Having a zero point permit does not immediately make him invalid in the eyes of the law.
Driving with a balance of zero points on your driving license: Mission Impossible? Not quite. In France, an unknown subtlety of the points withdrawal system allows certain motorists to continue to take the wheel legally … even when their counter displays zero, provided that their license is always valid.
Indeed, the total loss of the points is not enough, by itself, to make an outlaw driver. As long as a specific administrative element does not intervene, no formal prohibition of driving can be opposed. And this is where the key is: it is not the balance of points that is proof, but the reception of a very specific letter.
This is the letter 48SI. This document, sent by registered mail with acknowledgment of receipt, officially notifies the invalidation of the driving license for zero balance. It is only from this date of notification that the motorist loses the right to drive. Before that, even with 0 points, it remains technically in good standing. This period of time between the erasure of the points and the reception of the letter 48SI can sometimes last several weeks. A gray area during which the driver remains authorized to circulate, as long as the administration has not regularized the situation. In the event of road control, the police can consult the national driving license file (FNPC) and note that the balance is zero. It will then be necessary to explain that the letter in question has not yet been sent to you.
But beware: once the mail has been received at home, the driving license is automatically invalidated and you no longer have the right to take the wheel. The permit must then be returned within 10 days to the prefecture. If, however, the motorist continues to take the road, he risks two years in prison and a fine of 4,500 euros with confiscation of the vehicle, according to article L224-16 of the Highway Code.
