A driver holding a CE license applies for a job to tow semi-trailers over long distances. The recruiter checks the license, notices the mention “79” on the back, and asks for clarification. What follows entirely depends on what is written in parentheses after this code. Removing code 79 from a heavy vehicle license eliminates an ambiguity that could block a contract or complicate a roadside check.
Code 79 on heavy vehicle license: two very different situations
Code 79 does not have a single meaning. For categories C, CE, D, or DE, it covers two distinct realities that are systematically confused.
The first concerns the restriction to automatic transmission. If you took your practical exam in a vehicle with an automatic transmission, code 79 limits your driving rights to heavy vehicles equipped with this type of transmission. For a professional driver, this restriction reduces the pool of accessible vehicles, as some fleets still operate with manual transmission.
The second situation is purely administrative. Code 79 is then used to trace equivalences between old and new licenses. A holder of an old paper license with a weight limitation (type 79 followed by a mention like “≤ 12.5 t”) sees this annotation transferred to the new card format.
In this case, the mention does not necessarily indicate a real restriction on driving a heavy articulated vehicle, but rather a legacy of the old category system.
Before taking any steps, one should turn over their license and read precisely what follows the number 79. A code 79 alone (without a sub-mention) related to automatic transmission and a code 79 followed by an administrative parenthesis are not treated the same way. To understand how to remove code 79 from the heavy vehicle license in your specific case, this distinction is the starting point.
Removing code 79 related to automatic transmission: mandatory practical test
When code 79 restricts driving to vehicles with automatic transmission in a heavy vehicle category (C or CE), removal can only be achieved through one route: passing a practical test in a vehicle with manual transmission of the relevant category, in front of an accredited examiner.
Prior training in heavy vehicle driving school
You do not show up for the test without preparation. Specialized training centers offer refresher sessions on driving with manual transmission, using a vehicle of the appropriate size for the targeted category (truck for C, articulated vehicle for CE).
The duration of this training varies depending on the centers and the driver’s level. Feedback on this point varies: some drivers feel ready after a few hours of practice, while others need more time, especially if they have never operated a clutch on a heavy vehicle.
Concrete conduct of the test
The test focuses on vehicle control in real traffic conditions. The examiner evaluates, in particular:
- Shifting gears, downshifting, and using engine braking on a varied course (city, road, maneuvers)
- Managing hill starts with the clutch, a sensitive point on an articulated vehicle weighing several tons
- Overall behavior in traffic, including the ability to adapt engine speed to the vehicle’s load
If successful, the examiner issues a certificate. This document serves as the basis for requesting a new license without the mention 79.
Administrative steps after passing the test
Once you have the certificate of success, removing code 79 is not automatic. You must request the issuance of a new driving title via the ANTS platform (National Agency for Secure Titles).
The documents to provide for this request:
- The driving license examination certificate (CEPC) or the certificate issued by the examiner confirming success in manual transmission
- A digital identity photo that complies with current standards
- A recent proof of identity and proof of residence
- The valid driving license
The processing time for the new license varies from a few weeks to over a month depending on the workload of the ANTS. During this period, the CEPC serves as a temporary proof, but it is advisable to keep the old license on hand for any checks.
Administrative code 79 on CE license: reporting error or obsolete equivalence
If code 79 on your CE license corresponds to a mention of equivalence (for example, an old driving right limited to a certain weight), the process is different. Here, no driving test is required.
The issue usually arises from an incorrect transfer when switching to the European card format. Drivers who held a paper license with full rights in category CE find themselves with a restrictive mention 79 that does not reflect their actual rights.
In this case, one should contact the prefecture or go through ANTS to request a correction. It is necessary to provide any document proving acquired rights: old paper license, certificate from the original prefecture, complete information statement of the license (accessible on the ANTS website). The correction takes the form of a new title, without unjustified restrictions.
A point of vigilance during checks
While waiting for the correction, a roadside check can pose a problem if the officer adheres to the reading on the back of the license. Keeping a copy of the complete information statement of your license in the vehicle allows you to justify your rights in case of disagreement regarding the scope of code 79.
Since March 2024, the removal of the three-month delay for transitioning from automatic to manual transmission on the B license shows a trend by the administration to simplify the lifting of restrictions related to transmission. This evolution does not directly apply to heavy vehicle categories, but it signals a general easing of procedures that could, in the long run, also affect licenses C and CE.