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 Jeff Steiner's Americans in France.Resource for people that would like to live or travel in France. |
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| Subject: | getting a French/European driver License |
| Date: | Monday, May 26, 2003 |
| Name: | Henry Hope Redd |
| Message: | Does anybody have a shortcut to getting a French or European driver license? I use to drive all the time until I was pulled over by a cop and was told my American License is not valid. A tourist can drive anytime...an American living in France can't. Very strange. If anybody has an idea on this subject I would be most appreciative. Otherwise I have to go back to "driving school" and start all over again...with all the pain of delay and cost. Sincerely, Henry Reed |
Replies Posted 4.
| Name | Jeff |
| Message | Welcome to the club. I had the same problem and had to go to a French driving school. It takes about four months and costs around 600 euros. For more info have a look at http://www.americansinfrance.net/Driving/FrenchLicense.cfm. Jeff |
| Name | karen |
| Message |
that's true , the french system does not work like in the us about getting the driving license ...You will have to do it again lol
those damned french ;o) good luck karen a french girl |
| Name | Tom |
| Message |
Mmmmm... different web sites giving a different list of 'reciprocal' states. I'm planning on getting a Florida driver's license in order to exchange it for a French license. I guess I'll make some phone calls to find out which states are eligible.
OBTAINING A FRENCH DRIVER'S LICENSE: If you have a driver's license from one of these 14 states: Colorado,Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, New Hampshire, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Virginia apply for the French driver's license (permis de conduire) in your city of residence at least three months before the expiration of your first year of residency to allow sufficient time for the required formalities. Go to the Prefecture de Police to make the exchange. http://www.amb-usa.fr/consul/guideoas/arch/driving.htm#frspecif |
| Name | andre |
| Message |
Legally, you have one year from the date of entry in France---the one marked on your carte de sejour...to obtain a french license. If you get pulled over do not speak French to the police office --he will normally get tired and let you go---and do not let him know you have been in France for more than one year if you have only a US license. Realistically you have about two-three years to change it depending on how quickly you get your carte de sejour. It is the DEF...marked on the CST (carte de sjour tpraire) that determines when your one-year period starts.
And it should not cost six hundred Euros..If your license is not exchangeable you need only pass the code de la route (38 euros) the written exam which you should study for ( buy the book) and the driving exam again about 40 euros. You will have to pay the school for one-hour of lessons but you are waived out of the 20 hour lesson package which costs about 600 euros because you all ready have a drivers license. Andre |
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