Licence suspension for speeding in France: from when
Two authorities can suspend a licence for speeding: the prefect, at once, and the court, later. Their thresholds and maximum lengths differ.
Speeding can lead to two separate suspensions. A court suspension is an additional penalty that article R413-14 of the French Highway Code allows from 30 km/h over the limit, for up to three years, and that article L413-1 allows for the criminal offence of 50 km/h or more over. Only a judge can impose it, if the case goes to court. An administrative suspension belongs to the prefect: article L224-2, in force since 20 August 2026, lets the prefect suspend the licence for up to 6 months when a driver is stopped after speeding by 40 km/h or more, measured by an approved device. Police seize the licence on the spot; the prefect has seventy-two hours to decide, otherwise the licence is returned. Time served counts towards any suspension a court later imposes. Example: 135 km/h measured on a 90 road gives 128 km/h recorded, 38 km/h over: a court suspension is possible, a prefect’s suspension is not.
Standard fine · class 4
€135
3 points · 38 km/h over the limit
| Recorded speed (margin 6.8 km/h) | 128 km/h |
| Reduced, paid within 15 days | €90 |
| Increased, after 45 days | €375 |
| Points deducted | 3 |
| Licence suspension risked | up to 3 years |
| Points back with no new offence | after 3 years |
On a 90 km/h road, fixed camera: penalty by measured speed
| Measured from | Recorded | Fine | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 96 km/h | 91 km/h | €68 | 0 |
| 100 km/h | 95 km/h | €68 | 1 |
| 116 km/h | 110 km/h | €135 | 2 |
| 127 km/h | 120 km/h | €135 | 3 |
| 137 km/h | 130 km/h | €135 | 4 |
| 148 km/h | 140 km/h | offence, €300 (fixed) | 6 |
Checked by Radif Partners · Editorial policy · Method and sources
Who suspends, when, for how long
| Recorded excess | Court suspension | Seizure and prefect (if stopped) |
|---|---|---|
| under 30 km/h | not provided | no |
| 30 to 39 km/h | up to 3 years | no |
| 40 to 49 km/h | up to 3 years | yes, up to 6 months |
| 50 km/h and over (offence) | up to 3 years, no work exemption | yes, up to 6 months |
Just under the 30 km/h threshold, 124 km/h measured on the same 90 road gives 27 km/h recorded over: no suspension is possible. Article L224-2 raises the maximum to one year for other grounds (alcohol, drugs, injury accident, refusing to stop) and doubles it for professional passenger-transport drivers.
Does my speeding mean a suspension?
Court suspension
up to 3 years
| Licence seized if stopped | yes, 72 h then up to 6 months (prefect) |
| Recorded speed | 122 km/h |
| Criminal offence | no |
The procedure after being stopped
The licence is taken in exchange for a seizure notice, which forbids driving. Within seventy-two hours the prefect issues a suspension order, served on the driver, or does nothing, and the licence is returned. The order can be challenged before the administrative court, without suspending its effect. The speeding itself is then tried or settled by the fine; points are taken at that point.
A phone can add to it
Article L224-2 also lets the prefect suspend the licence of a driver stopped with a hand-held phone at the same time as another offence on the list set by decree. See the phone at the wheel page.