Can I drive in other EU countries with non EU licence after 1 year staying in France?

[MataMata]

Just because the OP has been living in France for a year we cannot automatically assume from that he is actually resident, he may have been posted for work purposes or be a student for instance.

I think we need to know a bit more about the background as flitting off to say Italy, Brussels, Zurich etc. as hinted is hardly practical or normal for someone who has established residency in France and if he is not French resident then different rules may apply.

It does get a bit speculative and murky in these sort of near one off cases but on the face of it I see no reason why the 1 year period would not begin from the day the licence holder entered any specific country, after all no records are kept as to where any individual has been whilst in the Schengen group. That said the onus is always on the individual to prove any claims he or she makes.

Interesting conundrum.

[simantadatta]

Originally Posted by MataMata

Just because the OP has been living in France for a year we cannot automatically assume from that he is actually resident, he may have been posted for work purposes or be a student for instance.

AFAIK the "titre de sejour" defines residency, and while it's true I only am deputed in France from my employer for 2 years, by definition I think I have obtained the residency in France the moment got my temporary titre de sejour.

[maartenvd]

FYI #1: there is a driving school in Paris that does theory training and exams in English. The driving test itself, though, is always in French as far as I know.

Originally Posted by NickZ

I don't want to ask how much a notary would charge for such a thing.

FYI #2 in France you get "certified translations" done by a translator. They put stamps and signatures on translations. I don't know if that would be legally valid in Italy, but it might go a long way. They charge around €60 per page or document. (It was €60 to translate the two sides of a plastic-card-style U.S. driver's license.)

You find translators through the Translators' Association:
CETIECAP : Experts Traducteurs et Interprtes - Paris - Accueil
(note when searching under État some are listed as "traducteur" and some "traducteur et interprète", so you want to search both categories separately.)

The translator I used is listed as doing both Italian and English, so if your Indian license is in English and you're looking to have something in Italian I can point you to her.

I would expect rental car agencies aren't going to ask how long you've been resident--they expect you're a tourist. As Bev said, it's a different matter if you have an accident and police or (more likely?) insurance start checking on it. Up to you to decide what risks you want to take...

[simantadatta]

Originally Posted by maartenvd

FYI #1: there is a driving school in Paris that does theory training and exams in English. The driving test itself, though, is always in French as far as I know.

Yes, I know there's an English driving school in Paris, but I live down south in Angouleme, 500km! So can't work that out. I was ready to spend money if there was an English school here, but the ones I approached dont know English. So learning the rules in French (well, I saw an English highway code for French available to purchase online), then having a French guy from work help me as a sworn translator in the theory exam (for which there's a 3-5 months wait time), .. and after all that passing the practical !! I just don't see enough light at the end of the tunnel! So I think I'll just live without driving in France after this year. The only thing that bothered me was the point that I should atleast be able to drive in other countries when I lets say take 1 week's vacation to Italy or Belgium.. it's much more convenient to drive than hop on trains and buses with a wife and 2 yrs old!

Originally Posted by maartenvd

The translator I used is listed as doing both Italian and English, so if your Indian license is in English and you're looking to have something in Italian I can point you to her.

Thanks for info and help, I have an IDP from India which should work along with my English licence (Indian) in Italy, I suppose?

Originally Posted by maartenvd

I would expect rental car agencies aren't going to ask how long you've been resident--they expect you're a tourist. As Bev said, it's a different matter if you have an accident and police or (more likely?) insurance start checking on it. Up to you to decide what risks you want to take...

I'm definitely NOT going to drive in France after 1 year even if rental car companies don't check nothing! But what's not very clear to me is how the rules apply on my specific case. I actually checked a few more sites (including Angloinfo), but I think my question is very specific.. and the rules aren't, not always.

[Gibbar]

A little off topic: according to what u wrote I can drive for a year with a non French license in France starting from the date of my residence card?? Not from the date I entered France??

[simantadatta]

Originally Posted by Gibbar

A little off topic: according to what u wrote I can drive for a year with a non French license in France starting from the date of my residence card?? Not from the date I entered France??

Correct. The govt. site clearly says that. "Si vous êtes étranger non-européen, votre permis de conduire non-européen est valable pendant un délai maximum d'un an suivant : la date de début de validité de votre premier titre de séjour en France " See below

Conduire en France avec un permis non-européen - Service-public.fr

[maartenvd]

Originally Posted by simantadatta

Correct. The govt. site clearly says that. "Si vous êtes étranger non-européen, votre permis de conduire non-européen est valable pendant un délai maximum d'un an suivant : la date de début de validité de votre premier titre de séjour en France " See below

Conduire en France avec un permis non-européen - Service-public.fr

Wow, that page is much clearer than what I saw before, and they even cover the case of a European citizen with a non-EU driver's license.

(I'm not sure where the 6+12=18 months comes from given that EU citizens aren't required to register or have a Titre de Séjour if they're not working, but that's kind of academic; I'm sure the answer stays the same.)