Driving license: department by department, what is the waiting time to obtain a place for the practical test ?

Le budget du permis de conduire s’élève à 1 234 euros, contre 1 151 euros en 2016. MAXPPP – © Vincent Isore/IP3

On average, the time it takes to obtain a place for the practical driving test is 5 and a half weeks in France. It may vary from one department to another. What about Occitanie?

A study of the online driving school, En Voiture Simone, published in April 2024 and cited by the site Capital, reveals that out of the 60 departments observed, the average time to obtain a place for the practical driving license test is around 5 and a half weeks. But this average hides strong inequalities from one territory to another. Within the same region, waiting times can vary from 2 to 12 weeks, noted the dematerialized driving school.

Up to 12 weeks wait

In Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur (PACA), students obtain an exam place in just 2 weeks in the Alpes-Maritimes, Var and Vaucluse, while in Bouches-du-Rhône, they have to wait almost 12 weeks.

In the Grand Est, delays vary a lot. It is therefore necessary to allow 2 weeks in Aube, Moselle and Marne then 4 weeks in Bas-Rhin and Meurthe-et-Moselle but 12 weeks in Haut-Rhin.

Similarly in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, where you only have to wait 2 weeks in Drôme and Savoie, one month in Puy-de-Dôme, 6 weeks in Loire, but 10 weeks in Rhône and 12 weeks in Isère.

In the Pays de la Loire also, the differences range from 2 to 12 weeks depending on the departments.

In Hauts-de-France and Nouvelle Aquitaine, waiting times vary from 2 to 8 weeks and within other regions: Occitanie, Normandy, Burgundy Franche-Comté, Centre-Val-de-Loire and Île-de-France, "the economic situation is more lenient with delays not exceeding six weeks", note En Voiture Simone.

Few inspectors available

These large differences are mainly explained by the number of inspectors available. The other reasons are the availability of the candidate, that of the teacher and the choice of the examination center. But also the lowering of the legal minimum age to take the B license to 17 years since January 1, 2024. Which has led to an influx of " new candidates without the number of inspectors having increased and an extension of deadlines in many departments, explains the auto -school.

Long waiting times which can weigh on the budget of learner drivers. "Some people get an exam date easily. Others have to wait several months and therefore find themselves forced to add additional driving hours to their training, which generates a considerable additional cost", says Edouard Rudolf, founder of En Voiture Simone.

According to a study by the digital driving school network Le Permis Libre published in October 2023 and cited by Mercipourl&rsquo ;info, the average price of basic training combining the code, 20 hours of driving and registration fees is ;rsquo;rises at 1 234 euros, compared to 1 151 euros in 2016 (Insee).