French driving license

[Bevdeforges]

Originally Posted by whitelilac

OK thanks!

But you know I as most Americans drive an automatic!
I never drove a stick-shift (manual)!

So can I learn the 'code de la route' myself on the internet, then have my bf teach me to drive a car with the stick shift, then what do I do about getting a double boxed car? Can I rent it will it be cheaper than going through a Auto ecole?


thankss!!

Another big difference between Europe and the US - in most countries (and I think France is one of them) you have to take your driving and written tests through an official driving school. (It does mean you get to use the driving school's car to take the driving test, though.) A decent driving instructor can also show you all the little "tricks" the examiners use and they generally know all the favorite spots in the area for testing.

In Germany, the auto school instructor let me just do some sessions in the car to prep for the test. He said I could sit in on the classes, but I just bought a copy of the exam questions and studied on my own from that. The written tests here are considerably harder than those given in the US. There may be more than one correct answer, and if so, you have to pick all the correct answers to get the question correct.

Some of the US expat groups are pushing more states to establish reciprocity with France, but I honestly think they should back off. To drive over here you need to know how to drive a stick shift car and you ought to learn some of the subtle differences in the rules of the road and driving habits.
Cheers,
Bev

[Coton90]

Originally Posted by Bevdeforges

Another big difference between Europe and the US - in most countries (and I think France is one of them) you have to take your driving and written tests through an official driving school. (It does mean you get to use the driving school's car to take the driving test, though.) A decent driving instructor can also show you all the little "tricks" the examiners use and they generally know all the favorite spots in the area for testing.

In Germany, the auto school instructor let me just do some sessions in the car to prep for the test. He said I could sit in on the classes, but I just bought a copy of the exam questions and studied on my own from that. The written tests here are considerably harder than those given in the US. There may be more than one correct answer, and if so, you have to pick all the correct answers to get the question correct.

Some of the US expat groups are pushing more states to establish reciprocity with France, but I honestly think they should back off. To drive over here you need to know how to drive a stick shift car and you ought to learn some of the subtle differences in the rules of the road and driving habits.
Cheers,
Bev

"Some of the US expat groups are pushing more states to establish reciprocity with France, but I honestly think they should back off."

Agree. European driving isn't the same as driving in the States. The rules are very different, e.g., you don't pass someone on the right in Germany or France unless there's a bottleneck. As another example there's a Good Samaritan Law and if there's an accident, you are required to stop and render assistance. As a final example, you are required to have a warning triangle, first-aid kit and reflective vest in your car at all times.

With a few exceptions, the signs are completely different than in the States (Ausfahrt is not a town in Germany). You must know who has the right of way at intersections. For these reasons, the U.S. military requires you pass a European driver's exam if you want to drive in Europe while working for them.

The driving conditions on the Autoroutes in France and Autobahns Germany demand more focus than a lot of Americans are accustomed to but you get used to it. All things considered I prefer driving on them than the Capital Beltway in D.C. At least there's no 18 wheelers passing you on the right in Europe.

Regarding the requirement to know how to drive a stick shift, I think some verification is in order here. We (my French wife and I) haven't heard about that. There are certainly a good number of automatics on the road.

Happy Motoring!

[Bevdeforges]

Originally Posted by Coton90

Regarding the requirement to know how to drive a stick shift, I think some verification is in order here. We (my French wife and I) haven't heard about that. There are certainly a good number of automatics on the road.

Depends on what you mean by "a good number." They were advertising automatic transmissions a couple years ago, but that campaign kind of fell by the wayside.

I don't know if you can do a driving school program strictly on an automatic - but if you do, I suspect your license may be restricted to an automatic vehicle.
Cheers,
Bev

[Matou]

The one year limit should not be taken lightly because thereafter it will be impossible to convert the non-EU licence and driving with it will be considered as driving with no licence at all. It mighth be possible to fast talk the cops a few times but if it does not work the driver could be prossecuted. Driving with no licence is a criminal ofence with a possible outcome of up to 1 y. of prison and/or a fine up to € 15.000. "Récidive" (repeating the ofence in the next five years) can lead to even harsher sanctions. Nowadays in France there is an increase of cases involving drivers with no licence (and no insurance) and the authorities have opted out for the hard line policy...

[Dashenka]

Anybody knows a good and cheap driving school around Paris?

I've called a couple of places today. At the only English-speaking school that I know I got an answering machine. Then I've called at least 7 places in my little town - one asked me to call back, another told me to wait a few months until my French gets better, and the rest didn't seem professional... comedy.

Also, fyi, you can register at the perfecture as the candidat libre and take the tests for free. The wait though is 6-8 months.

[Bevdeforges]

You might try taking a look at this site: http://www.auto-ecole.org/. They have a search function where you can find all the auto-écoles in your département. Only a few of them seem to have websites.

I get the feeling that the auto-écoles are one of those protected industries here in France. They all seem to charge about the same fees for lessons, and the small, single-owner shops simply have no ability to deal with foreigners in any language other than French.

What some folks do is to go back to the US to one of the states that has reciprocity with France and use the address of a friend or family member to get an exchangeable license.
Cheers,
Bev

[basque]

Originally Posted by southernguy

I am looking into obtaining a French Driver's License. I have a California driver's license and was wondering if that can be exchanged for a French license. I think about 10 states have reciprocity with France and since California doesn't appear to be one of them, i am wondering with all the changes going on in EU whether France has actually included California in this exchange program. Also, where do you go to do a driver's license exchange and who can one email for direct information?
Thanks

IF you are a registered member with the French consulat in either San Francisco or LA you can exchange your California drivers license for a French one if done within a year of the last consecutive six months you had lived in California. Of course to have registered with the French consulat you have to have been French born (I had immigrated to the US with my parents at the age of 2 years)

maybe that helps...

Basque

[Bevdeforges]

Originally Posted by basque

IF you are a registered member with the French consulat in either San Francisco or LA you can exchange your California drivers license for a French one if done within a year of the last consecutive six months you had lived in California. Of course to have registered with the French consulat you have to have been French born (I had immigrated to the US with my parents at the age of 2 years)

maybe that helps...

Basque

Thanks for the attempt - but I think southernguy was asking about license reciprocity for Americans moving to France. It's nice to know, though, for the French nationals living overseas!
Cheers,
Bev

[frenchie]

Originally Posted by basque

IF you are a registered member with the French consulat in either San Francisco or LA you can exchange your California drivers license for a French one if done within a year of the last consecutive six months you had lived in California. Of course to have registered with the French consulat you have to have been French born (I had immigrated to the US with my parents at the age of 2 years)

maybe that helps...

Basque

Basque,

I am highly interested in how one go about that. Do you just call the consulate and ask them about it? In my online research, only diplomats (or personnes titulaires d’une carte spéciale délivrée par le ministère des Affaires étrangères) had the options if you didn't live in one of the US state allowed for the reciprocity by the French Government.

Thanks.