Avis says a Int'l Drivers License is required in France.

well they are wrong they've likely misnamed an IDP as a "licence"

Auto Europe and others are using both namings vice versa.

See German page of Auto Europe: https://www.autoeurope.de/internationaler-fuehrerschein/

"Der internationale Führerschein [license] ist zwar lediglich in einigen Ländern zwingend vorgeschrieben, aber es wird dringend empfohlen, einen zu besitzen, wenn Sie außerhalb Ihres Heimatlandes reisen. Dieses Dokument (gelegentlich auch als internationale Fahrerlaubnis [permission] bezeichnet) soll Ihnen die Reise erleichtern ..."

And if you plan to drive in Germany: yes, both documents are mandatory by law (plus other requirements, e. g. age 18+).

IDP is recognized but not required in France.
However if you happen to cross the border into the bordering countries of Germany, Italy, or Spain, you will need one, because if you get pulled over by police and you don’t have one the fines are stiff (408€ minimum fine in Italy, for example).

It costs only $20 and 10 minutes of your time to get one at the local AAA, so you decide.

Just rented a car in Bordeaux using Auto Europe (Avis) and they told me I would need an Int'l Drivers License. A permit would not be accepted.

Are you in Bordeaux now or is this part of planning a future trip? If this is a future trip, I suggest calling Auto Europe (they have a US number) for help figuring this out. It sounds to me like confusion about "permit" vs. "license." My understanding is that a valid state-issued US driver's license is always required (obviously), and an IDP (from AAA) is a good idea in case of an encounter with police, and may also be required by the rental company. I don't think I've ever been asked to show the IDP but I always get one if I'll be driving. I'm talking about France here, some other countries require the IDP I believe.

Roberto, are you 100% sure about your statement that IDP is not required in France - even the car rental firm is asking for it?

Geneva Convention on Road Traffic from 1949 could not be the difference because Italy and Spain signed it as well.

Just asking because normally this kind of regulation is often synced between the EU states but I can be wrong.

I think everyone interchanges the words; license and permit. I just rented and picked up a rental car in France in April. I had my CA state issued driver's license and my International Driver's Permit that I got at AAA before I left. When I picked up my rental car, they asked to see my International Driver's Permit. (Yes, you need an IDP in the event you are stopped by law enforcement, as it translates your US state issued DL.)

There's no way as a US citizen that you would have a foreign driver's license. How would you possibly get a driver's license? That doesn't even make sense. Even when you read about this subject on this forum, people often confuse the terms.

Also, please read the IDP that you already just picked up, and you can see all of the countries that are part of the agreement, and France is listed.

AAA, why not get one?

FYI:

When I rented in the UK from Enterprise, the Enterprise website said I would need an IDP for rentals in the UK, which was incorrect.

The IDP requirement is an area where a search of TripAdvisor for that country should yield the required information. The rental car websites, other stray websites (like official ones from national embassies) are unreliable. Incidentally, my US driving license is in the Vienna format (i.e. the IDP format), so I would feel pretty bold renting without an IDP (except for isolated countries like Italy or Spain). California licenses are not in the Vienna format.

The French word for "license" is "permis" (or "permit"), the IDP is a French-first document. That is where the confusion with license and permit comes from.

I would not trust any forum opinion.
The TripAdvisor forum for Germany partly says that IDP is not needed in addition to a valid US state or Canada province driving license. This forum info is wrong!
Actually it is mandatory by law, this is written in law and double checked by e-mail exchange with German Federal Ministry of Transport.

If you come to France for a short stay (for a holiday, for example), you can drive with your license no European .
The foreigners driving license must meet the following 2 conditions:
Be valid
Be written in French or be accompanied by an official translation or an international driving license (except for the British license)
https://www.service-public.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F1459?lang=en

There is a notation that the original has been 'automatically' translated, and 'license' is the word that gets used.

When reading the French version
*Votre permis doit être rédigé en français ou être accompagné d'une traduction officielle ou d'un permis de conduire international (sauf pour le permis britannique).

it uses 'permis' which translates to 'permit'. Some translation tools show 'license' as an alternative translation.

Your IDP is what is needed.

There is a semantics ( "lost in translation") issue, not a document problem.

