Prefectoral approval of driving schools
Mandatory: teaching driving for a fee requires prefectoral approval, granted for renewable five-year periods.
Issued by: The département prefect (French road-traffic code, article L. 213-1)
Driving schools and associations, including for professional licences (heavy goods, passenger transport) and post-licence training.
What this scheme covers
- C.1Operating a driving and road-safety school: compliant premises, instructors holding the teaching authorisation, equipped vehicles.
- C.2Approval per category of instruction delivered (car, motorcycle, heavy-vehicle group…).
- C.3Display, written-contract and administrative obligations monitored by the State.
The link with Qualiopi
Approval authorises the activity; it opens no funding. To offer licences through the CPF, the school must additionally be a declared training organisation, hold Qualiopi and prepare for an eligible exam.
The process, summarised
- 1.Meet the conditions: dedicated premises, authorised instructors, compliant vehicles and teaching resources.
- 2.File the approval request with the prefecture of the département of establishment.
- 3.Renew the approval every five years and declare any change (premises, operator, categories).
FAQ — Driving-school approval
+Is the driving licence CPF-eligible?
Yes, under conditions: licence-exam preparation is eligible when it serves a professional project, with schools meeting funders' requirements, including Qualiopi certification.
+Is approval enough for funded heavy-goods licence training?
No: you need approval for the category, the activity declaration, Qualiopi for funding, and compliance with transport professional-title requirements where applicable.
+Who authorises driving instructors?
Also the prefect: each instructor must hold a valid teaching authorisation, separate from the school's approval.
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