IzabellaBella

We live in the USA and are looking to rent a car while in Provence. We only have US driver license. Do we need an international driver license?

Is it recommended to drive from Aix en Provence to Nice and return the car in Nice, or should we drop off the car in Aix and take a train into Nice where we will stay for a few nights.

Robert2533

Apparently you now need the IDP, International Driving Permit, to drive in France should you be stopped by the police for some reason and are not fluent in the language. You can obtain the IDP from your nearest AAA.

There is no such thing as an International Drivers License. It's a scam.

You can check with AutoEurope, Kemwel or Europcar regarding a rental. AE and Kimwell are the least expensive for an American.

I would drop the car off in Aix and take the train in from there, if you are going to spend a few nights in Nice. No use in fighting the traffic.

Sarastro

There was a recent change and you now should have an official translation of your license into French. You could use the IDP from AAA but you could also have your license translated by any official translator in France.

I have never seen the AAA IPDs but I understand they have a validity date. The French requirement is for a translation only and if you have an older IPD, as long as it is a French translation of your valid license (which you should also have in your possession), you should be fine. There should be no need to obtain a new translation once you have one.

jo_ann

Thanks for the info - we've never bothered with one before, but will for this trip in 85 days (not that I'm counting!)

jpie

When we got our AAA IPD, they asked it what date we wanted to have it start. So be sure to ask them to use the day you will first pick up the car-after that it is valid for a year.

HappyTrvlr

I would drop the car off at the Nice airport and take the airport bus into Nice center. The airport is very close to,town.

HappyTrvlr

We always book our European car rentals through www.autoeurope.com a broker based in Maine.

RonZ

We use autoeurope, the toll free number, not the web site. Cars from Europcar.

StCirq

I have used AutoEurope for 30+ years - would never use anyone else. Get the IDP and drop the car off at the Nice airport.

IzabellaBella

StCirq: why do you say to drive to Nice? Do you have any recommendations along the way?

kerouac

Please be sure to report after your trip how useful the IDP was.

Christina

kerouac, I know you are discouraging people form getting it for some reason, but no one can likely say how useful it is because it is like insurance, most people never would encounter a situation where it would come up. So you wouldn't know unless you were stopped for a traffic violation or something like that. And luckily, most people are not. So saying it wasn't useful just because the situation didn't arise doesn't mean anything.

kerouac

I just asked for additional information on this thread. I did not discourage anybody.