Hello, My wife and I recently moved to Occitanie, I am French, she is British. My wife does not have a driver’s licence and needs to get one here. She is learning French quite intensively but does not feel comfortable learning how to drive in French yet. We have tried to look around (both in the physical and online worlds) but without success so far. Would anyone have a recommendation or pointer? Would be much appreciated.
Thank you in advance!
Hello @Slim and welcome to the forum.
You say she needs to get a driving licence here… but
I’m not surprised she doesn’t feel comfortable learning how to drive a car here in France, in a language she does not yet have mastery of.
How about an electric bicycle as a starter for your wife.
She can study the Code de la Route, so that she is not a danger to herself or to others and the bike gets her used to being out in French road traffic.
It’s just a suggestion…
and I wish your wife every success with her French studies.
Thank you Stella, very kind of you. It is a very good idea indeed, we do live in a rather remote and mountainous area and driving is really the better way though we have concluded.
Would greatly appreciate information about English-speaking friendly driving schools or instructors in Occitanie region. thank you.
The big problem is that the code de la route is taught and passed in French, you can however get an interpreter at your own expense. When you make your dossier you tick the ‘I don’t know French’ box.
For the practical part it is all in French and you aren’t allowed an interpreter. I don’t know if it has to be someone assermenté.
There are driving schools in the Paris area apparently who cater for non francophones, in Occitanie I think Google is your friend.
Found this
https://www.indiancommunitytoulouse.org/driving_classes.html
Occitanie is a huge region made up of smaller regions, equivalent to saying Northern Ireland. You need to be more specific about actual area.
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Except Occitanie is over 5 times the size of Northern Ireland. In fact. It’s about the same size as the Republic of Ireland.
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You splitting Eires?? Boom boom!
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That was done in 1921.