US Drivers License to Drive in France

You will find many opinions, and some experiences as well, if you search the forum. I prepare for the "what ifs" and always get one.

https://www.welcometofrance.com/en/fiche/driving-in-france-with-foreign-license
From the website:
In addition, for non-European nationals, the license will need to have been:
Issued in the holder’s usual country of residence prior to their arrival in France.
Drafted in French or accompanied by an official translation.
Obtained before the start date of their first French residence permit or before their visa was approved by the French Immigration and Citizenship Office (OFII).

If your state uses this format, you absolutely do not need an IDP.

Where is the written reference for such a strong statement? While the line item similarities between some US licenses and a French license can be admittedly identical, how can their acceptance by the French government be proved to be something other than just a hopeful opinion?

This is the official statement by the French government in reference to those visiting France for fewer than 90 days and who have foreign issued driver's licenses:

Si vous venez en France pour un court séjour : Le permis de conduire étranger doit remplir les 2 conditions suivantes :

1. Être valide
2. rédigé en français ou être accompagné d'une traduction officielle ou d'un permis de conduire international (sauf pour le permis britannique)

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

There are only two conditions by which a driver may use his foreign issued license:

1. Your present license must be otherwise valid

2. Your present license must be issued in French, accompanied by an official translation, or an internation driver's permit.

I am not familiar with anything called an internation driver's license. International driver's permits (IDPs) may be issue in the USA by AAA or the American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA)

More discussion here:
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/france/international-drivers-permit-99becd20-c75a-4aa9-b525-8f83b4520927

I'm clueless as to how the numbering makes one's US state DL acceptable. Can someone explain that to me please?

This is incredibly simple, so here is the skinny.

Getting an International Driver's License is a pain in the butt, virtually impossible for us mere mortals. By way of example, an Italian Driver's License is a horrible experience, requiring more than a little proficiency in Italian and a very familiar knowledge of Italian Rules of the Road.

Don't even try to go for the International Driver's License unless you are moving to Europe or getting a job in Europe as a professional driver. It's a pain and takes a pretty long time.

On the other hand.......

An International Driving PERMIT is a piece of cake.

The PERMIT is what is required in many European countries for you to rent and drive a rental car.

The PERMIT is EASY to get. You go to a AAA office and pay them the $25 or so, supply them with your regular American driver's license so they can copy the number, and FIVE MINUTES LATER, you are out the door with your PERMIT.

If you want to drive or rent a car in Europe, show them your US driver's license and the PERMIT. Like magic, you are legal and good to go.

International Driver's Licence= a world class headache.

An International Driving PERMIT= an easy to obtain piece of paper that you keep with your American Driver's License and/or your passport, and you can rent a car with it (and avoid a ticket if you are stopped by the police abroad--unless you went into a ZTL or something else)

Getting an IDP is like taking out an insurance policy. Chances are good that you will never need it and many will tell you it's not necessary because they never get one and never needed it. But, I can tell you from personal experience that if you have an accident or get stopped by the authorities (for whatever reason), especially in some out of the way place in the French countryside, you will need it. Better safe than sorry.

We were in a rental car and hit badly in Sept 2019 at an intersection in Province on the outskirts of a town. Our rental car was totaled, the other driver was determined by the police to be 100% at fault. Twelve or more cops, from 2-3 different agencies/jurisdictions, came to the scene, including an ambulance.
I was the driver and was asked for my DL many times by cops from each of the different agencies.
I only had my California DL with me, no IDP. All the cops looked at my Ca DL, all of them read it, all of them understood it. Not one cop said one word about an IDP.

We were there for hours and 2 cops ended up driving us back to the police station in town while we waited for a taxi. They were incredibly nice and when we got to the police station, everyone from back room offices came out to meet “the Americans” who were hit badly by a local idiot. Even the police chief was there. We felt like VIPs at a party and ended up exchanging personal email addresses with the police chief who hoped to visit SF someday and we insisted he could stay at our house and we’d give him a grand tour.

It turned out to be a truly wonderful experience, a RS “back door experience” for sure.

I can attest to wbfey1's statement regarding getting an EU country or other foreign country driver's license. We've lived in Spain, Italy, Denmark, and Austria and NEVER - for various reasons - opted for a foreign license. There were various reasons - the cost, the testing, the language challenges, the required driving school, the road test, the written test in a foreign language, and so on.

Moving to the Netherlands, after 12+ years overseas, we encountered the same obstacles. We were given the opportunity to take a one-time written test to "qualify" for a Dutch License (other steps involved also). After 40+ years of driving, I confidently went online to take the practice test that was available and missed 9 out of the 10 questions! After that experience, I was convinced that no amount of reading the voluminous Dutch driving manual would enable me to pass that test! Failing the test meant you'd have to go through a school and a lot of €€€€.

Yet my wife qualified under the 30% law where Dutch businesses can grant qualified employees 30% of their salary in untaxed allowance for a period of 5 years (It was 8 when we moved here but has since become more restrictive). Another privilege of the 30% law is you can exchange your driver's license for a Dutch license within the first six months of relocating to The Netherlands. And so we turned over our GA Driver's License and now have Dutch licenses, good for 10 years. Of course, they're a lot of fun when we return to the US and rent a car! But no IDP is necessary for us to drive throughout Europe.

That all said, I chuckle when I see this IDP question come up. Why would you not learn the local legal requirements for driving in that foreign country and follow the law as outlined by that country's government? Neither ignorance nor arrogance will play well if you are not in compliance.

I always get the IDP. It is very easy at our local AAA. Peace of mind in case you do have to interact with law enforcement. And when it expires, you have a little souvenir!!

We always get the IDP. Costs $20 and a few minutes of time. You're spending thousands on a trip. Peace of mind is worth it.

I never get one, and have never needed one. Nor have I ever heard from anyone on this forum that said they had an issue because they didn't have one in France. And I personally find it obnoxious that AAA provides an IDL that translates everything except the expiration date. In it's place, they substitute their own expiration date of one year so they can rope you in on every trip.

Susan: I'm glad you said your accident ended up being a good experience. It would have ruined many people's day. Good attitude.

The fact is, you are most apt to hear from law enforcement after the fact due to a radar ticket mailed to you at home after your vacation is over courtesy of your rental car company. France is extremely intolerant of even minor speeding infractions, but they are usually handled by stationary radar cameras. They used to post signs as to their presence in Normandy, but I think they may have taken down those signs now.

Thanks Phil. And I agree, complete waste of time and money. I’ve lived for many years in France, have spent years driving all over France, have never needed an IDP.