Do I Need an International Driving Permit in France?Rule for all foreign drivers
A valid non-EU/EEA licence can be used for short stays if it is written in French or accompanied by an IDP or an official French translation. A translation made abroad must be legalised or apostilled. UK licences need no IDP.
- Licence alone is enough if: written in French
- Otherwise you need: An IDP or an official translation
Source: Service-Public.fr (French government), via justice.fr (official source), checked 10 November 2026.
Rule for all foreign drivers
A valid non-EU/EEA licence can be used for short stays if it is written in French or accompanied by an IDP or an official French translation. A translation made abroad must be legalised or apostilled. UK licences need no IDP.
- Licence alone is enough if: written in French
- Otherwise you need: An IDP or an official translation
Source: Service-Public.fr (French government), via justice.fr (official source), checked 10 November 2026.
Rules for all foreign drivers in France
A valid non-EU/EEA licence can be used for short stays if it is written in French or accompanied by an IDP or an official French translation. A translation made abroad must be legalised or apostilled. UK licences need no IDP.
- Licence alone is enough if: written in French
- Otherwise you need: An IDP or an official translation
- How long a visitor can drive: Short stays
- Exception for licences from United Kingdom: UK licence accepted without IDP or translation
Source: Service-Public.fr (French government), via justice.fr (official source), checked 10 November 2026.
Which IDP version France accepts
France is a party to both the 1949 Geneva and the 1968 Vienna Convention, so both IDP formats are recognised.
| Convention | Status |
|---|---|
| 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic | Party (ratified 15 September 1950) |
| 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic | Party (ratified 9 December 1971) |
Source: United Nations Treaty Collection.
Getting the right IDP for France
Ask for the 1949 or 1968 IDP. In the UK: PayPoint stores (choose the 1949 or 1968 IDP). In the US: AAA. In Canada: CAA. Elsewhere: your national automobile club or licensing authority.
What the UK, US and Canadian governments tell their citizens
No IDP needed with a UK photocard licence or an EU/EEA licence. The Canadian advice does not say.
UK licence holdersUK licence accepted, no IDP needed.With a photocard licence.Source: UK FCDO, updated 22 October 2026
US licence holdersNot covered by this source.
Canadian licence holdersNot stated in the advice, check the source.Source: Government of Canada, updated 6 November 2026- EU/EEA licence holdersEU/EEA licence accepted, no IDP needed.Source: Your Europe (European Union), Directive 2006/126/EC
What the governments say
Short quotes from each government's travel advice for its own citizens. The wording is theirs.
UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
You can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in France. If you still have a paper driving licence, you may need to update it to a photocard licence or get the correct version of the international driving permit (IDP) as well.
Source: UK FCDO travel advice for France, updated 22 October 2026. Quoted as published.
Questions
Can I drive in France with a foreign licence?
A valid non-EU/EEA licence can be used for short stays if it is written in French or accompanied by an IDP or an official French translation. A translation made abroad must be legalised or apostilled. UK licences need no IDP. Source: Service-Public.fr (French government), via justice.fr.
How long can a visitor drive in France?
Short stays. Source: Service-Public.fr (French government), via justice.fr.
Can I drive in France with a 1968 IDP?
Yes. France is a party to the 1968 Vienna Convention (ratified 9 December 1971), so a 1968 IDP is recognised. Carry it together with your national driving licence.
Can I drive in France with a 1949 IDP?
Yes. France is a party to the 1949 Geneva Convention (ratified 15 September 1950), so a 1949 IDP is recognised. Carry it together with your national driving licence.
Do UK licence holders need an IDP in France?
No. A UK photocard driving licence is accepted in France. Source: UK FCDO, updated 22 October 2026.
Do Canadian licence holders need an IDP in France?
The Government of Canada advice does not say. Source: Government of Canada, updated 6 November 2026.
Do EU licence holders need an IDP in France?
No. An EU/EEA driving licence is recognised in France. Source: Your Europe (European Union), Directive 2006/126/EC.
About International Driving Permits
What is an International Driving Permit?
An International Driving Permit (IDP) is an official translation of your national driving licence, set out in a standard format agreed under United Nations road traffic conventions.
An IDP is not a licence on its own. It is valid only when carried together with your valid national driving licence. During a traffic stop, you must show both documents.
An IDP helps because it allows police, car rental companies and insurers abroad to read and understand your licence details, even where the language differs from their own.
You can only obtain an IDP from the country that issued your driving licence, and you must do this before you travel. It cannot be obtained or renewed once you are abroad.
Whether you need an IDP depends on your destination, where your licence was issued and sometimes how long you plan to stay. The answer for this country is at the top of this page.
1949 or 1968 IDP: which one do you need?
There are two main IDP formats, based on two UN road traffic conventions: the 1949 Geneva Convention and the 1968 Vienna Convention. An older format, based on the 1926 Paris Convention, is still required in a few countries.
The 1949 IDP is valid for 1 year from the date of issue. The 1968 IDP is valid for up to 3 years, or until your national licence expires, whichever comes first.
Your destination decides which format it accepts, based on the convention or conventions it has joined. Some countries are party to both the 1949 and 1968 conventions.
If you are visiting several countries on one trip, you may need more than one IDP, depending on which conventions each country has joined.
| Format | Based on | Validity |
|---|---|---|
| 1949 IDP | 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic | 1 year from date of issue |
| 1968 IDP | 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic | Up to 3 years, or until your national licence expires, whichever comes first |
| 1926 IDP | 1926 Paris Convention | Required in a few countries only |
The page for each country shows which convention it has joined.
Related
- International Driving Permit: all countries
- Do I need an IDP in Spain?
- Do I need an IDP in Belgium?
- Do I need an IDP in Germany?
- Do I need an IDP in Italy?
- How to get citizenship of France
Sources and methodology
- Service-Public.fr (French government), via justice.fr: rules for foreign drivers in France (official source), checked 10 November 2026.
- UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: travel advice for France. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Government of Canada: travel advice for France. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada.
- Your Europe (European Union): recognition of driving licences, Directive 2006/126/EC.
- United Nations Treaty Collection: status of the 1949 and 1968 road traffic conventions.
The licence statuses above were checked by hand against the government text on 9 November 2026. Government advice changes often: confirm the current rules with the official source before you travel.
Last checked 9 November 2026.