Need permit for driving France to rent car?

The website provided by Kaeleku provides all the information regarding the need for an IDP in France. As you're already in France, you won't be able to obtain one. If you're concerned about that, the only option would be to find someone to provide a certified translation of the terms of your license. Perhaps the people at your hotel know someone that could provide that.

Sounds ridicules, translation of what? My name ?? I don't get it. If you don't "need glasses" for example, what on earth limits your driving?

I have rented cars many times in France and never been asked for an IDP by anyone at any rental car company. Despite that, I always get an IDP just because of the requirement to have a translation of the license. If you don't have one now, I would not worry about it. I read the other day on TripAdvisor about a person who said that a police officer requested one during a traffic stop but I think the odds of that happening are about the same as winning the lottery. My guess is that not having an IDP might be used by an insurance company to deny coverage you if you have an accident but I don't think the lack of an IDP will keep you from getting a car from a rental agency.

The rental agency won't care, but the police might, since it is a requirement. And one is required for each driver, not just one per couple, so "thinking the other one got it" wouldn't hold water, either. "Ridicules" (sic) or not, the translation makes it easily understandable whether your US license is valid/current or not.

Yes, the IDP certifies, in many languages, that the accompanying state-issued document is a valid current driver's license. I get one whenever I expect to drive overseas, in case of a stop or accident. We can't expect French or Japanese or Peruvian police to recognize our 50 state licenses. But as far as I know the rental companies don't care, they of course want to see your state-issued license and I guess that's enough for them.

So, Victoria, don't worry about it this time. Hopefully you won't need to show anyone a license (except the rental company if you don't have the car already). If you do, you'll have your state license and the lack of an IDP won't be the end of the world. Drive safely, enjoy your trip, and next time whoever will drive should get the IDP, easily done at any AAA office.

fewolf,

I suspect the reason for the translation is to make it easier for those French Police officers who don't speak English to translate the terms of the various licenses they encounter, as they may not be familiar with the format or the wording. They need to be able to understand any restrictions or conditions on each license.

As I recall, Florida was planning to implement a mandatory requirement for some drivers to have an IDP, but that idea got shelved very quickly.

On the one occasion we were pulled over by a cop, he appeared to be very smug about asking for the IDP and being slightly disappointed that we had it. The rental company doesn't care; the police may or may not. But it is required and thus probably prudent if you are driving.

first of all , if my spell checker could spell reiculas , i'd be a movie star.
I checked ,,, the IDP is available at the AAA for $ 20,,, and of course you need a picture,,, it may take 4-6 weeks.Now that we are all aware of it , we either get it or have a guilt trip, while driving over there and pray you don't smash into some donkey cart.

feowolf,

Some clarification......

Many on the forum are aware they can obtain an I.D.P. at any AAA/CAA office for a small fee. Passport size photos are required, but those can usually be provided at the issuing office. It does not take 4-6 weeks to obtain one. They can be issued on the spot in about half an hour.

The key point to remember with the OP in this case is that they are already in France so can not visit an AAA office.

Check the AAA web site, I think they have a process to cover your situation. It still takes extra time and cost and you may well not have the time. The rental companies really don't care, after all they have you by the credit card and they know they will get their car back. Things can get very sticky with the police if you are stopped for a traffic violation and infinitely stickier with the insurance company if you have an accident.

I understand your situation and for future trips you might try my system. I have a check list of everything we need and it has three columns. They are: 1) Do we need it? 2) Do we have it? 3) Is it in the suitcase or camera bag? Once packed nothing ever comes out of the luggage.

The post above reminded me that you can get the IDP while outside of the US. You would go to the AAA website and download the form and send a completed form in along with the required photos with your signature on the back, the fee payment and copies of the front and back of your license. It gets mailed to a n address in Florida that you can find on the AAA website. But, even if you send it via FedEx or a similar service, it will probably take a week or more for you to get the IDP in your hands.

Don't feel bad Victoria, I never thought about getting one either. We're in the same boat.

I'm looking at my IDP right now (which I got for France for the first time because it's now required), and I still don't see what use it is. It has my name, date of birth and city of residence, all of which are on my license (I doubt if a police officer would confuse my DOB with my license validity date anyway). It also has my place of birth, for whatever good that does. It doesn't even have the date of validity of my license, which appears on my license. And finally, it has the category of vehicle I can drive, which basically eliminates trucks. It also doesn't have any restrictions, such as glasses which I'm required to wear. So all in all, it basically serves no function, but since it's now required, I get one before I go. But if I was in the OP's position, I wouldn't worry.

Robert, The IDP serves a very good function, as the previous poster have tried to explain.
First, it certifies that the document is a Driving Licence, and is a valid one. Police in other countries cannot expect to be familiar with the licences from the 190+ countries of the world, not to mention a few countries which confusingly issue different looking licences in different parts of the country (USA).
Second, it translates the licence into other languages. Police cannot be expected to understand all the possible languages, and it is not a requirement to read foreign languages to join the police. Can your local police read French, German, Russian etc. If it is in a foreign language how do they know whether it is a Driving Licence, a bus pass or a library card?
The IDP does not need to show the expiry date of your licence as it is only valid for one year.

Finally it is a legal requirement. Whether the car hire company asks to see it is irrelevant. If the police stop you and you haven't got it, you are breaking the law and you have only yourself to blame for whatever penalties you get.

Not to mention failure to comply with local laws will get any insurance claim denied.

Not to mention failure to comply with local laws will get any insurance claim denied.

Robert,

One of the most significant parts of the I.D.P. are all the pages printed in different languages. That provides the information needed by local police to understand what the terms of the actual license are. As Chris mentioned, police in Europe (or elsewhere) can't be expected to be thoroughly familiar with D.L. formats from 190 countries.

A lot of misinformation here. Such as: "failure to comply with local laws will get any insurance claim denied." Definitely not true.
"One of the most significant parts of the I.D.P. are all the pages printed in different languages. That provides the information needed by local police to understand what the terms of the actual license are. " There's essentially nothing about the terms of the license on the IDP, except maybe for the fact that I'm not authorized to drive a truck. For example, it says nothing about restrictions, such as being required to wear glasses.

"failure to comply with local laws will get any insurance claim denied." - definitely true. In countries where it is a legal requirement for non-EU licence holders to have an IDP, then not having one means you are driving without a valid licence. Criminal offence (fine, and in the worst case imprisonment). And all insurance policies are only valid if you have a valid licence to drive the vehicle, no licence, insurance is void. Second offence, driving without insurance, and large bill if you had a crash.

And the whole point is the IDP is saying, in French as a legal document that you do have a licence to drive and for what classes of vehicle. That is the important point.
If you look at the example here, it is clearly showing this person is entitled to drive a car (category B), but not a motorcycle (category A).

Unfortunately for the original poster they are already in France, so they can't get an IDP.