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Car hire in France
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Driving in France on an Australian licence
International Driving Permit rules and car hire for Australians.
Yes - Australians need an International Driving Permit for France.
France requires an International Driving Permit alongside your Australian licence. Get it from your state motoring club before you leave - it cannot be issued once you are overseas.
Drives on the rightOpposite to Australia
Minimum age 18For most hire companies
$55-$120Typical daily hire
IDP required1949 Geneva Convention
Is hiring a car in France worth it?
Manual is the default and automatics cost noticeably more - book one specifically if you need it.
Typical daily hire runs $55-$120.
Where to hire a car in France
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What Australian drivers need to know in France
- Priorité à droite still applies on some unmarked junctions - traffic joining from your right has right of way.
- A high-visibility vest and warning triangle are compulsory in the car, and hire companies do not always supply them.
- Toll motorways (autoroutes à péage) are expensive; a Paris-Nice run is well over €80 in tolls alone.
- Speed cameras are everywhere and fines follow you home through the hire company.
Driving without the permit here means driving uninsured. Australian policies exclude claims from driving without a valid licence for that vehicle in that country, and in France the International Driving Permit is part of being validly licensed.
You can only get an International Driving Permit in Australia, before you fly - the state motoring clubs issue them for about $49 and it takes a fortnight to be safe. How to get one, and where it works.
More France essentials
France visa and entry rules
Passport, visa, arrival cards and customs rules for Australian passport holders.
Flights to France
Search fares from Australia, then sort the rest of the trip.
France eSIM plans
Instant data, no physical SIM required.
France travel insurance
Medical, cancellation and luggage cover for Australian travellers.
France money and cards
Cards, cash and FX fees for Australian travellers.
France airport transfers
Trains, buses, private transfers and taxis compared.
France travel essentials
Adapters, plugs, tap water, tipping and health basics.
Things to do in France
Attractions, tours and passes worth booking ahead.
Further reading: International Driving Permit: which countries Australians need one for
How these comparisons are made
Licence and permit rules come from the destination's road authority and the Australian motoring clubs that issue International Driving Permits, and each page states whether an IDP is legally required, required in practice by hire companies, or genuinely not needed - three different situations most sites blur into one. Read the full editorial policy.
France driving FAQs
Do I need an International Driving Permit in France?
Yes. France requires foreign drivers to carry a 1949 Geneva Convention International Driving Permit with their home licence. Apply through your state motoring club in Australia before you leave - you cannot obtain one in France, and hire companies will refuse the car.
Planning France?
We will send you the France guide as it grows - what to book before you go, which eSIM and travel card are worth it there, and what things actually cost in Australian dollars.