International Driving Permit
FR

International Driving Permit

by Boris44600

in Topics › Budget travel

Translated into English.

Original post
BO
Boris44600
Regularst Nazaire · 91 posts
Hi there.

I’m planning a getaway to Bali at the end of September. I’m a bit late applying for the international driving permit through the official site. Someone told me about https://international-permit.com/en-us. Is it reliable?

Thanks for your replies.
AT Attila Globetrotter ·
The international driving permit is only issued through the official website.
Un si beau paysage : concours de photos amical de juin 2026 Rubrique Jeux Voyages C'est le moment de poster vos meilleurs clichés !
TA Tatra Globetrotter ·
Hi there,

This site mainly offers a translation backed by some kind of automobile club. A bit like it used to be, you know, back when it worked and we weren’t practically and concretely deprived of the right to drive in certain countries? Is this version of the international permit recognized? I don’t know; probably during a check, since there’s no global model for an international permit, as far as I know, right? A police officer in any country doesn’t really know what to expect when checking a driver with a French license plus an international one—they mainly need a translation. It’s with insurance companies that I’d be much more cautious, since they always have an obvious interest in not paying out.

The question is a real headache, though, because the conditions for getting one in France are unacceptable and force well-meaning people into makeshift solutions.

Michel
AT Attila Globetrotter ·
I had looked into a trip. Unofficial permits aren’t valid.

They might get through some checks, but it’s a gamble.

What about insurance if you rent a vehicle with papers that aren’t in order?

The department in charge of permits is indeed the weakest link in French public services. It seems, though, that things have improved lately and the wait times have dropped to under three months. (Which is still huge.)
Un si beau paysage : concours de photos amical de juin 2026 Rubrique Jeux Voyages C'est le moment de poster vos meilleurs clichés !
TA Tatra Globetrotter ·
I had looked into a trip. Unofficial permits are not valid.

It’s clear that if you asked those who claim to issue the only official and recognized ones, they couldn’t have told you anything else. Who did you ask? In your opinion, if a Moldovan traveler, for example, applies for an international permit in their country, will they get a model similar to the one obtained in France, and will a police officer in Pakistan or Korea, say, be able to spot the difference and recognize the official one?

What about insurance when renting a vehicle with papers that aren’t in order?

You’re repeating what I said—the real issue is there.

The department in charge of permits is truly the last wheel of the cart in French public services.

Let’s be honest: it’s an absolute disgrace and definitely a service that should be dissolved and handed back to automobile clubs, as it was before.

Michel
AT Attila Globetrotter ·
I didn’t check with the official service, which is probably pretty hard to reach...
Un si beau paysage : concours de photos amical de juin 2026 Rubrique Jeux Voyages C'est le moment de poster vos meilleurs clichés !
TA Tatra Globetrotter ·
I didn’t check with the official service, which is probably pretty hard to reach...

So who should I ask then? And how do you recognize an "official" permit abroad? Is there a sign, a global organization that authorizes it?

Michel
AT Attila Globetrotter ·
You can just do some research. I can't be bothered to do it again. [:)]
Un si beau paysage : concours de photos amical de juin 2026 Rubrique Jeux Voyages C'est le moment de poster vos meilleurs clichés !
TA Tatra Globetrotter ·
Do tell us who you checked with, though.

Michel
AT Attila Globetrotter ·
I don’t keep records of every search I do.
Un si beau paysage : concours de photos amical de juin 2026 Rubrique Jeux Voyages C'est le moment de poster vos meilleurs clichés !
TA Tatra Globetrotter ·
Well, your argument isn’t very convincing, then. It’s tough to get reliable and precise info when your only references are people who have a vested interest, one way or another.
AT Attila Globetrotter ·
I have no stake in issuing international driving permits—or anywhere else, for that matter. [:P]
Un si beau paysage : concours de photos amical de juin 2026 Rubrique Jeux Voyages C'est le moment de poster vos meilleurs clichés !
TA Tatra Globetrotter ·
Me neither, but I think the question is interesting.

For example, I checked out the Bulgarian travel advice site! It’s easy—it’s in English. About driving licenses, it explains that non-EU residents can get a Bulgarian (and therefore European) license reissued at the consulate in just a few days, delivered by DHL. But there’s not a word about whether an international driving permit is needed. Why?

So, I took a quick look at the UK site: the equivalent page. There’s loads of info and details about whether you need an IDP or not. And most importantly, how to get one... And surprise—it’s online, commercial, quick, available at PayPoint stores for £5.5.

Canada, a VoyageForum favorite... It also seems commercial and easy there—takes a few days, probably costs a few bucks; check the national CAA site.

It’d be fun to keep benchmarking, but already, it’s clear that the situation we’re dealing with isn’t normal at all, and the comparison is looking pretty harsh.

