Free Practice Questions for Permis D (Voyageurs)

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Key Facts: Permis D (Voyageurs) Exam

0.20 g/l

Driver Alcohol Limit (0.10 mg/l breath)

Code de la route Art. R. 234-1

100 km/h

Max Motorway Speed (with 100 km/h mention)

Code de la route Art. R. 413-8

> 16 pts

Plateau Passing Score (strictly > 16)

Arrêté du 23 avril 2012

12 days

Max Tour Weekly Rest Postponement

Regulation (EC) No 561/2006 Art. 8(6a)

French Permis D authorizes driving passenger transport vehicles with more than 8 seats besides the driver. The state examination under Arrêté du 23 avril 2012 consists of an off-road plateau test (30 minutes, including a 10-question written interrogation on passenger themes requiring min 5/10 to avoid elimination, safety checks of doors and emergency exits, oral fiches, and reverse maneuvering, requiring strictly >16 points) followed by an on-road circulation test (60 minutes, min 17/28 points). Tested topics include passenger seat-belt duties, EAD interlock operation, school bus transport rules, PMR wheelchair securing, RSE 12-day international derogation, and autocar speed limits.

Sample Permis D (Voyageurs) Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to review concepts for the Permis D (Voyageurs) exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Under Article R. 412-1 of the French Code de la route, from what age is wearing a seat belt mandatory for passengers in a coach (autocar) equipped with seat belts?

A.From 10 years old

B.From 3 years old

C.From 6 years old

D.From 12 years old

Explanation: Article R. 412-1 of the Code de la route specifies that seat-belt wearing is mandatory for all occupants aged 3 years and older in coaches equipped with seat belts. Children under 3 years of age are exempt from mandatory belt wearing if no suitable child restraint system is fitted.

2What is the coach driver's mandatory legal obligation regarding passenger seat belts prior to departure?

A.Inform passengers of the mandatory requirement to wear seat belts via verbal announcement, video, or pictograms

B.Personally inspect and physically buckle every passenger's seat belt before releasing the handbrake

C.Request written signed waivers from passengers who choose not to wear their seat belts

D.Collect identity cards from all passengers who refuse to fasten their seat belts

Explanation: Under Article R. 412-1-1 of the French Code de la route, the driver or transport operator must inform passengers of their legal obligation to fasten seat belts. This briefing can be fulfilled by a verbal announcement, an onboard audiovisual presentation, or standardized pictograms clearly visible at each passenger seat.

3Who bears individual criminal liability if a 16-year-old passenger fails to wear a seat belt on a coach in France?

A.The coach carrier company exclusively

B.The driver alone, who incurs a 3-point licence penalty

C.The passenger personally, who is liable for a 4th-class contravention fine

D.The roadside inspection officer who failed to warn the passenger

Explanation: Under French law, passengers aged 13 and older are personally criminally responsible for failing to wear their seat belt and incur a 4th-class contravention (flat fine of €135). The driver cannot have licence points deducted for an adult or teenage passenger's non-compliance, provided the informational obligation was fulfilled.

4What are the mandatory minimum portable fire extinguisher requirements for a standard single-deck coach in France?

A.One 1 kg powder extinguisher located in the exterior luggage compartment

B.Two 9-liter foam extinguishers stored exclusively under the passenger seats

C.One 2 kg carbon dioxide extinguisher placed on the coach roof rack

D.At least one 2 kg extinguisher near the driver and one 6 kg extinguisher in the passenger cabin

Explanation: Under the Arrêté du 2 juillet 1982 relative to public passenger transport, standard coaches must be equipped with at least two extinguishers: one 2 kg extinguisher within immediate reach of the driver's station and at least one 6 kg extinguisher located in the passenger cabin (or near the middle/rear emergency door).

5During the daily pre-trip inspection (vérifications courantes de sécurité), how should the driver verify the validity of an onboard fire extinguisher?

A.Discharge a test burst of powder to verify internal nozzle pressure

B.Check that the pressure gauge is in the green zone, the safety pin and seal are intact, and the inspection label is within its annual validity date

C.Weigh the extinguisher using a bathroom scale and record the weight on the tachograph disc

D.Submerge the cylinder in water to verify that there are no micro-leaks around the valve

Explanation: Checking an onboard extinguisher during safety checks requires a visual inspection: the pressure needle must be within the green operating zone, the tamper-evident lead seal and safety pin must be intact, and the periodic maintenance sticker must demonstrate inspection within the preceding 12 months.

6What is the primary function of the emergency glass-breaking hammer (marteau brise-vitre) installed in passenger coaches?

A.To shatter toughened safety glass emergency windows marked 'Issue de secours' in an evacuation

B.To cut seat belts and pry open damaged luggage bay doors

C.To break the laminated front windscreen during high-speed collisions

D.To loosen jammed wheel nuts during roadside tire replacements

Explanation: Emergency hammers are pointed tools designed to strike and shatter toughened safety glass (verre trempé / Sécurit) side windows designated as emergency exits (issues de secours), breaking them into small blunt granules. They cannot shatter laminated glass windscreens.