In France, you do need a Notarized Translation in French of your US Driver's License, which an IDP (International Driver's Permit) is just such a thing. It is available for $20 at any AAA. Here is the verbiage from the French Embassy https://franceintheus.org/spip.php?article376

And this is from the French government site: https://www.service-public.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F1459

No one, has ever been given a fine for not having an IDP. They have been fined in addition to some other, rather bad, driving behavior. Steves' even interviewed international bus and taxi drivers. And they said, no one cares about the IDP. Rental companies can set up what ever requirements they want. But as a legal thingy.... they don't matter.

On this forum, I've been assured I needed a valid US Drivers License (with at least a year before it expires) plus an Int'l Drivers Permit (which I just got at AAA).

Some people aren’t reading well. She says she has one. So it is just the language that is confusing.

In French the word "license" to designate the official document that allows you to drive does not exist.

We say "permis de conduire" (Driver's Permit) whether national or international.

So, in the mind of a French guy translating into English, unlike you, he will have no idea that there can be a difference between permit and license. And when he talks about "International Driver License" he means IDP.

No one, has ever been given a fine for not having an IDP

How could you possibly know this?

But as a legal thingy.... they don't matter.

French law is a ..."they don't matter" thing?

TTM - right!

FYI: so... confused by these answers (with a few nice exceptions!) I called AVIS again, asked to speak to a "manager"

She said a valid US Drivers license is all I needed, not giving so much as a mention of an Int'l Drivers Permit (OR license) so I asked: why the heck do your "Terms and Conditions" state the necessity of an Int'l Drivers License, right there in black and white. and suggested they change the wording in their T&Cs to reflect their actual T&Cs.

Sheesh! These things make my hair fall out because I have to simply trust what she has told me is true, and not believe their fine print. However, that being said, many of you gave me enough feedback to go forward with confidence I'll have what I need.

THANKS to the many of you who gave thoughtful answers.

Isabel, you've got your rental car insurance figured out, your US state issued driver's license, and your AAA International Driver's Permit. And even though Enterprise asked to see my IDP; Avis or another rental agency may or may not ask to see it. The IDP is the document you would definitely show law enforcement in the necessary event. (Let's assume there will be no event!) You've got everything you need. Now go to Bordeaux and enjoy yourself!!! It's all going to be terrific!

As mentioned in a post above, unless you have the terms of your home license translated into French and notarized, you must have an International Driver's Permit to drive in France.

This is from the Embassy of France in the U.S. - https://franceintheus.org/spip.php?article376

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).

Of course you may never be asked to produce it but it makes sense to have one, especially given the reasonable cost.

I've driven in France several times. Never had an IDP. I don't recommend others do so without the IDP.

I don't believe it's cost that deters people like me from getting the IDP. It's the inconvenience.

I will ask the question again. Has any one ever been fined for not having an IDP?

There is no such thing as an International Drivers License. The form AAA sells is the card that "officially" translates the US license into a format that matches European expectations. It is an International Driver's Permit.

IOW, you need a valid US license and a method (the PERMIT from AAA) to allow non-English speakers/readers an ability to validate your US license as legit. If you are stopped for speeding, it's a likely assumption they speak/read English, but it is an ASSUMPTION nonetheless.

Keep in mind, the RENTAL company makes their own rules on this sort of thing. They can rent or not rent to you for any sorts of reasons, so in France, if some company wants an IDP, then you need an IDP. But odds are about zero that you will need to present that IDP in many places, and 100% in others, so it is a GAMBLE. Spend the $20, and get the IDP from AAA.

From AAA:
Needing to rent a car overseas? Plan to obtain an International Driving Permit before you go. An IDP is a valid form of identification in 150 countries worldwide and contains your name, photo and driver information. It translates your identification information into 10 languages — so it speaks the language even if you don't. Most countries highly recommend an IDP, and may even be required to rent a vehicle.

"Has any one ever been fined for not having an IDP? "
Our subject matter expert for all matters Italian Roberto has answered this question several times, most recently further up this thread:
" ... if you get pulled over by police and you don’t have one the fines are stiff (408€ minimum fine in Italy, for example)."

With your US driver's license and the IDP you've purchased from AAA you're good to go.