Michel
AT Attila Globetrotter ·
Feel free to spin through pages if you want. [;)]
Un si beau paysage : concours de photos amical de juin 2026 Rubrique Jeux Voyages C'est le moment de poster vos meilleurs clichés !
TA Tatra Globetrotter ·
I was rather expecting you to make a positive contribution. However, the investigations seem to suggest that, despite its shady appearance to our skeptical eyes, the site in question might not be as bad as it seems, actually.

Michel
AT Attila Globetrotter ·
If you want to drive around with fakes, don’t let me stop you. I’m sure you’ll easily find perfectly set-up websites offering, with the best of intentions, driver’s licenses, ID cards, or passports that look more real than real.

Why bother going through government sites, one wonders...

See you in another discussion, Michel.
Un si beau paysage : concours de photos amical de juin 2026 Rubrique Jeux Voyages C'est le moment de poster vos meilleurs clichés !
TA Tatra Globetrotter ·
I don’t think these are fakes. They’re IDPs issued by an automobile club, just like in most countries around the world. What’s stopping an international automobile club from issuing an IDP based on a French European license? 🤔 France seems to be the odd one out by claiming a monopoly—one that’s particularly inefficient, at that. Is this just our fate, and do we have to put up with this burden? I don’t know. I’d really like to get to the bottom of this. So, if there’s anyone knowledgeable lurking around to help untangle this mess...

We’re all looking for ways to save money. Here we have something as useless as it is inefficient, which must certainly come at a cost. Typically, this would benefit from being privatized, like it was before and like it is elsewhere. You never know who might pick up ideas tossed out in public.
AT Attila Globetrotter ·
I really liked the response from one of these agencies to a scammed customer:

The acceptance of an IDP depends on the specific driving regulations of each country. We strongly advise travelers to check local requirements before driving abroad. If an official government-issued IDP is mandatory, we recommend obtaining one through the appropriate authorities.

Which in French means: Acceptance of an IDP depends on each country’s specific driving regulations. We highly recommend travelers check local requirements before driving abroad. If an official government-issued IDP is required, we advise getting one from the proper authorities.

So not from the agency...

If they themselves admit they don’t provide a valid IDP...
Un si beau paysage : concours de photos amical de juin 2026 Rubrique Jeux Voyages C'est le moment de poster vos meilleurs clichés !
TA Tatra Globetrotter ·
Alright... So now it’s about campaigning and spreading the word to restore our freedom in this area and privatize this service, following the example of the countries I mentioned and in everyone’s best interest.

Michel
AT Attila Globetrotter ·
Don't hesitate at all....
Un si beau paysage : concours de photos amical de juin 2026 Rubrique Jeux Voyages C'est le moment de poster vos meilleurs clichés !
TA Tatra Globetrotter ·
The sentence you're translating isn't clear either. The documents provided to the British and Canadians, for example, are perfectly valid without being issued by a government. It turns out that the countries where governments have claimed this monopoly aren't that numerous after all.

Michel
TA Tatra Globetrotter ·
I often manage to get results. I had a note removed from Copenhagen Airport’s website the other day, in the section about security filter instructions. Especially since there’s a great opportunity to save money here.😊

Michel
AT Attila Globetrotter ·
All you have to do is read everything written in the link...

Each country delegates the issuance of International Driving Permits to an approved office. Sometimes it’s an automobile association, but not always. In France, it’s the ANTS that was chosen.

If you want, you can request that it be delegated to the FNAC, but I’m afraid one part of the process might bother you...

There’s a verification of the validity of the driver’s license you submit against the database of said licenses...
Un si beau paysage : concours de photos amical de juin 2026 Rubrique Jeux Voyages C'est le moment de poster vos meilleurs clichés !
TA Tatra Globetrotter ·
I had one a while back—I think it was issued by the Alsace automobile club. It worked great, and if the whole world can manage without having this handled by a costly state agency that doesn’t even provide good service, there’s no reason it can’t change. Since an international permit isn’t valid on its own, the argument about verification doesn’t hold any real weight.

Michel
AT Attila Globetrotter ·
The question asked has been answered. Goodbye Michel
Un si beau paysage : concours de photos amical de juin 2026 Rubrique Jeux Voyages C'est le moment de poster vos meilleurs clichés !
TA Tatra Globetrotter ·
Glad I could help you ask the right questions and dig deeper into things. Your humble servant.

Michel
SO Solene40 Veteran ·
Hi Boris, You're right on time for the ANTS process, and it's free. They currently list a 4-month processing time.
Le monde est comme un miroir, si tu lui souris, il te sourit aussi!
SO Solene40 Veteran ·
Hi Tatra,

This page explains the rules pretty clearly for most countries: https://www.securite-routiere.gouv.fr/les-differents-permis-de-conduire/permis-international-et-permis-etranger/recapitulatif-des

Right now, the ANTS processing time is 4 months, and the service is still free 😅
Le monde est comme un miroir, si tu lui souris, il te sourit aussi!
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