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Police | Tagged Posts

2020
18
May
Do I Need an International License to Drive in France?

Question:

Profile picture of Guillerm

Guillerm

Looking for some advice!
I've been getting conflicting info on whether I need an international license in France. If anyone has a definitive answer, it would be much appreciated! Thank you!

Humans say...

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Chris

Hi Guillermo,
There's not too many countries I can think of where an international driver's license is actually legally required to rent a car (including France). The car rental agency won't care.
A couple of exceptions to this: Japan and Greece (they do ask for one when you rent).
The IDL is just a translation document, that makes it easier for police officer's in other countries to understand your license.
What you will hear from traveler's is that in certain country's, if you get pulled over, there's a chance you might run into a corrupt police officer who uses a lack of an international driver's license as an excuse to fine you.
From what I've heard, Italy is known for this. (I've never personally had any issues driving in Italy without one, or any other country in Europe).
You will also hear many people say it's 'better to be safe than sorry' and just get one. Althought at point, you could then view the IDL as a piece of insurance. A $25 piece of insurance that probably rakes in a lot of money for AMA
If you think you'll be driving somewhere where you're likely going to get pulled over, and likely to be asked to produce an international driver's license, and likely to run into an officer that would use a lack of having an IDL to fine you, etc...

Profile picture of Dave

Dave

Spend the money get the international license and then it does not matter

Profile picture of Candace

Candace

I had to produce mine to rent a car in France - they're easy to get and pretty cheap, so I say better safe than sorry and just get one.

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Brigitte

We just came back and yes we got one. It cost $43.30 at AMA. In the event of an accident you will be glad you have it.

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Linda

We rented in France, in July, from three separate providers and did not need an international licence.

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Lewi

I think an international licence allows you to drive for an extended amount of time in a country, good for a temporary job relocation etc. Ie in Canada you should only drive in the country for 6 months before changing licence to an Alberta one, unless you have an international licence then it’s 2 years

Profile picture of Robbie

Robbie

Nope, not entirely true. ALL the international license does, is give a "language translation" - it's no substitute for a drivers license. https://www.alberta.ca/exchange-non-alberta-licences.aspx
ALBERTA.CA
Exchange a licence from outside Alberta

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Lewi

Sorry it’s only 6 months without an idp, and 1 year with one.

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Sandra

We rented a car in France last July, we used Budget in Bordeaux and did NOT need an international licence.

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Marilou

Hi Guillermo, I am from france and i only possess an Alberta license. A French license was not required to rent a car in France (we went to enterprise) and my boyfriend did not need one either and he is from BC.

Profile picture of Lewi

Lewi

If you do want one check out
https://www.travelidd.com/canada/...
TRAVELIDD.COM
Canada - International Drivers License - Travel IDD

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William

The only reason you would need an international license is if you are borrowing (not renting) someone's personal car in France (friend or family etc).

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Heather

Just get it. Rental companies will not ask for it. The police will, though, if you get into an accident, and if you don't have it, you'll be in a world of hurt. You'll have charges, fines, and court appearances stacked up on you like firewood. You can avoid this with the license. You can easily get one at your local AMA/CAA.

Profile picture of Cathy

Cathy

From the French Embassy: Driving licence
If you come to France for a short visit (such as holidays), you can drive using your foreign licence. It must be valid and either written in French or accompanied by an official translation into French or an international licence.
If you reside in France, you may use your foreign licence for one year, under certain conditions. Beyond one year, you must exchange your foreign licence for a French licence.
For further information: https://www.service-public.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/N19126
SERVICE-PUBLIC.FR
Conduire en France avec un permis étranger

Profile picture of Cathy

Cathy

in October we were surprised to find that renting a car in Greece required an international driver’s licence. It was a new law. I’d rather have one and never need it, than be refused a rental because I didn’t bother getting one. AMA does them for about $20. If you have an accident or get stopped by polIce you may wish you had spent the money.

Profile picture of Derek

Derek

No required i was there last summer and inrented a car and drove to Normandy region.
Some rental might ask but its not required

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Mkay

International license is like $20 at AMA if you wanna be certain

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Janice

We rented in France last fall, not required.

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Sim

You don’t need one, but it is better to have in case you get into an accident or stopped by the police. To rent a car you don’t need one, but to legally operate a car you do.

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Sim

Easy enough to get by popping into an AMA and valid for 2 years.

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Alex

Should be no need, Canadian licences are in French and English so theres no reason to need international permit.

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Barb

My alberta licence does not have any french on it!

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John

Last October, I rented online a car in Santorini. The night before taking the ferry, a friend of mine just coming back from Santorini, told me that they don’t rent the car w/o international license. I called the rental and they confirmed: no renting, just because, if police is stopping you, both the rental company and you would have to pay €1000 fine. He was very firm, so I had to cancel the contract. Once in Santorini harbour, there were more rentals, and one was insisting to rent me a car. I was angry, told him that I’m just having my Canadian license. He told me “no problem, sir!” - and so I got a rental.
But having an international license is cheap and it will keep you out of trouble.

Profile picture of Cheryl

Cheryl

I have heard, not necessarily confirmed, that often an International Drivers license is not required to rent a vehicle, but if you get stopped by the police you need it. The license is $25 for 5 years.

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Matthew

You may use your license. No translation required.

Profile picture of Kayla

Kayla

We drove there no problem with our Alberta license
have fun. We did rent the car in the Netherlands but drove France, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Germany.

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Michelle

International licence Is technically required for any country that has a different alphabet than ours (Greek, Turkish, Arabic, Russian etc) I know for a fact that Greece it is now mandatory - in 2018 the Greek gov’t put into law that if a tourist is caught without an IDL, both the driver AND the rental outfit are fined. You may find a business that’s willing to take the chance but it’ll be tough... my friend did not get an IDL before we went to Greece in ‘12 and was not allowed on the rental contract.

Profile picture of Maureen

Maureen

Easy and cheap to get one, to be on the safe side.

Profile picture of Carla

Carla

I picked up a car at Orly (Paris) in July 2018 for driving through western Europe for 3 months and no international drivers license required. Has that changed since then?

Profile picture of Sandra

Sandra

You should have one for Italy because they are sticklers for having paperwork in order.


A.I. says...

AI Profile Pic

Do You Need an International Driving Permit (IDP) in France?

If you're planning to drive in France, you might be wondering whether you need an International Driving Permit (IDP) or not. The answer is not as straightforward as you might think, and it depends on a few factors.

When Do You Need an IDP in France?

According to the official French government website, you do not need an IDP if you have a valid driver's license issued by one of the following countries:

  • A member state of the European Union (EU) or the European Economic Area (EEA)
  • Switzerland
  • A country that has signed the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic (1968)

However, if your driver's license is issued by a country that is not part of the EU/EEA or has not signed the Vienna Convention, then you will need an IDP to drive legally in France.

Why Get an IDP?

Even if your driver's license is valid in France without an IDP, getting one can still be beneficial. An IDP is a translation of your driver's license into multiple languages, including French. It can help you communicate more effectively with authorities in case of any issues or traffic stops.

Additionally, some rental car companies in France may require an IDP as part of their rental policies, even if it's not legally mandatory.

How to Obtain an IDP

If you need an IDP for driving in France, you can obtain it from your local automobile club or organization authorized by your country's government. The process typically involves providing your valid driver's license, passport photos, and a fee.

It's important to note that an IDP is not a replacement for your regular driver's license. You must carry both your IDP and your valid driver's license when driving in France.

In conclusion, whether you need an IDP in France depends on the country that issued your driver's license. If you're unsure, it's always better to err on the side of caution and obtain an IDP before your trip to France.



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