Driving Schools in France Protest Severe Shortage of License Exam Slots

On September 29, 2025, driving schools across France staged a national protest, rallying against the critical shortage of driving license examination slots. The demonstration, anticipated to witness around 3,000 vehicles converging in Paris, aimed to bring attention to the long wait times that candidates face, with some reporting delays of up to eight months, especially in urban areas like Île-de-France.

The current bottleneck is largely attributed to the insufficient number of driving examiners, with fewer than 1,500 inspectors available for approximately 1.4 million candidates, a situation that the industry believes requires urgent reforms. Leaders within the sector are advocating for the hiring of an additional 150 to 200 examiners to help alleviate the backlog. Many students are financially burdened, with costs for additional driving lessons ranging from €50 to €60, on top of average training fees of €1,800 for traditional schools and €1,100 for online courses.

Surveys indicate that 64% of young people aged 18 to 24 find it challenging to secure an appointment for their driving tests. Proposals to address these issues include reducing mandatory driving hours before testing and creating a retake system for candidates who fail. With a national pass rate hovering just above 50%, calls for reform are becoming more urgent, reflecting widespread frustration among aspiring drivers and driving school operators alike.