Cal license is no longer recognized as valide due to my resident status. I do have insurance through AXA, but when I read the fine print it was questionable if I would actually be covered in the case of an accident due to the one year validity for a foreign license. I know several other americans who were able to simply exchange their US license for a French one, however I’m not so lucky. I read thatit is possible to use a translator during the test, but seems not very practical if you have only 30 seconds to answer each question. Do you know if you are allowed extra time in that case?
Cheers!
I should say that I did sign up for an auto ecole last year, but have not had time to go to classes. I’ve studied the Rousseau test DVD some. I will now enroll as ‘candidat libre’ and see how I do. When I asked at the prefecture about the wait for the exam, they told me 6 months for the code, and another 8 for the epreuve. I’m hoping with the recent reforms, the wait is much shorter. Having ridden about 18000 km on my moto around Paris in the last 18 mo, it’s hard to believe that the drivers have had any exam, much less a difficult one. Some of my favorite moves are turning left from right lane, incessant tailgating, and suddenly swerving into adjacent lanes (and never signaling)!
Aubrey–for the CODE, the way I took it, there was no extra time. We were in a large room with about 40 people looking at basically a powerpoint presentation/slide show and had to key our answers into a remote. I suppose that if you were using a translator, however, that they would have to also give you a different accommodation for the test–because how could anyone else concentrate with someone talking through the whole thing? I should research the topic.
By the way, I HIGHLY recommend using the online test preparation–particularly if you’re a little stuck with French. You can click a certain button to actually see the test question and the answer explanation in French and pause the whole thing if you want to look up a new word or take notes to learn some new vocabulary. You could even look over that with someone who is bilingual at home . . .I think this topic deserves further research. I’ll look into it–and let me know what you learn!
Aubrey–sorry, I just saw your second comment. I was able to escape the waiting period by signing up with an auto ecole and negotiating that I’d take a few driving classes there if they’d sign me up for a seat at the CODE test sooner than the 3 month wait time required here (Gap is smaller than Paris!). It cost me 30 dollars to sign up with them, but saved me several months–of course, they want to sell you classes. . .so you’ll have to work something out.
As for the driving rules!!! I’m taking driving lessons now and the guy is so nit picky. I just can’t believe how picky and annoying the driving test is here when you see the way people actually drive–although this too may just be an example of the auto ecole making the whole thing seem harder than it is. Like you, my license is expired though, so I have to sign up with the school if I want to practice–so far, it’s ok, I should be able to take the driving test in June. But I’m always appalled at the way people drive here. I don’t even think I’d have the nerve to drive in Paris!
The only thing I have to compare is the difference between getting a drivers license in two states in the US. Everyone in NC thought I was crazy for requesting a booklet to study with. It turned out things were different and I did infact need it. After I was given a book, I passed with flying colors.