The international permit is necessary to drive in some countries. Are you going abroad soon? You wish to rent a car or drive a car on the spot. But do you have the right to do so? You will find out about the rules in force and the steps to take in this article.
Where are you going? In Europe or elsewhere?
Your French driving licence is required to drive in France. This national licence is also sufficient to drive in Europe and at least temporarily to drive in several non-European countries.
At the risk of getting stuck, and generally speaking, if you wish to drive abroad, you will need to have an international driving licence. This is in fact a transcription of your national licence in different languages. If you are checked in a foreign country, you will be able to show your international licence.
The process to obtain the international permit is quite simple, but it is best to apply a few weeks (or even more!) before your departure. The time required by the administration to create your international permit is not necessarily short (from several weeks to several months depending on the time of year).
In which country do you need an international licence?
For European countries, if you are only passing through for tourist reasons, your French document is sufficient.
In many countries, however, you will need your precious international sesame to be able to rent and drive there.
There are some countries, such as Mauritius for example, where the French driving licence is accepted, but the international licence is however highly recommended!
In still other countries, an international licence is required to drive there. This is the case if you are visiting Dubai to enjoy the beaches and activities for a few days. The Bonjour Dubai blog reports that some French people have been unable to rent cars at the airport with only a French licence. The international title was then mandatory.
In the United States, if you stay less than 3 months, it is likely that your French license will be recognized. But it's best to check according to the states in which you plan to travel.
In South Africa, your driver's licence is only recognized if it is translated by the consulate.
In China, it is not possible to drive, whether you have your national or international document.
Be sure to find out about the rules in force in the countries you plan to visit. It would be a shame to get stuck at a rental or even worse to have to go to the police station because your documents are not in order.
All information about the international driving licence
The first condition for applying is that your national licence is valid. This means, among other things, that you do not have a licence with no points or that is temporarily suspended. You must be in good standing to apply.
The international permit is valid for 3 years.
If you have already applied a few months or years ago, you will have to think about checking the validity period before you leave. If the valuable document is no longer valid, you will have to renew it as if you were applying for the first time.
It is also compulsory to have your French driving licence with you during a control. This means that you will be able to present both documents when you rent a car or during a control.
If you no longer have your national title, you will have to reapply and provide some documents to confirm your identity in addition to a declaration of loss or theft. Remember to make sure that you are well informed so that you don't get stuck on D-day.
As far as the application for an international permit is concerned, it is done directly on the ANTS website. You will need to provide some supporting documents such as your identity card, a recent proof of residence and a copy of your driving licence. A passport photo is also required.
Finally, be aware that the application can take from a few weeks to several months depending on the time of year. It is therefore better to anticipate your request, especially if your trip is fast approaching. It is not possible to make an accelerated application, except for professionals, but it will be necessary to attach documents relating to professional travel
