..you'll get a wide variety of opinions here...go to AAA and buy one for about $20...it's called "Peace of Mind"..and then enjoy your trip.

It is not required by law in France, so it's up to you.

Simply said, there may be a wide variety of opinions, but this is a question about legal requirements and there is only one fact about such laws: you either need it or you do not, therefore Tower's answer is not particularly direct.

Based on the responses on this board, StCirq either lives in France or visits so often that it is a second home. You can probably trust that answer and if I were you, I very well might. Because I am not you, I would check into the legal requirements myself without relying on someone else. But if you wish to rely on someone else without doing your own homework, StCirq's reliable.

The IDP is not currently required in France.

By googling "American driving in France" I turned up this and many more replies:

http://ambafrance-us.org/spip.php?article376

<<StCirq either lives in France or visits so often that it is a second home.>>

I've HAD a second home there for 20 years.

As far as that URL and attaching a translation to your US license, I guess that makes sense, because the IDP is nothing more than a translation, but chances are pretty much zero you'd need to do that. First of all, there's barely a Frenchman on the planet, never mind a policeman, who doesn't read enough English to figure out your age, your height and weight, your address, and the few other details on your license. And if you speak French, you can just translate it for him/her on the spot.

Not necessary in France. No matter what, any policeman or rental car agency will ask to see your "real" licence before even considering to look at an IDP. And believe it or not, most French police have been to school and can read the information on an American licence, even if they can't have a conversation about local restaurants with you.

Some states like mine have reciprocal agreements with France to honor each other's driver's license as if you had a French one - no need absolutely no need for IDP in France - stopped at many roadside checks, routine in France, and cops never batted an eyelash at my state driver's license.

Hi to all:

Confronting the same problem next september.Has anything changed? We are a group, and the 2 drivers have local licences with more than a year of validity.
What you did Pawleys?

No, nothing's changed.

Best thing to do for piece of mind is to read the link posted by bettyk!

Well, I can already say that the link has some incorrect information on it -- there is no requirement to be age 20 to rent a car. The Europcar site, for example, says that you must be at least age 18 to rent a car but all renters under the age of 26 must take special "young driver" insurance.

We are renting a car from Avis in September and their requirements was that we will need an International Drivers Licence. I rechecked this on 2 occasions.

It costs us A$39

I worked for Avis France and IDPs were never required. We had a decoding book with every model of driving licence in the world in it in case there was something we did not understand -- but this generally only happened with Japanese and Koreans licences back then. No licence in English was ever considered to be a problem.

Aussie_10 -- did you check the requirement at Avis in Australia or with Avis in France?

I've just had a hilarious and frustrating experience ordering an international driving permit from our local automobile association. I ended up with an IDP in my husband's name with my photograph in it! (despite them having copies of our drivers licences to refer to, and despite the fact that as far as I know I don't look like a man even in an unflattering passport photo)
For any Queenslanders reading this, if you want to get one, do it in person not by mail. I know there's a really good chance we won't need it anyway but we decided to get it as backup as we'll be driving in Lithuania as well.

If you think it is useful to have an IDP, I encourage you to buy traveller's cheques as well, which date from the same epoch.

Kerouac, this we booked through Avis Australia, gave us the best rate.

I did question the need for a IDP and they insisted. Maybe I should have contacted Avis in France. I guess I trusted their call on it. The agent did check with someone else before confirming it with me.
We did not want to chance a problem at the other end. So just went with it.

From as far away as Australia, they probably think that France and Italy are the same country -- it is reputedly obligatory in Italy and Austria, but I'm 99.9% certain that anyone with a licence in a major European language (English, French, Spanish) would have no trouble with the road police there -- and many people have already reported that the rental agencies do not ask for it in those countries.

Hi to all!
As I told you a few days ago, we are facing the same problem next september.
Our designated driver contacted Europcar and they confirmed an IDP is not necessary.By the way another friend experienced the need for an IDP in Italy; there, it is mandatory.

kerouac,

Was that a serious comment about knowing the difference between Italy and France?????? I don't think the distance of Australia from Europe would deminish basic geographical knowledge.

Info from the Australian Embassy in France indicates the requirement of both a valid Australian and also IDP.

http://www.france.embassy.gov.au/pari/driving.html

Seems strange one country would indicate the requirement and the other not(as listed by bettyk)

Just be certain in making your decision Pawleys, If you are involved in an incident, you can bet your life your insurance company will find a way out of it if they can!

<<v I don't think the distance of Australia from Europe would deminish basic geographical knowledge.>>

No, but it could change the rules regarding needing an IDP. IF Australian rules dictate you need one, go for it, but FRANCE DOES NOT REQUIRE IT. I find it impossible to believe that Australia demands its drivers have an IDP for driving in France, when France itself does not, but perhaps I'm ignorant about Australian insurance. Seems to me the country you're going to DRIVE IN would be the deciding factor.

Well, I worked at Avis Gare de Lyon in 1977 and 1978 and I never saw an IDP a single time during that period since we always asked for the drivers license. And the IDP has been in decline ever since that period.

It's so simple and easy at AAA. For your peace of mind, get get one and be done with it. And don't forget that France now requires breathalyzers in the car. I've heard one for each person, but can't confirm that. The rental company may supply them but it would be wise to verify that.

One for each person? That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever read on this forum! I can just imagine the small children in the back seat blowing up their balloons when the police stop the driver.

The rental companies will indeed provide the equipment, but probably not before November when the fines go into effect.

StCirq,

Just to clarify my comment, I am not an expert on Insurance and made the comment as a cautious one inferring has Pawleys has crossed their T's and dotted their I's before their vacation. It also wasn't based on Australian insurance in particular but in general.

Oh excuse me. I should have elaborated. one for each driver. Excuuuuuse me - must have been too much wine with dinner.