An “international driver license” is a misnomer, it isn’t a licence, it’s just a translation of your actual license. It isn’t issued by any competent authority.
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But those requirements are much more severe in Italy 
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Along with prodigious use of the hooter, and bumpers when parking.
Yes this is a hassle - however for us Brits there is an exception in that France will carry over full A-class motorcycle licences as long as the UK motorcycle licence was first issued pre-Brexit (as in when you took your test, not when the current licence card was issued).
For anyone who passed their UK motorcycle A test after 2021, you get treated the same as all the other non-EU folks - you get downgraded to A2 and have to wait two years and take a test to get back to A!
Fortunately I took my bike test when Methuselah was a mere child so will be OK.
Hi, American living here in Paris since 2017 from a state that was not reciprical
I had the posssibility to move to a reciprical state, but never imagined I’d be here 6+ years later, so I didnt hassle with it. Not doing that is probably my biggest regret on the move over. I’d recommend you make that move and come here with one to swap out, even if a bit annoying.
If you dont recipricate, you need to take the test as if you were 18 getting your license for the first time… This includes the 750+ Euro course(in French , go up to about 2k+ if you need a translator) passing the code de la route(there is a special little place in hell for whomever wrote these questions this way) and 20hours of driving lessons. (One could argue knowing the code and lessons here in france is good)
After all that you will get an A sticker for 2years and will be restricted to speeds less than that of the rest of the public on the highway, making for an especially fun experience
For a moto, thats a separate test and course and another 1k+ to spend (French) oh and same speed restriction rules and A sticker for the first 2 years on a fresh license
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Still faster than you are allowed to go in the USA though, isn’t it?
Thats respective to where you lived as it varies by state with some having higher and some lower max highway speeds.
It was more to the fact you must drive with 10-20kmph difference(depending on the route) between what you can drive legally and others can, making for a not so fun experience due to the level of general kindness of french drivers
My son in law decided to take his Harley along the Blue Ridge Parkway last friday. Speed limit on the whole road is 35mph and fines are huge if caught doing anything over that. He said unsurprisingly it was very quiet and even managed to help a snake crossing the roadway. I remember Clarkson, Hammond and May being surprised by the strict limit when they did a muscle car east coast tour and moaned what a waste of a fantastic road.
You can start the exchange process as soon as you have validated your visa online with OFII but before 12 months elapses from that date.
It’s changed a bit since you applied as it’s all done online now on ANTS and you don’t send in your licence until requested.
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If you already hold a licence, albeit not reciprocal, you are not obliged to do the 20 hours of lessons, you can negotiate as many or even non at all if you wish to do it as a candidat libre.
It depends on whether you want your French licence to start when you first passed your test or if you would be happy with as much history as you can provide. ANTS will now accept your agreement to this so you don’t have to find a record from 50 years ago.
I haven’t been on that road myself but I’m not surprised to hear that there is a strict limit - once roads get a reputation as being a fun twisty ride for bikes, the boy racers go mad and accidents are inevitable - result a clamp-down by the authorities - they spoil it for everyone else.
Some of the nice roads in the Peak District for example are now infested with average speed cameras for the same reason.
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Grrr.
If you exchanged and only got A2 but have a bike licence, you don’t need to wait 2 years, this is only if you passed your test for A2 recently. You can do a 7 hour course now with evidence of your A2 start date which should be on the back of your French licence in column 10.
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Not sure I agree about a French test voluntarily, the cost and the lack of road tests available for those that do need to take a test, but I’m absolutely with you on a few lessons.
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My daughter just exchanged her french permis B for a Texas licence with nothing to be done back in 2015, her husband with a UK licence had to take a driving test again to get his! Now they have changed to NC licences with nothing to do at all except all the vehicle and motorbike plates change.
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Hi Vero, I agreed with all of this until the final paragraph. Taking it personally…
But I would add, on a narrow country lane, drive as close as possible to any car in front. If that car indicates it is stopping to let you pass, pull up really close behind it. Gesticulate wildly to show how appreciative you aren’t. Drive away in a huff.
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I applied via ANTS…
If you exchanged a non-EU licence in 2017 it’s not possible that you applied on ANTS.
All exchanges were originally made through prefectures. UK/EU went to postal applications in Nov 2017 direct to Nantes or Paris but non-EU remained at prefectures until ANTS opened up the online procedure.
The online system only started accepting UK/EU applications in March 2020 and non-EU applications in July/August 2020.
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