info on driving laws

I will be following this since I just posted a similar itinerary. Have you checked out the website viamichelin.com for driving routes, times, and overall cost? A Google search should bring up road laws and signs for those countries.

The Join Us in France podcast has a whole episode where they discuss French driving rules and what might surprise Americans.

It's mostly the same as in the US but with key differences:

Speeding laws are enforced rigorously and with cameras
Lots of traffic circles
Automatics are apparently hard to come by as rentals

A quick google search gave the results below - one on the rules and one with signage and their meaning.

https://www.drive-france.com/faqs/french-road-signs/

https://uk.france.fr/en/holiday-prep/driving-france-0

French driving laws require the following to be available in every car:

When driving in France you are required by law to carry the following items:

Reflective jackets (one for each occupant, these must be kept inside the vehicle within easy reach)

Warning triangle (compulsory in every vehicle with 4 wheels or more)

Headlamp beam deflectors (depending on your car, you will either need deflector stickers or have to adjust the beam manually)

Breathalysers/alcohol test (as of January 2013 the French government announced that the introduction of an €11 fine for not carrying one has been postponed indefinitely, however, law still states that drivers of motor vehicles and motorcyclist must have an alcotest ready for use in their vehicle even though no penalty will be imposed if they cannot present one during a police road check. Interestingly it emerged that the chief of the road safety group that persuaded Nicolas Sarkozy’s government to adopt the ruling of breathalyser requirement is also a senior executive with the leading manufacturer of the blow-in-the-bag test kits.)

Spare bulbs - by law you’re also mandated to carry a spare bulb kit for your vehicle, as the French police deem it necessary to replace it there and then on the grounds of safety. For a few pounds to buy a kit, you could avoid unwanted attention and a fine.

Snow chains may also be needed in some areas during winter. These areas will be indicated by signs and are compulsory, so it is worth having them in your car if your visiting during winter.

Most of these requirements will already be in the car if rented from an agency in France (hopefully) but then you need to research the requirements for all the other countries you'll be driving in. Also, if you do intend to drink and drive there are varying limits throughout Europe.

The AA has useful, country-by-country documents for driving in France, the Netherlands and Belgium that you can download. It’s aimed at a British audience but I’m sure you’ll understand them :)

https://www.theaa.com/european-breakdown-cover/driving-in-europe/country-by-country#N

We are renting from Hertz in both France and then Belgium. We grew up with manual transmissions, no problem. Actually miss them@. Thank you for the suggestions!

Yes, we grew up with manual transmissions, but we rented in the UK and with the added change of driving on the left and having to use your left hand to shift, is just a bit much.

We hired an automatic T for our vehicle and it was more expensive but worth it.

OH, what about the toll roads? how do you pay? are they attended or do we need to have coins? bills?

That podcast is VERY informative!!!! Love it! thank you!

There have been recent threads here about toll roads. Try the search (top of the page) function. Short answer is “carry cash for back up.”

Joanne,

For driving in France, each driver will require either a notarized translation of the terms of their D.L. or an International Driver's Permit. This note from the Embassy of France in the U.S. -

"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."

For driving in the Netherlands, the U.S. Embassy in the Netherlands states......

"Tourists are allowed to drive in the Netherlands on a valid state license, preferably in combination with an International Driver’s License which may be obtained in the United States through the AAA."

Therefore it would be a good idea for each driver to have an IDP for this trip.

How does one get at notarized translation of your license? When I rented the cars with Hertz they only said the US license was all you needed. My partner did get an international license. I'm not driving. Costs twice as much for two drivers.

How does one get at notarized translation of your license?

You go to the AAA office and get the IDP. It sounds like your driver already did, so you're covered. And while the rental agency may not require it at check out, the police will if stopped.

Joanne,

Getting a notarized translation in French is the more difficult option. Why not use the easiest option and just drop by your local AAA office and get an IDP. For ~$25 or so the IDP provides the translation into several languages. NOTE that an IDP must be used in conjunction with your home D.L. It's not a "license" per se.

A bit of clarification. AFAIK, there's no such thing as an "international driver's license".

And, make sure you learn what the road signs mean.

The National Speed Limit is different in almost all countries but is signified by the same National Speed Limit sign. It is vital that you know the different speeds on the different types of roads in each country you will drive in. France throws in two extra goodies for extra credit - the National Speed limit on rural roads with one lane each way and no divider has recently been reduced to 80 kph from 90. There is a lot of old information still around with what is now incorrect speed. This happened just before and during all the political instability in France at the moment, and was unpopular so a lot of the signage has been vandalised. The government also installed a lot of new cameras on 80 kph limit roads to slow folks down. Be careful and know where you are.

The second French speed limit depends on the weather. If there is precipitation the higher speeds reduce by 20 kph.

Most countries reduce to a reduced speed in fog and require fog lights if visibility is less than 100 metres.

How does one get at notarized translation of your license?

There's no such thing, even though this advice appears on official websites (the French Embassy in Washington states it, but it's still wrong. Someone needs to notify the French Embassy so that error stops popping up). A notary certifies the signature on a document-- not the document's contents-- so the notary suggestion is not helpful. French law states "official" translation, if that helps.

the police will if stopped.

There has never been a reported instance of a US driver being fined or refused rental of a car for not having either an IDP or a translation, in France. And there has never been a reported instance of a person having an insurance issue from not having an IDP, anywhere. For me this is a 'much ado about nothing."

There are about 5 common European traffic signs which cannot be figured out from the graphics alone, no passing is one, so make sure that you learn those signs, because there is no language posted underneath the sign to assist you. The RS guidebooks list the trickier ones.

The most important thing to know about signs is the meaning of colours and shapes. I was taught this when I learned to drive. Sadly many tourist info pages (including this site) omit this.
If you learn nothing else, learn these rules:

• CIRCLE = It is the law. You can be fined or worse for disobeying these signs.
  • Red Circle = you must not. Example, Speed limits, no left turn (click for photo),
  • Blue circle = you must. Example: keep right (click for photo)
• Red TRIANGLE = warning. Example: bend ahead (click for photo), road narrows, low bridge.
• RECTANGLE = Information. Example, direction signs.

For a fuller list, see here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_European_road_signs

the National Speed limit on rural roads with one lane each way and no divider has recently been reduced to 80 kph from 90.

Based on my recent trip to France, it seems that the word hasn't gotten out to French drivers. I knew this, and I kept to 80 KPH, but was often passed by drivers going much faster.

As I say, Robert, it isn't popular. Those local drivers have a big advantage - they know where the cameras are, and where the gendarmes are.

Thanks so much Chris F for the colors and shapes of the signs. Quite helpful

YES! Chris thank you so much!

The main function of an IDP is not about translating your license. Its a signed verification by an authorized individual (the AAA representative who has the authority under international agreement) that you have a valid drivers license. Not every cop in Europe can recognize all the 56+ state and territory licenses from the US, and determine whether it's valid. The AAA rep is signing that it is. As we all now from frequenting this site, you can easily buy fake drivers licenses online, and no matter how honest your face is, your US license isn't a free pass everywhere. I don't doubt most people get away without having one, but that's likely a "don't have time for this" attitude, not legal indifference.