You lose your driver’s license on a Friday night, and by Monday morning, a vehicle rental form or an administrative procedure requires the issuance date. The laminated document has disappeared, along with that line in small print that no one ever takes a photo of. The good news: this date is still recorded in the administration’s files, and it can be retrieved without going to the prefecture.
Online Service My Points License: Access the issuance date of the license online
The first reflex after a loss is the My Points License website, managed by Road Safety. It’s mainly thought of for checking one’s points balance, but this online service provides access to a much more useful document in this situation: the secure driving rights certificate (ADCS).
This certificate mentions the license number, the categories obtained, and the issuance date. To access it, you log in with FranceConnect (Ameli, tax, or La Poste credentials). The document is downloadable in PDF format, ready to be presented to a rental agency or attached to a file.
Specifically, knowing where to find the issuance date of the driver’s license prevents delays in obtaining a duplicate or renting a car. The ADCS serves as a temporary proof recognized by most organizations.
One point to note: the certificate includes a verifiable QR code, making it difficult to forge. For this reason, vehicle rental companies increasingly accept it instead of the physical license while waiting for the duplicate to arrive.
Complete License Record: The document that contains the entire history
If the ADCS is not sufficient (for example, an employer checking the license’s seniority), you can request the complete information record. This document summarizes the entire history: the date of obtaining each category, point withdrawals and restorations, and any suspensions.
The request is made by mail to the prefecture of the residence department, or via the national driver’s license file. Response times vary on this point depending on the prefectures: some respond within a few days, while others take several weeks.
What the complete record contains
- The initial issuance date of the license and that of each added category (A, B, C, etc.)
- The complete history of points (withdrawals, recoveries, courses)
- Any administrative or judicial decisions (suspension, cancellation, invalidation)
This record is strictly personal. You cannot request it for a third party, even a family member. A copy of an identity document must be attached to the request.
Request for a duplicate on the ANTS website after losing the license
The process of replacing a lost license must go through the ANTS website (National Agency for Secure Titles). You start by creating an account or logging in via FranceConnect, then select the “loss or theft” procedure.
The declaration of loss and the request for a new license are done in a single online procedure. There is no need to first go to the police station to report the loss: everything is consolidated on the platform.
Documents to prepare before starting the process
- A compliant digital identity photo (taken in an approved booth or via a certified app)
- A proof of residence dated within the last six months
- A copy of a valid identity document
Once the request is validated, you receive a receipt in PDF format. This receipt serves as a temporary driving right and remains valid during the production of the new title, provided it is presented with an identity document.
The new license arrives in card format at home. Note: the issuance date recorded on the duplicate will be that of the new title’s production, not the initial issuance date. To prove the seniority of your license (a requirement by some rental companies or insurers), it is indeed the ADCS or the complete record that should be used.
Digital driver’s license via France Identité: Anticipate the next loss
Since the gradual rollout of the France Identité application, you can integrate your dematerialized driver’s license into your phone. The app displays the official data of the title: number, categories obtained, and issuance date.
The benefit is twofold. In case of loss of the physical license, the information remains accessible on the phone. And in the long run, this digital license could serve as proof during checks or procedures, without needing to urgently order a duplicate.
Mandatory replacement of old pink licenses
Licenses in the old pink cardboard format must be replaced with a card format before January 19, 2033. This deadline directly depends on the issuance date recorded in the national file. If you have lost your old pink license and do not know its issuance date, the ADCS downloadable online remains the fastest way to retrieve it.
The European directive 2025/2205 also stipulates that future licenses will no longer be issued for life: each renewal will include an aptitude assessment. The issuance date will become a central reference for knowing when to renew your title, well beyond just the case of loss.
The reflex to adopt right now: download your ADCS and store it in a secure space (digital safe, encrypted cloud). When the physical license disappears, you have the information at hand in seconds, without relying on the response time of a prefecture.