7Where must emergency glass-breaking hammers be positioned inside a passenger coach?

A.Locked inside the driver's private glove box for security

B.Stored in the rear luggage bay alongside the spare tire

C.Mounted adjacent to each designated emergency window in clearly marked, accessible brackets

D.Stored beneath the rearmost passenger seat cushion

Explanation: Safety regulations mandate that emergency hammers must be visibly mounted immediately adjacent to designated emergency windows. They must be easily accessible to passengers, often equipped with an audible anti-theft alarm cable to prevent pilferage while remaining instantly usable.

8Under French vehicle construction standards, what is the minimum number of emergency roof hatches (trappes d'évacuation de pavillon) required on a coach carrying more than 30 passengers?

A.None, provided side emergency windows are present

B.At least 4 hatches

C.Exactly 1 central hatch

D.At least 2 hatches

Explanation: ECE Regulation 107 and French public transport standards require that coaches carrying more than 30 passengers must be equipped with at least 2 roof escape hatches. These hatches serve as critical escape routes in the event of a rollover where side doors and windows may be blocked.

9How does the exterior emergency door release control (commande extérieure de secours) function on a coach?

A.It cuts the engine ignition and deploys the vehicle's retarder

B.It vents the pneumatic pressure holding the passenger door closed, allowing it to be pushed open manually

C.It automatically detonates explosive hinge bolts to blow the door off the vehicle

D.It locks the door permanently from the outside to prevent unauthorized entry

Explanation: The exterior emergency door control (usually a pneumatic valve or pull handle located near the entrance doors) dumps compressed air from the door actuators. Once depressurized, the mechanical lock is released and rescue personnel can push the doors open manually.

10If an engine bay fire warning illuminates while driving an autocar on a motorway, what is the driver's immediate sequence of actions?

A.Pull over onto the hard shoulder or emergency refuge, immobilize the vehicle, switch off the engine, activate hazard lights, and evacuate passengers behind the safety barrier

B.Accelerate to the next motorway service station 15 km away to use their commercial fire hose

C.Keep driving while deploying the auxiliary retarder and instruct passengers to open all roof hatches

D.Stop immediately in the active center lane, set up a warning triangle 100 meters back, and dismantle the engine cover

Explanation: Upon an engine fire alarm, the driver must immediately pull over to a safe location (hard shoulder or refuge area), apply the parking brake, shut down the engine to cut fuel delivery, activate hazard lights, and direct passengers to evacuate calmly behind the protective guardrail before attempting containment.

About the Permis D (Voyageurs) Exam

Category D of the French driving licence authorises driving motor vehicles designed and constructed for the carriage of more than 8 passengers in addition to the driver (buses and coaches), to which a trailer not exceeding 750 kg may be coupled. Governed by the Arrêté du 23 avril 2012, the examination is conducted by an IPCSR and comprises a 30-minute off-road plateau test (incorporating a 10-question written interrogation drawn from 8 official passenger-transport themes, comprehensive passenger and emergency equipment inspections, an oral safety fiche interrogation, and precision reverse maneuvering) followed by a 60-minute on-road circulation test. Candidates must hold a valid category B licence and be at least 24 years old, or 21 with FIMO Voyageurs — restricted until 23 to regular services on routes of no more than 50 km — or younger again through a long vocational qualification such as a CAP Conducteur Routier or the Titre Professionnel Conducteur de Transport en Commun sur Route (CTCR). This practice bank is an English-language MCQ study adaptation focusing on passenger safety and evacuation, breath alcohol ignition interlocks (EAD), school transport rules, persons with reduced mobility (PMR) accessibility, social regulations, and coach technical standards.

Exam sponsor: Délégation à la Sécurité Routière (DSR) / Ministère de l'Intérieur. The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.

Assessment

Two stages under Arrêté du 23 avril 2012: (1) Épreuve hors circulation (30 minutes) comprising a 10-question written interrogation on passenger transport themes (min 5/10 to avoid elimination), vehicle safety checks (doors, emergency equipment, fire extinguishers, EAD), an oral interrogation fiche, and a reverse maneuvering test, requiring strictly > 16 points; (2) Épreuve en circulation (60 minutes) on public roads requiring min 17 points.

Time Limit

90 minutes (30 min plateau + 60 min circulation)

Passing Score

Strictly > 16 points on off-road plateau test with min 5/10 on written interrogation; min 17/28 on circulation

Exam / Certification Fees

EUR 30 (Code de la route ETG fee if not exempt) plus professional coach driving school training fees

Exam sponsor website

Fees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.

Official sources

Our practice resources: topics covered

We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.

