International drivers permit

All I will post to this recurring and contentious topic

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/france/international-driving-license

Lots of people make a big deal out of whether Permis is translated from the French to mean "license" or "permit" but of course it is not important.

https://franceintheus.org/spip.php?article376

IF YOU ARE ON A SHORT VISIT OR SHORT BUSINESS TRIP (LESS THAN 90 DAYS)

You may drive with a valid U.S. driver’s license if it is accompanied by a notarized translation in French. It is strongly recommended that you carry an International Driving Permit. You must be 18 years of age or older to drive in France. (

We always have gotten an IDP. Why wouldn’t you?

I have taken an IDP with me every time I have driven in Europe. It is very cheap insurance. While I have not been stopped in France, I have been in Italy, Spain and Portugal. In each case it was in an obscure back road location. The local officers, in each case were young and spoke no English. After providing my license and permit, along with our insurance we were on our way. Why take a chance or expect that they will know what a valid license looks like from your jurisdiction.

Rick is not the authorities figure for the requirements of every country. Some responsibility must fall to the traveler to know what the rules are. Whether people choose to follow those rules… that’s another story.

The French embassy website is very clear on this https://fr.usembassy.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/acs_driving-2018.pdf

It’s required by law
The rental agencies are asking for it (at least in Italy)
$58 peace of mind

Not having it might void your insurance

$29 person according to OP
We pay $20 and photos are free if you are a member

Bob (above) would disagree that it is “useless”

Thanks everyone! I've never been asked. Once we were stopped while driving in France. They were not at all interested in our international permit. Couldn't have cared less. Just wanted our drivers license.
I realize that that does not, however guarantee future behavior by the French police. So we will probably just spend the $58 and carry the permits with us when driving.
Kerouac: the god-awful place is AAA in California. Guess California is not 1 of these enlightened states. My license looks the same as it has worked for multiple years.
More difficult for me is carrying my passport around, particularly walking around Paris. I know to put it in my money belt as does my husband. But both of us are heavier now than we were years ago and so, lo and behold, the jeans fit more snugly. Hence, discomfort. Also not crazy about the idea of possibly losing it. I've not carried it walking around on previous trips and I'm thinking maybe I'll take the chance with just my California drivers license (unenlightened as it may be) and a photocopy of my passport. It would be a shame to waste part of the day having to go back to our apartment accompanied by the police but I think I would worry less about that than about losing my passport.

The only legit accepted ID is your original passport or passport card and it should be on your person ( in a money belt or similar)
Not a photocopy

RS has fortunately changed his advice on this issue

You might want to read this thread

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/france/acceptable-teen-ids-for-paris-museums

Adding that for some reason the search function prefers to return old topics first. You then have to filter the results for the last 6 months to see recent topics.

Note that California has not adopted an international format license for their licenses, one of the laggard states/provinces.

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/transportation/past-time-to-get-the-international-driving-permit-in-the-rear-view-mirror-for-north-americans

I acquired an IDP through AAA once. I have driven in the UK and never get one since you don't need one there.

It is a royal pain in the butt to get one for me, since AAA doesn't have an office within 80 miles of here.

If money belts are an issue, consider a shoulder bag that hugs your body. I had one in Paris and it was great, put what little you need for your day into it and keep it in front of you. Much easier than a backpack. There are dozens of them available on the intergoogles.

kerouac2 is right (as usual), AAA is ripping people off.

And ChristineH is wrong, it is not required by law.

I have never carried an IDL, and I have never heard from anyone one this forum or elsewhere that has had a hassle in France of any kind because they didn't have one. NEVER, not one! Out of curiosity, I looked at my U.S. license (RI). In fact, it is numbered according to international protocol as kerouac2 stated. Why would AAA offer a translation of an official document that doesn't also duplicate that document's expiration date? Because they are ripping you off and want to rip you off every year.

caveat emptor.

Perhaps not REQUIRED by law but strongly recommended.

https://fr.usembassy.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/acs_driving-2018.pdf

If you are a temporary visitor to France (less than 90 days,) you may
drive with a valid U.S. driver's license during this period only. In
addition to having your U.S. driver's license, visitors must carry an
International Driving Permit or attach a French translation to their
U.S. driver's license.

https://franceintheus.org/spip.php?article376

IF YOU ARE ON A SHORT VISIT OR SHORT BUSINESS TRIP (LESS THAN 90 DAYS)

You may drive with a valid U.S. driver’s license if it is accompanied
by a notarized translation in French. It is strongly recommended that
you carry an International Driving Permit. You must be 18 years of age
or older to drive in France. (More information may be found here).

There most certainly is French law that states that those visiting France may use an otherwise valid driver's license, as long as it is accompanied by an IDP or an official translation into French:

https://www.service-public.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F1459

For those using a license issued within the United States, the IDP is only valid for one year.

http://www.travelworldheritage.com/2015/10/02/idp/

Thanks Tocard
Bookmarking this because it comes up often

Kay, there is a (Virtual) East Bay Travel Group meeting next Saturday. If you go to https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/travel-meetings/virtual-east-bay-sf-area-travel-group-meeting-sat-april-9-2022 you can let our host, CWsocial of your desire to attend and she will arrange it.

We discuss lots of stuff and I'm sure we can spend a few minutes on this question. I'd love to see you there...

So, to this question, my husband and I almost went without one because of what we read here on the forum. However, I went through an official French website and found information regarding necessity of an official translation absent an international license. So, in the end, we got one the day before leaving. So glad we did too as I was stopped by a police for turning right on red (on a traffic light I didn't even see as it was a little traffic light). We were very lucky we had the international license for we were asked for it. We would have been fined except that the traffic police (they were - it turned out - right behind us) did not have a machine to fine us right on the spot. I think it worked in our favor too that we were Americans and they seemed favorably inclined to us (first thing they asked us was "Americans?"). Anyhow, I think it is a good insurance to have it. This is for our March 2022 trip.

And there you have it.

But not a single person, ever has posted a negative experience or trouble they had because they didn't have an IDL(sic) in France.

Probably because they do want to admit to being idiots in not having one, when it is clear the law requires it.

Thanks for the invitation, Nigel. Sat is a work day for me so I probably will not be able to join the meeting. But I will go to the site to see what time it starts. It sounds very interesting.
Thanks for your posting, Jaczxy. I had pretty much decided to get an IDP as my husband's peace of mind makes this worthwhile for me. After reading your post I now feel it will contribute to my peace of mind as well!
And thanks again to one and all. This forum is the best source of information on France and, indeed the rest of Europe as well as various airports used for getting there that I have found lo these many years.