Manon Posted September 26, 2022 Share Posted September 26, 2022 I wonder if anyone can help with this unforeseen problem. Friends moved here permanently from the USA in early September with a long stay visa while they apply for permanent residency. They hired a car and had started the process of buying one when a problem with insurance raised its head. Their driving licences were issued in a state which does NOT have a reciprocal arrangement with France and I’m told that they will therefore never be able to exchange them for French licences. They can hire a car for a maximum 185 days at the end of which they will need to have taken and passed the French driving Test ! My French is okay but I would be very nervous about this ( we are all in our 60s ) but their French is very, very basic. Is it possible to use an interpreter ? Can anyone offer any other possible solutions ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ssomon Posted September 26, 2022 Share Posted September 26, 2022 I seem to remember people exchanging a licence in one state for one in another, but this needs a short stay in the other state. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harnser Posted September 26, 2022 Share Posted September 26, 2022 2 hours ago, Manon said: I wonder if anyone can help with this unforeseen problem. Friends moved here permanently from the USA in early September with a long stay visa while they apply for permanent residency. They hired a car and had started the process of buying one when a problem with insurance raised its head. Their driving licences were issued in a state which does NOT have a reciprocal arrangement with France and I’m told that they will therefore never be able to exchange them for French licences. They can hire a car for a maximum 185 days at the end of which they will need to have taken and passed the French driving Test ! My French is okay but I would be very nervous about this ( we are all in our 60s ) but their French is very, very basic. Is it possible to use an interpreter ? Can anyone offer any other possible solutions ? If no other solution is available there is a driving school in Paris that specialises in coaching US citizens for the French test. www.frenchlicence.eu and https://www.frenchlicense.eu/about-us/ I know about them because I bought their Code de la Route book in english some years ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Judith Posted September 26, 2022 Share Posted September 26, 2022 We have american friends here, she has just had to go through the same palaver. I think she found a diriving school reasonably locally who was prepared to teach in English (obviously they are not like beginners but there are differecnes in teh highway codes of each country) but I know she went to Paris for possibly the test (possibly the written bit nor sure). I can find out more, if you wish. Just let me know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manon Posted September 26, 2022 Author Share Posted September 26, 2022 Thank you all - very helpful ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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