Category D Licence for Passenger Transport Drivers 2026: Requirements, Training and Career Paths

The category D licence authorises driving vehicles designed to transport people with more than eight passenger seats (excluding the driver), namely city buses, intercity coaches and tourist coaches. It is a demanding professional licence, regulated by the French Highway Code and supplemented by a mandatory qualification (initial CQC then periodic CQC) that makes it a fully regulated profession. In 2026, demand remains strong: RATP, Keolis, Transdev, RegionalCar, FlixBus and SNCF (formerly OuiBus, now BlaBlaCar Bus) are recruiting continuously to handle retirements and the development of long-distance coach networks.

Age requirements and prior licences

The minimum age for the category D licence is set at 24 in the standard case. However, it can be obtained from age 21 if the candidate also holds the initial Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CQC, known in France as FIMO Voyageurs), provided they only operate on regular routes whose length does not exceed 50 km until age 23. From age 23 onwards, the holder can drive on any service. This 21-year-old derogation only applies within a complete vocational training programme: the licence alone is not enough.

The candidate must hold a valid category B licence. They must also pass a medical examination performed by a doctor approved by the prefecture, who checks vision, hearing, cardiovascular fitness and the absence of any contra-indication to driving heavy vehicles carrying the public. This examination must be renewed every five years before age 60, then every two years, then yearly from age 76. A clean criminal record (B2 extract) is generally required by employers, even though the law does not formally impose it.

The two training paths: 105 hours or 280-hour Professional Title

The classic category D training programme consists of a minimum of 105 hours, divided between a heavy-vehicle-specific theory exam (ETG if not validated within the last five years), off-road driving and on-road driving. This route suits candidates already experienced behind the wheel or self-funding their training. The average price at a specialised driving school is 3500 to 5000 euros for this short formula, not including the initial CQC for passenger transport which is added afterwards.

The route favoured by jobseekers and career-changers is the Professional Title of Public Road Transport Driver, delivered by AFTRAL, Promotrans and the regional GRETAs. This 280-hour programme (about eight weeks full-time) integrates the category D licence, the initial CQC and the level-3 RNCP title. Total cost ranges from 5000 to 7000 euros but is very often fully covered by France Travail (formerly Pole emploi), a Regional Council or a sectoral OPCO under a POEI agreement signed with a transport operator. It is the royal path to enter the profession.

Initial and periodic CQC: the mandatory professional qualification

The initial CQC for passenger transport (140 hours) is mandatory to work professionally. It is built into the Professional Title but must be paid for separately (around 2500 euros) if you choose the 105-hour training. Once on the job, the driver must complete a 35-hour periodic CQC every five years to keep their right to drive in public transport. Without the initial CQC or with an expired periodic CQC, you can no longer work, even with a valid category D licence.

Career paths and recruiting companies

The public transport sector employs around 100 000 drivers in France. The main recruiters are RATP in Paris (direct permanent contracts, paid in-house training), Keolis and Transdev which operate the urban networks of most major cities (Lyon TCL, Bordeaux TBM, Rennes STAR, etc.), intercity coach companies such as FlixBus and BlaBlaCar Bus, and regional networks operated under public service delegation. SNCF also recruits coach drivers for its rail-replacement lines. The tourism sector (Cars Verts, the former Eurolines) offers more seasonal jobs but with long, international routes.

Entry-level salary is generally between 1850 and 2100 euros gross per month, coefficient 140V of the National Collective Agreement for Road Transport. Bonuses (amplitude, split shift, Sunday, night) add on average 200 to 400 euros per month depending on the schedule. RATP applies its own internal pay scale, more favourable, with a near-railway-worker status (special pension scheme, thirteenth-month bonus, strong works council). After a few years, internal moves toward team leader, driving trainer or network inspector become available.

Our advice to pass the category D licence

If you are a jobseeker or in career transition, contact a France Travail adviser and AFTRAL or Promotrans to switch to the Professional Title of Public Road Transport Driver with full funding. It is the fastest, best-funded path and the one most likely to lead to a permanent contract. Favour centres that have direct agreements with operators (POEI), as they often hire you onto their network straight after training. Check beforehand that you are medically fit: the prefecture-approved doctor visit costs about 36 euros and avoids engaging in a training programme you could not validate. Source: Service-Public.fr and AFTRAL.