French Drivers Licence

Do you remember where you got the dual control car in Toulouse? I was supposed to take my practical driving test this afternoon, but it was cancelled because of the snow. I had to take several hours of lessons from an auto ecole just to access a car for the exam. I have already spent about 400 euros trying to convert my New York license to a French one... I couldn't find a dual control car to take the test in anywhere in the Lot or Brive-la-Gaillard and was told by the Prefecture in Cahors that I had no option but to go through an auto ecole. It's costing me a fortune!

It all depends on who you talk to. I came to France in 1992 and didn't bother surrendering my Florida licence to exchange it for the French license until one year later and they didn't say anything about the time I arrived. They never even asked me when I arrived. This was in Bourg-en-Bresse. You get different answers from different people in the various bureaucracies.

Can you renew your US license, in the meantime, to keep it valid?? Then, yes, as others have said, try a neighbouring country. I know Ireland changes them fairly easily, with proof of address.

I drove here on my Australian licence for 2 years because they would not change it (translations, paperwork not right, and so on.) I went to Belgium for enough time to get the paperwork in order, and it was changed in jig-time. Then, being a Euro standard licence, they accepted it here straight away.

I wish you luck.

Well thats how my husband got his 22 years ago. But from what I understood it one person per family. Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!

There is a possibility that the DVLA will swop your American licence for a UK one without the need to take a test, its worth asking. But dont tell them you live in France, have it delivered to your friend they post it to you you take it to the prefecture to change if you want to though no legal obligation. Just a thought

I found it on internet!

I have the exact same problem. But I found out I can get one from England by sending in my Americain one. And it only cost 400 eurous and it is valid in France. No lessons

Hi Fiona, it’s not illegal, you can drive on it for as long as it’s valid as long as you don’t commit an offense, once you do then you’re meant to change so they can take the points away. I avoided a whole load but they caught up with me in the end and insisted i changed… keep running for as long as you can :wink:

bonne route !

Just a thought. You hold a full (US)CT license therefore if the French authorities will not exchange yours for a French one due to a time in residency technicality, could you not (if you have a good Friend) exchange your license in an other EU Country?

Many thanks, Ken, for this helpful and speedy reply. It has motivated me to Get Moving - so I’ll do some serious research this week to try and find the best formula . Cost vs.time vs. aggravation. My French is not the real problem, it’s more the difficulty and time spent navigating around the process and getting good info; and, of course, I enjoy the trips to the Pref about as much as a dentist visit. I’ll report back later. You are performing a good service for Americans and others outside the EU, who are greatly under-served in this area. Linda

Hi Linda

I kept putting off the process because I thought I would need an interpreter but finally took the plunge on my own. It took about 7 months from when I first contacted the prefect and scheduled the test to when I had my practical and a temporary license was issued on the spot. I failed the written the first go around and had to wait about a month to take it again. You do not need the little ‘A’ on your car; that’s designed for inexperienced and/or young drivers that are new to the concept. I was worried about that too but as long as you’ve had a license in another country, it’s a non-issue. Your local prefect will send you a packet to fill out, then it’s just a matter of waiting for the next testing date.

Here is the link for the agency I used to rent a dual-control car:

Win Driver

You need to go with a licensed driver over 28 who’s had a license for 5 years and they actually rent the car. I don’t think it has to be a French license though. I used my wife as she had obtained her French license 3 years earlier. All of the info is on their website.

Let me know if you need any more help with this–I’d like to help someone else go through the process. I hope more Americans go this route and post it on forums and blogs because the bulk of the information out there is geared towards UK residents and a more streamlined process.

Take care

Ken

Hi, Ken: I am in a similar position with a US license (NM) and have put off the French test for 2 years . How long did the whole process take you from start to finish - and did you have to have one of those little red A stickers on your car afterwards> were you restricted in any way? Thanks

Thank you.

Thank you very much!

Brilliant info - thanks!!

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO ATTEND AN AUTO ECOLE TO OBTAIN A FRENCH DRIVERS LICENSE IN FRANCE. I’m from California which also has no reciprocal agreement with France. I spent €30 on a DVD and the code de la route book and studied by myself on my computer for several months. I passed the written test the second time and the practical the first time. Stacy is right; my examiner also realized that this was a formality and I breezed through an abbreviated test in 15 mins. You just need to rent a dual-control car (about €80 for three hours) for the practical. I rented mine from an agency in Toulouse that specializes in this. You register for the testing process as a 'candidat libré.'



If you understand French, there is no reason you can’t pass it. I’ve lived here for 6 years and struggle with the language sometimes but was surprised at how much I understood during the test. I’m sure you’ve noticed that the Auto Ecoles are everywhere; they make everyone think that you have to take the courses EVEN IF you’ve been driving in another country for 20-30 years.



Hope this helps!

Hi,

In the worse case scenario (if one of the other plans don't work out), you can sit the written test for free 'en indépendant' (info at the pref I think), and with that, technically you only have to sit the practical test. You're not required to do all of the hours ( 20?) with the autoecole if you already hold a valid licence from another country. I'm from New Zealand, which has no licence exchange agreement with France, and this is how I got my French licence. In reality however, in order to sit the practical test (with the special learners car), you need to be enrolled in an autoecole..... which will probably require you to pay a few hours of instruction - but definitely not the 20 hours. Actually, the hours of instruction that I had to do were pretty useful - you learn what to look out for/ pay special attention to during the practical test. And as for the practical , you have to show your foreign licence, go for a drive (the examiner was quite cool in the sense that he knew it was a formailty more than anything else) to show you're not a danger on the roads and voilà : A pretty pink French licence with your name on it !

Good luck,

Stacy