Renewing a VTC or taxi card: every deadline in one place
Three dates not to miss, worked out from the ones printed on your documents.
Checked by Radif Partners · Editorial policy · Method and sources
The French professional driver card, for VTC (private hire) and taxi alike, is valid for 5 years. To renew it you must first complete a 14-hour continuing training course over two days at an approved centre, then apply online and pay about €60 again; service-public asks drivers to start 3 months before the card expires. A VTC operator must also renew their register entry every 5 years under article L3122-3 of the Transport Code, and re-register as soon as a new card arrives. For taxis, the licence (autorisation de stationnement, or ADS) renews automatically, and only a free licence issued since October 2014 has its own term. The calendar above starts from the issue dates of your card and register entry and shows how many days you have left.
Next deadline · 14-hour continuing training course, at the latest
15 December 2026
in 72 days
| 14-hour continuing training course, at the latest | 15 December 2026 | in 72 days |
| Card expiry | 15 March 2027 | in 162 days |
| Register renewal | 2 May 2027 | in 210 days |
The card is valid for 5 years; the 14-hour course must be done before applying to renew, at the latest 3 months before expiry (service-public). For a taxi, the licence (ADS) renews automatically.
The deadlines worked out
| Deadline | Rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Card expiry | 5 years after issue | service-public, F31027 and F21907 |
| Continuing training course | 14 hours, at the latest 3 months before expiry | order of 11 August 2017, service-public |
| VTC register | 5 years after registration, and after each new card | Transport Code, art. L3122-3 |
Why these dates matter
An expired card counts as an invalid card, with the €1,500 fine service-public mentions, and it shows up at once on the online checking service that platforms consult. An expired register entry stops the vehicle from working: since 27 June 2026, operating without a valid entry carries heavy criminal penalties, set out on the VTC register page.
For a taxi driver moving département
Working in another département also requires a course, of 14 hours (35 hours in Paris), then a new card listing the authorised départements, up to 4. That course does not replace the renewal training: they are two separate steps, both covered on the continuing training and renewal page.
Limits
The calendar does not know your prefecture’s processing times and does not override the date printed on your card: if they differ, the card prevails. It does not cover motorbike-taxi (VMDTR) cards, which follow the same renewal cycle.