The Highway Code in 2026: operation
Since the 2016 reform, the Highway Code (officially General Theoretical Exam or ETG) is taken at an approved private center, no longer only at the prefecture. Single price set by regulation: €30 incl. VAT per passage. Duration: 30 minutes for 40 questions. To succeed, you need 35 correct answers minimum (i.e. 5 errors maximum).
In Paris and inner suburbs, several approved operators share the market: La Poste (the most present), SGS Objectif Code, Pointcode, Code n'Go, Dekra, etc. All practice the same rate of €30. The choice is made mainly on location, available slots and center environment.
The main centers in Paris in 2026
La Poste centers (the most numerous)
La Poste operates more than 30 exam centers in inner Paris and inner suburbs. The main ones: Paris Louvre (1st), Paris Bercy (12th), Paris Tolbiac (13th), Paris Convention (15th), Paris Passy (16th), Paris Wagram (17th), Paris Italie (13th), Paris République (11th), Paris Magenta (10th), Paris Madeleine (8th), Paris Châtelet (1st). In inner suburbs: Saint-Denis, Boulogne, Vincennes, Clichy, Neuilly, Gennevilliers.
SGS centers
SGS Objectif Code operates a dozen centers in Paris: Opéra (9th), Saint-Lazare (8th), Montparnasse (14th), Nation (11th), Bastille (4th), Porte d'Orléans (14th). Generally more numerous slots than La Poste, good time flexibility.
Pointcode, Code n'Go, Dekra centers
Fewer but practical to avoid saturation: centers at La Défense, Montparnasse, Gare de Lyon, Gare du Nord. Interesting last-minute if you do not find a slot at La Poste or SGS.
How to register for the code in 2026
Step 1: obtain your NEPH (harmonized prefectural registration number). It is provided by your driving school if you are registered, or to be requested via the ANTS website (agence-nationale-titres-securises.fr) if you are a free candidate. Obtaining time: 2 to 4 weeks.
Step 2: register on the chosen operator website with your NEPH. The most used platforms: labaposte.fr/code, objectifcode.sgs.com, pointcode.fr. Price: €30, paid online. Choose the available center and slot.
Step 3: show up on D-day with a valid identity document (ID card, passport, residence permit) and the summons received by email. Arrive 15 minutes early. Phone prohibited, watch prohibited in some centers.
Delays to obtain a slot in Paris
Delays vary enormously according to seasons and centers. In 2026, here is the average observed: highly demanded La Poste centers (Bercy, Châtelet): 3 to 4 weeks wait. SGS centers: 1 to 2 weeks. Pointcode and Dekra centers: 3 to 7 days. Outside Paris (inner suburbs): slots often available within 48h.
Tip: if you are in a hurry, register on 2-3 platforms and keep the first available slot. You can cancel free up to 24h before in most centers.
Success rate in Parisian centers
The average success rate in France is 72% for the code. In Paris, it is slightly lower (68-70%). The most difficult centers according to candidate feedback: Paris Châtelet (stressful atmosphere, many candidates), Paris Saint-Lazare (same). The calmer centers: Paris Convention, Paris Passy, Paris Wagram, and especially nearby suburb centers.
If you are stressed, favor a center in a nearby suburb: relaxed atmosphere, fewer people, same questions, same price, same result.
Tips to succeed in the code in Paris
Revise 30 minutes per day for 4-6 weeks
The key is not to revise intensively on a weekend but to immerse yourself in the questions daily. Use an online platform (Ornikar, Codes Rousseau, PermiNova) that offers official question series and mock tests.
Focus on Parisian themes
In Paris, questions often concern: ZFE and Crit'Air classes, reserved lanes (bus, taxi, bike), 30 km/h limits and zones 20, temporary signage (very frequent works in Paris), coexistence with two-wheelers. Revise these themes more than others.
Do timed mock tests
30 minutes for 40 questions = 45 seconds per question. It is short. Train in real conditions: at least 10 timed mock tests before showing up at the exam.
Do not neglect the latest regulatory developments
In 2026, several questions concern recent developments: licence at 17, electric scooters, pedestrian area, ZFE. These developments are not always in pre-2024 paper manuals. Favor platforms updated regularly.
Taking the code as free candidate: specifics
If you are not registered at a driving school, you can register for the code as a free candidate. You must first obtain your NEPH via ANTS (ants.gouv.fr site), which takes 2-4 weeks. Once the NEPH received, direct registration on the website of the chosen operator. Total budget for code alone as free candidate: €50 to €100 (online revision platform + €30 exam). Unbeatable.
And after the code?
Once the code obtained, you have 5 years to take the practical licence (within the limit of 5 presentations). No rush but do not drag either: the more you wait, the more you risk losing theoretical reflexes. The ideal is to start the driving phase as soon as the code is validated.
Compare driving schools with code included in Paris
Some driving school packages include the code (revision + exam). DevisPermis.fr identifies Parisian driving schools that offer the best quality/price ratio including code + driving. Request your free quote and optimize your licence path.
Next step
How to get the right support?
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