Go Back  Fodor's Travel Talk Forums > Destinations > Europe
Reload this Page >

Do I need an IDP for France for a day jaunt?

Search

Do I need an IDP for France for a day jaunt?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Mar 13th, 2018, 07:16 AM
  #61  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 24,884
Received 4 Likes on 3 Posts
"Great thread. Who will give up first?"

"You have convinced me to take the train.

The OP has apparently tossed in the towel. Good work, Fodorites.
Jean is online now  
Old Mar 13th, 2018, 07:18 AM
  #62  
 
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 23,363
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Take the train? I just might stay home!


Janis can you please provide links to back up your Doomsday scenarios?

I am not getting a new IDP. It is not the cost. If one lives in a big city, getting this can take up a half day of traveling to the AAA office (I am a member and the IDP is NOT free for members), waiting on a line, etc. Who gets this money?
AAA??? Why??
ekscrunchy is offline  
Old Mar 13th, 2018, 07:47 AM
  #63  
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
maybe janis can also provide anything to back up her claim that not having an IDP could invalidate one's car insurance?

Jean OP is a Fodorgarch too - he got info he needed presumably (to get IDP regardless of whatevers).
PalenQ is offline  
Old Mar 13th, 2018, 07:48 AM
  #64  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 49,560
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Jeez, Pal, if you can read you can figure this out.

eksrunchy, your call but it's a risk.
StCirq is offline  
Old Mar 13th, 2018, 08:26 AM
  #65  
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Well again was that American living there permanently - thus needing a French license after x amount of time or not? You did not say and important point. Now I assume they were but were they?

You are saying he/she was fined simply for having expired IDP? and nothing else?
PalenQ is offline  
Old Mar 13th, 2018, 08:28 AM
  #66  
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 7,956
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by kerouac
Here are some more laws that exist that you should respect in France:
1. You may not name a pig Napoleon....

That's funny; the pig in Animal Farm is named Napoleon.
bvlenci is offline  
Old Mar 13th, 2018, 09:42 AM
  #67  
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 23,780
Likes: 0
Received 6 Likes on 1 Post
Well, 600 euros is well above the standard fine for "driving without a licence" in France. The police have quite a bit of latitude on this matter, but the "average" fine is 250-400 euros for this so I suspect that we are not getting the full story about the infraction. First of all, it was almost certainly not a random road check as is often done on rural roads, but the driver was stopped for some other violation, or else was clearly very DUI or whatever. The attitude of the person stopped is often the principal aggravating factor regarding the fine.
kerouac is offline  
Old Mar 13th, 2018, 10:55 AM
  #68  
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
driving without a license - does that include driving without a IDP? As StCirq claims? Yes much more needed about that anecdotal 600 euro fine.
PalenQ is offline  
Old Mar 13th, 2018, 11:27 AM
  #69  
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 16,424
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
What's the difference whether it's a 600 or 100 fine? Or whether StCirq used a SWAG method to determine the costs. Who wants the hassle on a (too short) vacation. We all know the French don't like to bend "rules".

When I first saw the word "official" in front of "translation" - that convinced me. Down to AAA for the IDP.

Stu Dudley
StuDudley is online now  
Old Mar 13th, 2018, 11:37 AM
  #70  
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Fce int driving permits

French Embassy in Oz says IDP is mandatory for Aussies to drive in France -no mention of authorized translation just IDP a must.

The salient point is to get one - whether or not you will be fined - it's a legal requirement (or official translation which seems more cumbersome and expensive to get.)
PalenQ is offline  
Old Mar 13th, 2018, 01:13 PM
  #71  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 24,884
Received 4 Likes on 3 Posts
On the question of whether visiting foreigners who intend to drive in the U.S. need an IDP, the answer is vague. Some states yes, and some states no. The poor traveler is instructed to contact the motor vehicle department of each state they intend to visit. (That noise you hear in the background is U.S. citizens laughing hysterically.) Just get an IDP.

https://www.usa.gov/visitors-driving
Jean is online now  
Old Mar 13th, 2018, 01:21 PM
  #72  
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
That seems to include even persons from English-speaking countries - at least that's how Jean's link sounds!

Do Americans need one for UK?
PalenQ is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
crckwc1
Europe
60
May 28th, 2015 09:18 AM
bobthenavigator
Europe
86
Mar 21st, 2014 07:01 PM
traveltheel
Europe
12
Apr 28th, 2009 09:21 PM
alevi5
Europe
4
Aug 19th, 2007 11:21 AM
ehku
Europe
11
Jun 11th, 2007 06:54 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On



Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -