I exchanged my Connecticut DL for a French driver's license. I've just been told that I must have a specific type of (French) license for automatic/manual cars. I don't understand this. Sam, help?!?..... (again!)
My French license does not specify. Must I go all the way tp Grasse (where I got it) to inquire? Someone suggested if I am involved in an accident it could become an issue. They painted a not-so-pretty picture, and now I'm really concerned about it.
Thanks in advance for any advice.

I'm a little bit confused (as I imagine you are too!!) - did you get a French license or not? If so, what type did they give you? Who told you this?

The French do have a special license for automatic cars - it's called a permis automatique, but you only need that one if you can't drive a manual car. If you can drive a manual car, you get the normal one, as it's assumed that you'll be able to drive an automatic since you can drive a manual.

Sam,
Long story! If you have some time, go to AI and review my threads under "Cars & Driving", one is "Standard Info", the other is "Specific License Required". And Yes, I am VERY confused. I am grateful for your help, Sam, so thank you.

PS: Hope you enjoyed your Christmas. I wish you all the best for a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year!

Hello Ameri-cannes and Sam !

You don't need a specific license to drive an automatic car !
You can drive any car you want with your french license.
Other licenses are for truck, passenger transportation, motorbike, etc...

Hey TOC!!!
It's so good to know you're still around. I've missed you!
Thanks for setting my mind at ease. I certainly trust you more than I would most others. Hope your holidays were filled with love and laughter! Best wishes to you for a fabuluous New Year!
Take care and I hope to see more of you around here! :)

Hey ameri-cannes !
Bonne année 2007 !
Nice to read you again. I hope you will meet ton of new friends this year.
And be carreful with your automatic car . Don't crush me if you find me on your way... :)
I was in Cannes last week to get hundred of windsurfs shots during a windy day.

TOC-
I was driving along the Croisette (near the carnival) on Sunday. Through the very slow traffic I was watching some guys surfing near the shore. Were you one of those crazy people? :D

Thanks, and Happy New Year to you, too, my friend. I wish you all the best life has to offer.


By the way, my car is a standard, but I drive it like it's an automatic :o

Lol. No, I do windsurf sometimes... But I was just here to get photos.
I would like to try kite-surf. It seems very interesting ... plus, I know wind,sailing, and I did paraglading during 4 years. I just need time to try...
I am a sailing boat skipper too . Almost every year , on May, during 3 days, I do a race named "la croisière bleue" between Antibes and Calvi (Corse).
:)

Oooh, quite the daredevil, are you?! :cool:

Sure... Quite makes all the difference....:rolleyes:

Toc, you like living on the edge. I respect that, and even envy you a bit. I wish I was still so daring. Motherhood has made me overly cautious, I think. I'm afraid of even the slightest little things now.

wait, so ameri-cannes, did you get a french licence?

i've been looking into getting a driver's licence. except i don't even have one in the US as i never bothered to take the test (but i DO know how to drive an automatic car, and i'm quite good at it!). i wanted to get my licence in the US but it is just all so complicated and someone has to drive me to the DMV and everything, and since it would be a NY licence, i don't think i can exchange it.

my boyfriend says i should just get my french licence and then worry about the US one later, but it all just seems so complicated and really expensive to get my licence in france. plus, i'd have to learn how to drive a manual car and judging from the few times my boyfriend tried to teach me, i am not so good at it. i don't suppose any other non-french people (here on this board, i mean) have passed their driver's licence in france?

Hey, I can't exchange my license either, so I'm currently enrolled in an auto-école and studying to pass le code. It really sucks, and I will be so happy when it's over with. But just so you know, you're not obligated to take the driving exam on a manual - as I said earlier in the thread, the French have a special license for people who can only drive an automatic. If you pass the driving exam this way, you will then have at least three years (and maybe even five, I can't remember) to go back and pass it on a manual without having to retake the written exam again.

The crappy thing for you is that since you don't have an American license, they are going to make you do the 20 heures de conduite obligatoire. 20 hours is actually the minimum, most people end up doing 30 or more. And at 30+ euros per hour, it can really add up. Even at 20 hours, it will still cost you around 1200€ to pass your test. At least in that way, I'm lucky because I don't have to do les 20 heures, which will mean I'll "only" end up paying around 400€ to pass the test here.

The funny thing is that I've have my own (automatic) car and have been driving here for over a year now already!!

yah, my bf and i were looking at prices to get a french licence and the classes and stuff and here in paris, it comes down to about 1200 euros (yikes!).

i don't know, i think maybe i should just pass my drivers licence in the states and then i can drive for a year in paris on my US licence before needing to take the test to have a french licence. also, i think i would rather learn how to drive a manual car since my bf, his family, and our friends all have manual cars so if one day i am the designated driver i suppose it would be helpful to know how to drive a manual.

ok, this is going to be a really stupid question, but how long does it take to get a US licence? i suppose i would have to take the written exam, and that gives me a learner's permit and then i have to take a driving class and then i can pass my licence (hopefully on the 1st try). i assume it probably takes about 6-8 weeks total, or am i totally wrong?

I really have no idea how long it takes to get a licence in the US, it's been over ten years since I've taken mine!!

The other thing you might want to be careful of is this - I'm not sure if you will be able to drive for a year on an American licence since you've already been living here. Normally this rule only applies to the first year you live in France:

If you are a resident of France (holder of a carte de séjour or carte de residence), you may drive in France with a valid U.S. (not International) driver's license for a one-year recognition period, beginning on the date of validity of the first carte de séjour (exception for students who are allowed to use their driver's license for the duration of their studies).

Parisiannenewyorker,
Any chance you know someone in Connecticut? You could use their address as yours, go to CT DMV & get CT license, then just trade that for french? You should call me. Let me know, I'll email you my #.
Kim

BTW, yes I exchanged my CT for french license. On a trip back to US, I went to DMV & got another copy, so now I have both.

hey ameri-cannes


thanks for the idea re: CT address, but it is just way too complicated...i do know people in CT but they all only have country houses there and it would just be too much hassle to receive mail and stuff there since i still have my apt in NYC subleted out, and i receive mail there as well as at my mom's place...plus i was thinking it will be even more of a hassle when i register to vote an absentee ballot...

ah well, i will look into getting my licence in the US and see how long it takes and how much it costs....

Why would you still get an American license? It wouldn't be valid in France anymore anyways, as it's only valid the first year you are in France. So it would be cheaper, but still wouldn't do you any good if you want to drive here...

hey all

well, i don't really want to drive in france. it's my bf who wants me to drive but we don't even have a car in paris, so we have to take the train to his parents house and then pick up the car which is just way too much trouble for me. he says i should get a licence because it will be useful (like when he wants to drink at parties). but then again he doesn't want to pay the 1200 euros for me to get one, and i'm perfectly happy without the licence.

i do think it might be nice to have one in the US though. it would be more convenient for me to drive in the US so i don't have to rely only on public transportation or taxis.

i know the logic probably doesn't make sense for anyone else, but for some reason, in my mind it makes perfect sense. it's hard to explain....;)