Update on the international driving permit

Hi everyone,

I just found out there’s an update on the international driving permit. What was bound to happen has happened: it now costs (for now!!) 7 50 €. https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/actualites/A18833

There’s also a link at the bottom of the article for the list of countries where it’s mandatory.

Have a great day! 😊

Christelle

Hi,

In New Caledonia, it's 3,000 XPF (25 €). Before, you had to pay with a fiscal stamp, but now you can pay by card.

Fred

Hello! If it’s really a 2- to 4-week wait like they say, I’m all for it!

That said, I’ve never understood why the national license is valid for 15 years and the international one for only 3... Thanks, Christelle, for the info.

A national license valid for 15 years??? Mine is unlimited.

It seems like you used to have to send a stamped envelope to get the permit.

It comes out to about the same as the 7.50 €.

I also notice the processing time has been significantly shortened, which is definitely a big improvement!😛

The national license valid for 15 years??? Mine has no expiry date.

Yours has no expiry date because it’s the old pink paper one, right? Though it’ll be illegal soon (2033, you’ve got plenty of time 😅).

The new plastic licenses are valid for 15 years—that’s line 4b—even if the license itself is technically unlimited (up to 12 points, of course 😉).

I think you used to have to send a stamped envelope beforehand to get the permit.

It comes out to about the same as the 7.50 €.

From what I remember (2023), you even had to send a tracked letter, which was more expensive

Yep, I still have the pink one. It’ll be 40 years old soon...🤪😄

I’ll wait until 2033 to change it, like a lot of people. Since the government won’t have hired enough staff to handle the rush, I won’t get the new version before 2035!😏

By 2050, I’m not even sure I’ll need to renew it...

I was in the same boat as you, except that to get an international permit, you need a photo of your national license, and mine was in two parts, which made it invalid (go figure!). I had to request the "credit card" version to get the international permit.

You mean torn?

I fixed mine with tape a while back, and it worked like a charm for the international permit in 2024. (And everywhere else so far).

I’d get started early for the next one, just in case they’re more picky...

Well, I must’ve run into an overzealous inspector because mine didn’t go through either...

Personally, with a photocopy, you really have to look closely to see the tape!

Those pink permits were still pretty sturdy, though.

Mine even got wet during a round-the-world trip (snow in August...).

Back to the international permit—it could just as easily be done at the police station. In two seconds, it’d be done since it’s just a handwritten copy on a cardboard form...