I’ve never been asked to produce an IDP, yet I always get one. Why? Because it is easy to get, is inexpensive and it’s the law. If I’m ever stopped by police or in an accident I don’t have to worry about fines or potentially not having my insurance cover me because I would technically be driving illegally. I’m not planning to drive on my trip later this year, but I’m going to get an IDP anyway because sometimes things happen and there is the possibility that I will get a car when I’m in Germany with my family since my cousins live in a city and they don’t own cars.

This is an endless debate here. I just don’t get it.

The law in France says either a translation by a translator certified by the French gov or the IDP.

Roberto and Francis are mistaken; it is a legal requirement. It is linked above. And now it’s on the consulate websites.

Whether it’s enforced and whether taxi and bus drivers in France know anything about it, are different subjects.

It’s CYA in case of an accident. Insurance will look for any reason not to pay out.

Finding a government certified French translator LOL even here in France it’s a PIA

The law in France says either a translation by a translator certified by the French gov or the IDP

So, does German law in §29 FeV.

The main point for travelers is not to just pay a high fine when police checks driving permission. More important is that a driver (and in Germany automatically the holder of a car) was / is not acting compliantly with law which in most cases results in a partly or total loss of insurance coverage in case of accident. This can mean paying the total costs of accidents from own money - maybe a lifetime long if a victim is injured the way that medical lifetime support is needed.

It can also happen that the accident involved driver without a valid driving permission is blamed for the accident - regardless of how the accident happened.

Andrea is right, it's not that hard to get one and why not have it in case you need it? Because if you DO need it, you can't get one over there.

It's like people who don't buy tram tickets, you COULD get away with it and you probably will but what if you don't? According to Les Frenchies it's about a $100 fine.

Okay, I just need one person. One who has ever been fined over not having an IDP. Just one. All I need is one. :)

I'm not sure I'd need proof from a random stranger of being fined to make up my mind. If I can pitch in with my unsolicited opinion, surely it's best just getting one if it's only a few bucks from AAA? Arguing the point of whether you need one with a copper at the side of the road is rarely going to end in your favour, whether you do in fact need one or not. If had miles to cover in France, I'd probably get one.

That said, I never even considered it when I drove in France on a UK licence, admittedly to a limited capacity. I was on and off the ferry to Dover the same day, picking up an Acadiane in Pays Du Calais because I had a car big enough to drag it on a trailer back to north London.

I've done a few more miles in my own car in The Netherlands, but didn't think about it there either. Same goes for Ibiza, where I rented a Seat Marbella many years ago too.

I always have to laugh at these arguments.

Isabel, youo will be fine. The IDP fulfills the French requirement for a translation.

As to having to have one.....

1) Avis makes their own rules. If they insist you have a permit, you need a permit.

2) Avis phone reps may not know the rules. They may be confused with license and permit. You can't drive with just the IDP. You need the license as well. What confuses people is understanding what an IDP is. It is simply a translation of your driver's license.

3) Regardless of those insisting they don't need one because their license translates into all languages including Martian isn't going to help you any when pulled over by a French police officer whose only English is one or two words. Do you really think they are going to know which states have the proper "format"" license and which don't?

4) If you get a ticket because you don't want to get an IDP--not pertinent in your case--what are you going to do? Fly back to France to argue it in court?

I never rent cars in Europe. Yet I carry an IDP in case I want to at the last minute. To me, it's a $20 insurance policy against a possible larger fine.

Everyone is free to do what they want.

Isobel.....you're fine. The IDP is the only thing you will need along with your drivers license. Have a great time in France.

Merci beaucoup, Frank. Vous êtes très gentil.

{I consider this topic now closed! LOL :o}

the simple act of paying $20 at AAA solves all of it.

To be fair, the "simple act of paying $20" does not solve it. One needs to report to a AAA office, deal with their bureaucracy, get yet another set of passport pictures taken, pay for the redundant photos...

Not torture on par with being drawn and quartered, obviously, but not so simple as you claim.

jphbucks,
We both spent 30 minutes at the AAA office getting our IDPs. It is not like the DMV.

It seems like this thread has run its course. And it's had a few reports, so I think it's best to lock it. Thanks, everyone, for helping the OP and others reading along.