25%

Passenger Safety, Seat Belts and Emergency Evacuation

Driver passenger-briefing obligations, mandatory seat-belt wearing for all passengers over age 3, emergency exit doors/hatches, emergency hammers, fire extinguishers, and first aid kits

25%

Alcohol Interlock (EAD), Driver Fitness and RSE Passenger Rules

Mandatory Éthylotest Anti-Démarrage (EAD) operating protocols, 0.20 g/l (0.10 mg/l) legal breath cutoff, EU Regulation 561/2006, and the 12-day occasional-service derogation (national and international since Reg. (EU) 2024/1258)

25%

School Transport, Child Safety and Accessibility (PMR)

Transport d'enfants reflective sign and hazard lights activation, end-of-trip cabin clearance checks, PMR wheelchair ramp (UFR), 4-point wheelchair floor tie-downs, and passenger safety belts

25%

Vehicle Dimensions, Mechanical Systems and Plateau Regulations

Autocar lengths (13.50m 2-axle / 15.00m 3-axle / 18.75m articulated), 100 km/h approval criteria, pneumatic door interlocks, luggage bay locks, and Arrêté du 23 avril 2012 scoring

Preparing for the Permis D (Voyageurs) Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: Strictly > 16 points on off-road plateau test with min 5/10 on written interrogation; min 17/28 on circulation
Assessment: Two stages under Arrêté du 23 avril 2012: (1) Épreuve hors circulation (30 minutes) comprising a 10-question written interrogation on passenger transport themes (min 5/10 to avoid elimination), vehicle safety checks (doors, emergency equipment, fire extinguishers, EAD), an oral interrogation fiche, and a reverse maneuvering test, requiring strictly > 16 points; (2) Épreuve en circulation (60 minutes) on public roads requiring min 17 points.
Time limit: 90 minutes (30 min plateau + 60 min circulation)
Exam / certification fees: EUR 30 (Code de la route ETG fee if not exempt) plus professional coach driving school training fees Official sources

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Permis D (Voyageurs): Suggested Study Strategy

1Master the passenger safety regulations: seat-belt obligations, EAD breathalyzer operation, emergency hammer presence, and fire extinguisher ratings (2 kg near driver, 6 kg in cabin/engine)

2Understand the 12-day derogation for occasional coach services under Regulation (EC) No 561/2006, and the flexibility added by Regulation (EU) 2024/1258: the 45-minute break may be taken as two breaks of at least 15 minutes each, in any order, still totalling 45 minutes

3Memorize statutory vehicle dimensions: 13.50m for 2-axle coaches, 15.00m for 3-axle coaches, and 18.75m for articulated buses

4Review the PMR access rules: UFR ramp deployment, 4-point wheelchair floor anchoring straps, and independent passenger three-point seat belt

5Learn school transport rules: pictogram dimensions, mandatory hazard warning lights during stops, and end-of-route cabin sweep verification

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the legal blood alcohol threshold for coach drivers and how does the EAD (alcohol interlock) work?

In France, commercial passenger transport drivers are subject to a strict legal alcohol limit of 0.20 g/l of blood (0.10 mg/l of breath). Since 2015, all coaches used for passenger transport must be equipped with an approved Éthylotest Anti-Démarrage (EAD). The driver must blow into the device before starting the engine; if alcohol is detected at or above 0.10 mg/l breath, the engine starter is locked. A re-test is required after any engine shut-down exceeding 30 minutes.

What are the driver's legal obligations regarding passenger seat belts in an autocar?

Under Article R. 412-1 of the French Code de la route, seat-belt wearing is mandatory for all passengers aged 3 and above when seats are equipped. The driver is legally obligated to inform passengers of this duty before departure (via public announcement, dashboard video, or clearly visible pictograms at each seat). While passengers aged 13+ bear individual criminal responsibility for not wearing their belt, the carrier/driver can be held liable in case of failure to inform.

What is the '12-day rule' (dérogation des 12 jours) under EU Regulation 561/2006 for passenger transport?

The 12-day derogation allows a driver engaged in a single occasional passenger service — national or international since Regulation (EU) 2024/1258 to postpone the regular weekly rest period for up to 12 consecutive 24-hour periods following a previous regular weekly rest. Conditions include: the journey must be a single non-regular international tour, the coach must be equipped with digital tachograph, after the postponement the driver must take two regular weekly rests (or one regular + one reduced with compensation), and single-manned night driving between 22:00 and 06:00 is capped at 3 hours continuous driving without a break.

What special equipment and rules apply to dedicated school transport (transport d'enfants) in France?

Coaches carrying children must display official yellow reflective 'Transport d'enfants' pictograms at the front and rear, which must be removed or folded away when not in service. Hazard lights must be activated whenever children are boarding or alighting. Standing passengers are strictly forbidden outside designated urban public transport lines, and the driver must perform a physical check of the entire aisle and seat rows at the end of the run to ensure no child remains inside.

Under what conditions may an autocar travel at 100 km/h on French motorways?

Under Article R. 413-8 of the Code de la route, coaches may operate at 100 km/h on motorways only if they possess official homologation with the '100 km/h' indication on their registration document (carte grise), which requires factory-equipped ABS, an approved auxiliary retarder, seat belts on all passenger seats, and front seat backrest impact protection. Standard coaches without this mention are limited to 90 km/h on motorways.