You may drive with a valid U.S. driver's license if it is accompanied by a notarized translation in French. It is strongly recommended that you carry an International Driving Permit. You must be 18 years of age or older to drive in France. (More information may be found here).
People Also Ask
Driving in FranceDrivers must be at least 18 years old and in possession of a valid driving licence, while you must also have insurance and vehicle documents (such as a V5) to hand. You do not need to carry an additional International Driving Permit.
As long as you are a tourist and have a valid driver's license written in the Roman alphabet from your country, you don't need to carry an international driving permit to drive in France. The minimum age to drive in France is 18 years old.
When should you have the sticker on a foreign vehicle? Non-French motorists can already order the Crit'Air sticker at www.certificat-air.gouv.fr/demande (External link) (page available in both English and French). It will arrive within five working days and must be displayed inside the vehicle windscreen.
Do I need an international driving permit for France? Yes (or a translation) if your driving license is not from the EU or not in French. Please note that residents might be forced to exchange their foreign license after a while.
There is no “right turn on red” in France. A yellow flashing arrow means that you can drive in the arrow's direction, with caution, even though the other lights may be red. Headlights are mandatory when it is raining. On multi-lane roads and highways, slower traffic always stays to the right.
If you are going to France only once and for a relatively short trip then it's probably not worth it. On the other hand, if you are going to make a very long trip through France or visit several times a year then it's probably worthwhile.
French law states you must always carry some official form of ID on your person. Official means recognized by the French authorities. That typically means a passport or a National Identity Card. That is the law.
If you have a valid license from your home state, you can drive in European countries for up to 90 days without further documentation. However, once you have spent more than 90 days in Europe and wish to continue driving there, it is recommended that you get an International Driver's License (IDL).
You will receive a confirmation email within 4 hours. You will receive an invoice by email within about 24 hours, with the facsimile of your Crit'Air sticker. Carte grise The Crit'Air sticker is sent to you by post within 10 days to the address indicated on the registration certificate (Certificat d'Registration)