driving schools in the regions, the solution to long waiting times

The offer from the Chris Conduite driving school is attractive. A week of quick driving training, staying in a four-star campsite under the Var sun. In this department, two weeks are enough to obtain a place for the B license exam (1). The magic formula allows candidates to escape from endless purgatory. In certain departments – Haut-Rhin, Isère or Sarthe – the wait can last more than three months.

According to the driving school federations, the situation is even more frightening in Île-de-France and in large cities: up to eight months of waiting. To denounce these delays, the monitors invaded the Paris ring road on September 29, horns blaring. Their anger can be heard. In France, the number of candidates has exploded since the minimum age was lowered to 17 on January 1, 2024: there were 1.48 million in 2024, or 8.4% more than in 2023 (2). On the other hand, the number of examiner positions is not increasing. The State announced that it would recruit 108 inspectors and open 80,000 places in driving schools by 2026 (3). “Insufficient”, squeak the managers.

100% driving week

Following the example of Chris Conduite, platforms labeled “Permis en province” or “Flash Permis” therefore promise to obtain your license in less than two weeks. Their secret? Accelerated training in a rural area where there are fewer candidates. “My platform is a partner of around a hundred driving schools in towns with less than 50,000 inhabitants,” says Éric Maillard, CEO of Merci Léon.

The company notifies its customers as soon as a prefecture publishes the examination dates for its department. “We are planning a week of driving lessons just before the event,” continues Éric Maillard. We book train, accommodation and lessons, then the instructor picks up the client at the hotel.”

Learner drivers are sometimes even more satisfied with their stay than with obtaining their license. “The hotel was nice, the rooms very clean, comfortable and easy to access,” writes one Internet user, while another praises his trip to Corsica “in a healthy, positive atmosphere” and “a dream setting.” Aren’t city dwellers afraid of increased packages, between 1000 and 1800 euros? On the contrary, requests are pouring in. The license is priceless.

(1) Driving school study In the car Simone!, 2024.

(2) Road safety, 2024 driving license assessment.

(3) Ministry of the Interior, July 2025.