When we made a reservation for our car through Auto Europe, it was suggested that we obtain an International DL. We never have before. We are staying within France. He said something about if we get stopped we would be fined.

What say you? Anyone?
Thanks,
Jean

Hi Pum,

Unless they changed the rules yesterday, an International Driver's Permit is not required in France.

And IDP (<U>Permit</U>, not license) is not required in France. It is required in Italy and some other countries.

But an IDP only costs $15 so what the heck . . . .

was posting the same time as ira . . .

I always get one... when you are asked to leave your passport or driver's license at a museum or chateau when getting an audio guide I use the IDP.... I'd rather lose it than my passport or real license.

Besides... without knowing where you are going now you could take a side trip into Italy if the mood strikes you....

Here's something to consider ... regardless of French law, I have read that certain rental agencies require that you show them the IDL before they will rent the car. Since it is only $15 I've always decided to not risk it and have picked up my IDL at our local AAA office. We spent a month in France in April and I leased a Renault through Renault's leasing program. The agent who greeted us in Montpellier did ask for the IDL and recorded the number on our paperwork. Since I had one anyway I didn't bother asking what would've happened if I'd neglected to bring one on the trip. Simple advice ... get one; why bother with the risk.

My state has an official agreement with France and Germany that our state licenses are perfectly valid in those countries and nothing else is needed - same as when zillions of foreigners come to States they never have an IDP - just use their own country licenses for up to a maximum in my state of six months.

Get it if the car rental company demands it otherwise it is a total waste of money and time - I have been driving in France for years and even at the not uncommon roadside checkpoints never had any problems.

Actually an International D L is never compulsory in any country I believe but what is required is a translation of your license info into the local language and the IDP is one recongized device of doing this but not the only one IMO>

As long as you are staying in France, an IDP is a waste of money and no rental company, and I have used them all at one time or another, has ever asked for one.

Absolutely not required. If you show one to a rental agency or a policeman, they will ask to see your "real" license instead.

The purpose of an International Driver's Permit is NOT to serve as a license. Its to serve as a translation of your US license. If you are stopped by the local police somehwere - who very likely do not speak much if any English - there is no way they can be sure that what you are showing them is a license (from montana or indiana or alabama or wherever) and not a state park permit or fishing license.

It is not required in France - but it is a good idea - and can help prevent possible delays - if you are stopped for an infraction or involved in an accident.

When I worked for Avis, we had a binder with pictures of every sort of Japanese, Korean, American, etc. licence and how to decode it. I would be really amazed if the police do not have a similar device, although I'm sure it is now on the internet for them. They absolutely will not verify an IDP which is just a useless piece of paper. They <b>will</b> verify the real licence, including possibly the international data bank about incidents with the licence.

I am amazed at the number of people who think they are still living in 1960.

I should mention that worked for Avis France back in 1978 and the situation is a bit different now.

I'm with nytraveler's analogy; Not required in France, but I always get an IDP. In our times in France we have never been stopped. But Portugal last year at the bordor with Spain, we were stopped and the IDP was the most usefull for the two policemen. Then in Spain an IDP is required. The cost with picture at AAA is only $22 dollars. You decide.

The moment you start talking about driving in other countries, the rules change. I thought we were talking about driving in France.

In Italy and Austria, the IDP is obligatory.

In Italy, Austria and Spain, the IDP is obligatory and useful if you get stopped and don't speak the language, but quite unnecessary if you do speak the language.

Geographical Areas Which Honor International Driving Permits (Convention on Road Traffic, United Nations, Geneva 1949) as of January, 2009. You'll note that France (Including French Overseas Territories), is included in the list, but usually not enforced.

www.aaa.com/vacation/idpapplc.html

Here is my take on this.. just get one. It is $20 at your local AAA club. It is not "required" to hire a car or to drive a hired car in France, but what if there is an incident and you are asked for one? A small enough investment for a peace of mind, IMO.

<the monment you start talking about other countries> kerouac; True, but the point was the policemen in Portugal were more interested in the IDP than my US license. Same could happen in France. Perhaps it's time to let the poster decide what is best for them.

same cannot happen in France as kerouac says and I say and many others say - IDP has not standing in France. Your state driver's license is what they want to see and this has happened to me many times - state license fine.

Maybe someone here can look at their own DL and tell us what info is particularly hard to understand if you don't speak English. There's not a lot there folks.

I know that police sometimes take a ribbing for not being sharpest knives in the drawer, but I have a hard time understanding how any policeman would not understand the info on my license. Doesn't take an Einstein to figure this stuff out without a translation document.

Name: Pretty obvious it's Jay Sixtytwo

DOB: even if they don't know what DOB means, the date format of 25-01-1920 is universally understood.

Drivers license Number: Large 8 digit number/letter combo.

Address: again, pretty obvious

Expiration Date - same as my DOB, but with the year 2015.

I will always have an IDP where required, but the question here is about France, where it is not.

People rationalize just about anything under the heading of <i>piece of mind</i>.

If you really want something that can have tangible value to a driver in France, know and understand what a <i>constat</i> is and how to use it. It is in (or should be in) the glove box of every rental car.

Take a look the next time you pickup a rental. It can be many times more useful than an IDP.