We passed the driving test in an automatic car, we’ve been driving for months without any issues, and one day we come across a job offer or a rental that requires a manual transmission vehicle. The gaze then falls on the back of the license, where a coded mention locks access to any vehicle with a clutch. Understanding what this restriction really implies, and especially how to lift it, helps avoid wasting time on unnecessary procedures.
Code 78 and code 79 on the license: two restrictions that everyone confuses
Confusion is common, even at the prefecture. The code 78 concerns the B license: it indicates that the holder took the exam in an automatic vehicle and can only drive this type of transmission. Code 79, on the other hand, appears on other categories (C, CE, D, DE) and specifies a restriction related to acquired rights, equivalences, or automatic transmission for heavy goods vehicles.
On a credit card format license, these codes are found in column 12 on the back. The problem arises when the two are mixed up. Someone who wants to drive a manual car after an automatic B license must lift code 78, not code 79. Conversely, a heavy goods driver limited to automatic transmission on their CE will find code 79 sometimes followed by a sub-code in parentheses.
If your goal is to remove code 79 from the driving license in the context of a heavy goods license, the procedure differs from that of the B license. We detail both cases below.
Bridge training for the B license: lifting code 78 in practice
For holders of the automatic B license (code 78), lifting the restriction involves what is called bridge training from automatic to manual transmission. This training takes place in an accredited driving school and lasts a minimum of seven hours.
The program covers clutch handling, gear shifting, hill starts, and driving in real conditions. No final exam in front of an inspector is required: it is the driving school that issues the training certificate.
Access conditions for the bridge
- Be the holder of a B license with code 78 for at least three months (for candidates who took the license in the standard route) or six months (in accompanied driving)
- Complete the seven hours of training in a driving school with an approved manual transmission vehicle
- Then request a new driving title on the State’s online platform, attaching the certificate issued by the driving school
Once the request is processed, the new license arrives without the mention of 78. The processing times vary by prefecture, but the received license allows manual driving as soon as the online request is validated.
When code 78 persists after training
Some drivers report that their new license still shows code 78 despite the validated bridge. This occurs when the training certificate was not correctly transmitted during the online request, or when the file was processed before the proof was received by the administration.
The solution is to resubmit a request for an update of the title via the dedicated online service of the State, reattaching the certificate. Responses vary on this point: some receive a correction within a few weeks, while others need to follow up.
Removing code 79 on a heavy goods license: a mandatory practical test
For categories C, CE, D, and DE, code 79 indicates that the exam was taken on a vehicle with automatic transmission. Here, there is no simple training in a driving school: a practical test must be retaken on a vehicle equipped with a manual transmission of the relevant category.
Specifically, one presents themselves in front of an accredited examiner with a heavy goods vehicle (or an articulated combination, depending on the category) with a manual transmission. The test focuses on maneuvers, clutch control on a heavy vehicle, and driving in traffic.
Why the procedure differs from the B license
The mechanical complexity of a heavy goods vehicle with a manual clutch is nothing like that of a car. Double declutching, managing gears under load, and engine braking on a vehicle weighing several tons require evaluation by an examiner. The administration considers that seven hours of training are not sufficient to ensure safety under these conditions.
Electric vehicles and modern transmissions: what the restriction really covers
A point rarely addressed in search results: electric vehicles require no clutch action. They therefore fall within the scope of authorized vehicles even with code 78 or 79. A driver limited to automatic transmission can drive a 100% electric vehicle without lifting their restriction.
The same logic applies to robotic transmissions, CVTs, and any transmission that does not require manual action on the clutch. The restriction specifically targets the physical action of the driver on the clutch pedal and gear lever, not the vehicle’s technology.
With the increase in electric fleets and automated transmissions in road transport, the question of lifting code 79 on heavy goods vehicles may become less pressing for some drivers. However, to access the entire existing fleet, which remains mostly equipped with manual transmissions, removal remains a necessary step.
Before initiating any procedure, check column 12 of your license and precisely identify the code listed. A code 78 on line B and a code 79 on line CE are not handled in the same way at all, and confusing the two can delay your file by several weeks.