traveltheel

My sister and I will be in Paris in May and were wondering how to get to the village of Sotzeling (Alsace Lorraine). We know we can take the fast train to Nancy- but this village is out in the countryside east of Metz and Nancy. so...

If we drove, do we need an international driver's license. ( I have never rented a car before in Europe) and specifically France. If so, how do you get one?

And is there some other way to get there from the train station in Nancy other than us renting a car. The village looks about 35 miles NE of Nancy, France.

Any help would be appreciated.

LoveItaly

Hello traveltheel, what you are referring to is an International Driver's Permit. Having said that I am NOT sure but I do not think France requires one but surely someone here on Fodor's will have the correct information.

In any case the IDP can be obtained from AAA, assuming you live in the US. I think the cost is now $15.00 per person. And you need a passport type photo. If you have an AAA office in your area you can go there and they will also take the required photo(s). Otherwise you can obtain it online I believe.

The IDP is a good idea to have whether required by France or not in case you are stopped by any law enforcement person for any reason. Now you do need to have your US drivers license with you also. The IDP translates the information on your US driver's license into something like 15 languages. It is only good for a year. Best regards and enjoy your time in France.

cigalechanta

travelheel,You do not need an International Driver's Permit in France.
Your US driver's license is all that is required.

cat111719

We rented a car in Paris in October and didn't need one. Driving in France, once you are out of Paris, is very easy.

traveltheel

Thanks so very much for all the advice and info. I figured out that I can take a train further than Metz (Morhange) and then the drive is about 7 miles from there. So happy to hear that I don't need extra permit. Thanks again everyone!!!

Vientianeboy

It is a good idea to have an IDP even though the country does not require one - it is recommended, not required.

Louie_LI

Are there car rental agencies in Morhange? Don't count on there being taxis at small train stations.

alanRow

<<< We rented a car in Paris in October and didn't need one. >>>

Just because you were able to rent a car without one, doesn't mean that you didn't need one - as plenty of Americans who have rented in Greece, Italy & Spain can testify.

In the case of France however they don't require an IDP

gracejoan3

It is not required, but if you have a problem you will certainly be glad that you paid the small charge for it.

I went down to Provence last week, rented a car for 3 days. You can be sure that I went to AAA and got my IDP before coming on my trip.

People can tell you nightmare stories. I have never needed it, but sure glad I have it, just in case!!

Joan

ira

Hi trav,

>I figured out that I can take a train further than Metz (Morhange) and then the drive is about 7 miles from there.<

It might be better for you to get the car in Metz or Nancy. Have you chaecked to see if you can get a car in Morhange?

Try www.autoeurope.com

CarolA

The things cost what? $15 or so. (I just bought one)

And for that you have a translation of your DL if you need it. But it continues to be seen as some "unneeded" thing as if it's outrageously costly etc.

I have been in an accident in Europe. I don't know if I HAD to have the thing, but I figure it didn't hurt so I didn't have to try to help the Police read the thing.

It also helps the guys at the rental agency. Unless you are fluent in the local language, why not err on the side of making life easier if something does happen?

StCirq

It's not a license, it's a permit. It is NOT required in France. Just because someone at a rental agency doesn't ask you for it, doesn't mean it's not required, though (that happens all the time in Italy, for example, where it IS required).

I speak fluent French, so I don't worry about this, but if you have any qualms about being pulled over in France and interrogated in France about your license, I suppose you might get one. It's not required, though, which says to me that the French police must be required to know enough English to know if you've broken the law.

Whatever...you don't need one.

kerouac

Definitely not required in France. Even when I worked in car rental in France many years ago, I never saw a single one. We had a reference guide for decoding foreign licences, including some that had little or nothing written in the Roman alphabet, like the Korean and Japanese drivers licences.