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The new European driving licence The document is read in two parts: the front indicates who you are and how long the document remains valid (boxes 1 to 8), the back details what you are authorized to drive and since when (boxes 9 to 14). To check if a license is valid, look at box 4b; to find out the driver's actual seniority, look at box 10 on the back, not the date on the front. This 2026 guide explains each box, the restriction codes, and what they mean when driving a luxury car in Switzerland.
The new European driving licence in brief: a common format for 27 countries
Since September 16, 2013, France has issued a driver's license in credit card format, secured by a chip and an engraved photograph. It follows the harmonized model established by Directive 2006/126/EC: regardless of the issuing EU country, the same numbered boxes correspond to the same information. Therefore, a rental agent in Geneva, a gendarme in Annecy, or a police officer in Munich reads the document in exactly the same way.
Three points distinguish this license from the old pink cardboard one:
- he has a administrative validity date (15 years for categories A and B in France), which concerns the document and not your right to drive; ;
- It includes a chip and several anti-fraud features, making it much harder to counterfeit; ;
- All categories and restrictions are codified, for identical reading throughout Europe.
The old paper permits remain valid, but they must all be replaced by the card format by January 19, 2033 at the latest.
How to read the front, panel by panel
The front page contains the holder's identity and information about the document itself. Here is the complete table:
| Case | Content | What you need to check |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Name | Identical to the identity document presented |
| 2 | First name(s) | Concordance with the rental agreement |
| 3 | Date and place of birth | Minimum age required for the vehicle |
| 4a | Date of issue of the title | Card issue date, permit not obtained |
| 4b | Administrative expiry date | Must be after the end of the lease |
| 4c | Issuing authority | In France, the prefecture or the ANTS |
| 5 | License number | The number to be included on all contracts |
| 6 | Photo | Resemblance to the driver |
| 7 | Signature | Comparison with the signing of the contract |
| 8 | Address (optional) | Not listed on French driving licences |
| 9 | Categories held | Presence of category B for a car |
The classic trap of square 4a
Many drivers mistakenly believe the date on the front of their license corresponds to when they first obtained it. This is incorrect as soon as the card has been renewed: loss, theft, change of marital status, or exchange of an old pink license. A driver who obtained their B license in 2004 and renewed it in 2022 will see "2022" in box 4a. For a supercar rental company, which often requires several years of experience, this confusion could lead to an experienced driver being wrongly refused service. The correct information is on the back.
How to read the reverse side: categories, dates and codes
The reverse side is in table format. Each row corresponds to a vehicle category (AM, A1, A2, A, B1, B, C1, C, D1, D, BE, C1E, CE, D1E, DE), and each column bears a number:
- Column 9: the pictogram and the category name; ;
- Column 10: the date of first obtaining this category, this is what proves the seniority of the license; ;
- Column 11: the expiry date specific to the category (often empty for category B in France, filled in for heavy goods vehicles); ;
- Column 12: additional information and restrictions, in the form of codes; ;
- Case 13: entries added by another Member State, for example after an exchange; ;
- Box 14: Management information specific to the country of issue.
Calculate your driving licence seniority in 10 seconds
Take the date of the column 10 on line B and subtract it from today's date. Concrete example: a date of 12.06.2021 in column 10 means, in October 2026, 5 years and 4 months of seniority, even if the card was reissued in 2025. In France, remember that the first 3 years constitute the probationary period (2 years after supervised driving), with an initial allocation of only 6 points.
Codes from column 12 to know before renting a luxury car
Codes from 01 to 99 are European and recognized in all member states; those above 100 are national. Some useful examples:
| Code | Meaning | Impact on a prestige car |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | Vision correction (01.01 glasses, 01.02 contact lenses) | Wearing correction fluid while driving, otherwise it's an offense |
| 70 | Permit obtained by exchanging a foreign license | None, but seniority is always shown in column 10 |
| 78 | Limited to vehicles with automatic transmission | Compatible with almost all current supercars |
| 96 | Trailer up to 4.25 t total weight (B96) | Useful for towing a horse trailer or a boat with an SUV |
The code 78 It deserves clarification: this is common among drivers trained on automatic transmissions. The good news is that recent Porsche 911s, Lamborghini Huracáns, Mercedes-AMGs, and Alpine A110s use automatic or dual-clutch transmissions without a clutch pedal: they therefore drive perfectly well with this code.
Validity of the new European driving licence: 15 years, and a reform is coming soon
Be careful not to confuse two concepts. Your right to drive does not disappear unless you have been suspended or revoked. The date in box 4b only concerns the card itself: when it expires, you simply need to apply for a new one in France on the ANTS website, without having to retake the exam.
Example calculation: a license issued in March 2014 expires in March 2029. Driving beyond this date with an expired license exposes you to a fine, and a rental company will systematically refuse a document in which box 4b is exceeded.
What changes under Directive (EU) 2025/2205
The European Parliament adopted a comprehensive reform on 21 October 2025, published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 5 November 2025 under the name of Directive (EU) 2025/2205. Its main measures:
- an administrative validity of 15 years maximum for cars and motorcycles, which can be reduced to 10 years in countries where the license serves as an identity document; ;
- a digital license on a smartphone, integrated into the European digital identity wallet, with the physical card remaining available on request; ;
- supervised driving from the age of 17 is now widespread, with a probationary period of at least two years for new drivers; ;
- better mutual recognition of driving licence withdrawals between Member States.
States have until November 26, 2028 to transpose the text and apply it from November 26, 2029. Until then, your current permit does not change.
Driving in Switzerland with a European driving licence
Switzerland is not part of the European Union, but it readily recognizes permits issued by its neighbors. Three situations arise:
- If you are just passing through (tourism, business, trade fair): your valid European driving licence is sufficient, no international driving licence is required.
- If you are moving to Switzerland: you can drive with your foreign license for 12 months after establishing residency, then you must exchange it. In Geneva, the exchange costs CHF 150 for a car, depending on the...’Cantonal Vehicle Office.
- You are a cross-border worker: you reside in France, your French permit remains your reference document, even if you work in Geneva or Lausanne.
The Swiss driving licence, also in card format since 2003, uses the same numbering system for the boxes. Note: in Switzerland, drivers must undergo a medical examination every two years from the age of 75. On the roads, speed limits are strict (50 km/h in towns, 80 km/h outside built-up areas, 120 km/h on motorways) and significant speeding offenses are penalized much more severely than in France: yet another reason to enjoy a sports car on Alpine passes rather than on the motorway.
Renting a luxury car in Geneva with a European driving licence
F-Motors Sàrl, a luxury car and supercar rental and subscription agency based in Chavannes-de-Bogis (Canton of Vaud, near Geneva), regularly welcomes drivers with a European driving license. When handing over the keys, the team simply verifies the validity of the license (box 4b), the age of the category B license (column 10), and the driver's identity.
Once these formalities are completed, it's time for fun. For a luxury car rental in Switzerland, The available fleet includes, in particular:
- there Porsche 911 Carrera 4S (450 hp), from CHF 650 per day, or by subscription from CHF 1,800 per month with down payment; ;
- there Lamborghini Huracan Evo Spyder (639 rooms), from CHF 1,750 per day; ;
- there Mercedes-AMG G-Class 63 (585 hp), from CHF 950 per day; ;
- The Alpine A110 S (300 hp), from CHF 350 per day, is ideal for discovering the roads of the Vaud Jura.
Insurance and maintenance are included. Delivery and return are free.’Geneva airport ; Delivery is available elsewhere in Switzerland upon request. Customers residing in France, in Annecy, Thonon or Annemasse, collect their vehicle in Chavannes-de-Bogis or at Geneva-Cointrin airport, and then drive it themselves.
If you settle permanently in the region, the’luxury car subscription in Switzerland The all-inclusive package (comprehensive insurance, taxes, maintenance, summer and winter tires, 2,000 km per month) eliminates the need for registration while you exchange your license. F-Motors is one of the few agencies in Switzerland to offer a PLUS package allowing you to change models four times a year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find the issue date on the new European driving licence?
On the reverse side, column 10, on the line for the relevant category (B for a car). The date on the front (box 4a) only corresponds to the card's printing date.
Is my license valid if box 4b is exceeded?
Your right to drive still exists, but the license is no longer valid: you must apply for a new one before driving or renting a vehicle.
Do you need an international driving permit to drive in Switzerland?
No, a permit issued by a European Union country is sufficient for a stay in Switzerland. A resident must exchange it within 12 months.
Can you rent a supercar with code 78?
Yes, provided that the vehicle does not have a clutch pedal, which is the case for the Porsche, Lamborghini and Mercedes-AMG in the F-Motors fleet.
Looking to get behind the wheel of a luxury car in Geneva? Contact F-Motors at +41 22 558 92 37, by email at contact@f-motors.ch or visit https://www.f-motors.ch. Our team will verify your license in minutes and assist you from booking to key handover.
