In short. A French driving school displays its approval number on commercial documents and advertising, including online advertising, subject to the directory exception.
Definition: A French driving school's approval number identifies its prefectural authorization to operate. It must appear on commercial documentation and advertising; the advertising rule covers every medium, including online material, and expressly excepts directories.
Key facts
- As of October 2026, the DGCCRF's driving-school guidance states that the approval number must appear on the school's documentation and advertising.
- Article 3 of the order of 19 June 1987 requires advertisements, except directories, to include the establishment's name, address and prefectural approval number, whatever the medium.
- Service Public's business guidance expressly requires the number on commercial or advertising documents.
- Article 8 of the order of 9 February 2026 lists the approval number among the information recorded in the prefectural order granting approval.
Where should the number appear on a website?
The DGCCRF guidance says that an advertisement must contain the school's name, address and approval number. Article 3 of the 1987 order applies that requirement regardless of the medium used.
A practical application is to include these details on pages advertising driving lessons and in standalone online advertisements. A reusable website template can display the required identity information as follows, with each placeholder replaced by the school's actual details:
<p>
Auto-école : [nom de l'établissement]<br />
Adresse : [adresse de l'établissement]<br />
Agrément préfectoral : [numéro figurant sur l'arrêté]
</p>
Article 3 specifies the information an advertisement contains without prescribing a particular website location, such as a footer or legal-notice page. Its directory exception concerns directories, while the general rule covers advertising across media. The same article also requires the precise description, duration and tax-inclusive price when an advertisement refers to individual services.
Which business documents carry the number?
Service Public states the obligation in terms of commercial or advertising documents. For an online document review, this makes downloadable commercial brochures part of the material to examine.
Article 4 of the 1987 order requires schools to provide documentation on the relevant licence category to anyone requesting it. That documentation includes the establishment's name, address and prefectural approval number. It also contains the services' content and duration, the offer's validity period, and the conditions for training, examinations and the creation and return of the learner's file. A brochure supplied electronically should retain those required particulars.
How is the displayed number checked?
Article 8 of the 2026 order provides the reference document: the prefectural approval order records the approval number, business identity, premises and licence categories taught. Comparing the website and its commercial documents with that order is a practical way to check the identifier used.
For businesses with several premises, the same article provides for a list of additional premises in the order. Article 11 allows an operator to use several premises within the same department under the specified declaration procedure. Article 9 also requires the approval order to be visibly displayed at the premises.
Related terms
FAQ
Can I put the number only on the legal-notice page?
For advertising, Article 3 of the 1987 order requires the advertisement itself to contain the name, address and approval number. A practical implementation is to include those details within each advertising page or standalone advertisement.
Does the obligation extend to downloadable brochures?
Service Public requires the approval number on commercial or advertising documents. Include it in a downloadable brochure presenting your school's commercial offer.
Where can I find the number to reproduce?
Article 8 of the 2026 order requires the prefectural approval order to record it. Use your school's current order to check the number and the premises covered.
Sources
- DGCCRF, "Auto-école", 30 June 2022
- Légifrance, "Arrêté du 19 juin 1987 relatif à la publicité des prix des prestations d'enseignement de la conduite des véhicules", Articles 3 and 4, consolidated text updated 1 March 1996
- Service Public Entreprendre, "Ouvrir et gérer une auto-école", consulted October 2026
- Légifrance, "Arrêté du 9 février 2026 relatif à l'enseignement de la conduite des véhicules à moteur et de la sécurité routière", consolidated text updated 16 February 2026
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