Our Blog - Exchanging our licenses

Not a "where did we go" kind of blog entry, but a "how we did something" blog. This one has to do with getting a French driver's license .. a permis de conduire. Prior to 2013, the French license was a pink paper booklet but is now a more normal, plastic credit-card sized card. Note, these are just pictures I pulled from the web, not my own license.

To get one normally, you start by having to pass a "theory" test (the normal rules of the road), then take a driving school, and finish with a road test. One thing that (I think) is very different is how they handle "new" drivers. Mind you ... this could be the same in the US but we haven't been "new" drivers in the US for a very long time! A new driver starts with a probationary license which restricts their speeds (for example, they can only go 110 kph on a road with a 130 kph limit), they have to put this magnetic "A" on the back of their car, and they start with only 6 points.

Speaking of points ...France works on a 12-point license system where you *WANT* your points, unlike in the US where you do *NOT* want points. You start with 6 points and each year that you drive without losing any points, you get 2 points added. After 3 good years, you are up to your 12 points maximum. If you get a speeding ticket or get a DUI, you "lose" points. You get points back after a certain number of months without any violations and if you have no violations in a year, you get your 2 points added. You can also pay for a class at a local driving school to reinstate some number of points as well.

Now, if you don't want to take the tests and driving school (which is actually quite pricey) AND if you are lucky enough to have an American license from one of the few states in the US that have a reciprocal policy, you can just exchange your US license! You can check if your license can be exchanged ... here is a link from the Haute-Garonne site (but it should be easy to find it from your own Prefecture website as well). Now, you are required to do this within the first year that you have your resident card, so you have to get the process started when you get past the OFII (office of immigration) stamp on your visa. You used to do this in person but they have recently consolidated it to one of two places (Paris if you live in Paris, or Nantes for everyone else). It actually isn't *too* difficult!

To get ready, you need to download and fill out two different forms (in color). You will need to get both front-and-back of your US license translated by a certified translator (these can be found everywhere but it must be a certified translator, not your French neighbor). Also, contact your US DMV and get a "driving record" or "driving history". This hopefully shows that you have a clean driving record without tickets and accidents ... also get this translated. You need your passport with the OFII stamp on your visa, ad proof of residency (rental agreement, utility bills, etc). You'll also need to go get photo's taken ... it says 3 but I normally have a pack of 6 or so handy. Then make copies of everything.

For us (living in Toulouse), we were required to make an appointment to submit the file at our local Prefecture. This I believe is for non-EU people so if there are any EU people reading this ... check the exact process on your Prefecture website (I searched for "echange permis conduire etranger haute-garonne" and got to http://www.haute-garonne.gouv.fr/Demarches-administratives/Immigration-et-integration/Immigration/Echange-des-permis-de-conduire-etrangers for Haute-Garonne). When we started looking in November, they were booking 3 months out into February, which was a perfect time for us. We made our appointments (1 per person), and made sure we had everything ready.

Appointment day ... nothing really spectacular here. Show up on time, have all of your paperwork handy, smile a lot. A little bit of a joke ... we actually have had really good luck with getting VERY helpful people at the Prefecture in Toulouse. They took all of our documents and shipped our dossiers up to Nantes, and gave us a paper "temporary" license to drive on (since it is an exchange, they take your US license). Ours was valid for 4 months but I believe they are now giving them for 8 months. Within that time, you should receive your license in the mail (which we did just this morning!) From all the talk on the forums, there is really not any good way to find out the status of your license within the exchange process (sorry).

A few differences in driving laws ... priority is from the right unless you are driving on a road that is marked as a "priority road". There are lots of speed traps in France (including hidden in unmarked vehicles) and it’s illegal to have any device capable of detecting speed cameras in your car – if your SatNav has this feature, disable the alerts. Speed limits are also a bit different. Speed limits are different in wet weather on the higher-speed roads, and in some cases, there are not really speed limit signs. For example, the "urban" speed limit of 50 kph starts "at the town sign" even if there is no 50 limit sign. As you leave town, you may see a "end of speed limit sign", which is a white circle with a blank diagonal line, but not a new speed limit sign. That is because you would determine the new speed limit based on the road type ... 80 for outside of the urban area but not a divided highway, 90 for a divided highway, 110 for a dual carriageway, and 130 for toll roads. Sometimes you'll see an intermediate limit, like 70 kph in areas, and going through the middle of town or near a school is normally 30 kph.

Another difference is that it is required to keep a Yellow Vest and a Red Triangle in the car and readily accessible. The yellow safety visibility vest must be worn in case of emergencies and you must have it on when you exit the vehicle (so keep it in the vehicle not in the trunk). In addition, you must have a red reflective triangle that needs to be put at least 30 meters behind your stopped car to warn oncoming traffic. If you have a minor accident without injury, both drivers fill out a form, they get sent to each person's insurance company, and they handle working with the other company ... no police required. If there are injuries or if you can't get the cars out of the roadway, then you call the police (also if the other driver refuses to give you his information). You keep printed "European Accident" statements in your car so that you have them handy if anything happens.

So .. anyway ... we now have our French licenses (YEAH!) which are good for 15 years. One less thing to worry about.