How I Got My French Driver's License in Three Weeks
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- Опубликовано: 31 май 2024
- I got my French driver's license in just over three weeks, here's how (links for US divers in France below). Help me make better videos at / jayswanson and then find me on the internet in all of the usual spots:
🚗 US DRIVERS:
Find out if your state has driver's license reciprocity with France: franceintheus.org/spip.php?ar...
Find out what you need to do to exchange it if you do: fr.usembassy.gov/wp-content/u...
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Music by: @Sonny Greenwich Jr (Also a Patron! 🥰)
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Shooting/droning help from: @Puxan
My French Driving School: La Maison du Conducteur, Paris
If you want to get your French drivers license, or have the french driving test explained (at least through my story of getting my French driver's license in Paris) then look no further - I highly recommend passing the code de la route with the help of La Maison du Conducteur in Paris, he does speak English and has an automatic transmission car now if that's a sticking point for getting your French driving permit.
00:00 - My French Driver's License
02:22 - 1. My Life's Experience for Naught
04:50 - 2. So Why Now?
06:45 - 3. Fear from Ignorance
08:05 - 4. One Thing at a Time
09:55 - 5. Code de la Route
13:18 - 6. No Driving in Paris
14:20 - The Signage
16:20 - 7. Priorite a Droite
17:55 - 8. Written Test
21:56 - 8.2 Practical Test
27:35 - The Bonus Perks
My name is Jay Swanson - I'm an American writer living in Paris on an artist visa and hoping to make the city of light my home base - at least for the foreseeable future. I write science-fiction and fantasy, vlogged daily for 3+ years, and love pizza a little too much.
Links below to Amazon are affiliate links - meaning if you click through them and buy something, I'll get some pennies. Thanks! (The FTC wants me to tell you that up front)
FAQ:
How long have you lived in France? Over four years now, holy cow.
What do you miss most about ho- NACHOS
You're always talking about living on some ship. WHAT SHIP? - I made a "Draw My Life" video that explains a lot here: • Draw My Life
Where are you from originally? - Pullman, Washington - a small university/agricultural town near Idaho (and yes, the potatoes are amazing).
What do you film with? - I've made a lot of changes recently, but I try to keep my gear list up to date if you want to see what I use and buy some for yourself: bit.ly/JaysGearList
What do you edit with? - Adobe Premiere - it's pretty much all I've ever used since high school.
Aren't you ever freaked out by leaving your camera behind to film yourself? - Yep. But not too badly - I tend to be careful when I do.
Why are you living in #Paris? - Because I've always wanted to; I feel at home here: • Why I Want to Live in ...
Do you speak French? - Oui. • Un Jour en Francais (E...
Do you make money off RUclips? - Ha, sorta. I wish. It took me over 500 videos to make my first total $100 off adsense. I think it will slowly change, but VERY slowly.
I really enjoy your videos, how can I support you? - The easiest and best way to support me is through Patreon, where you can pitch in as little as $5/mo to help me make better videos: / jayswanson
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Thanks for watching!
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The 48 hours after the practical test is fairly recent. The reason is to protect the examiners from the rage of those who fail. It was a serious problem when they told the prospective driver s/he'd failed.
"The rage of those who fail". Wahahaha
I didn't think that hearing about the French driver's license system could be so entertaining -- but you did that thing!
You look great Jay, rested and well. Hope you enjoy the holidays
Thank you! Happy holidays to you too!
We really enjoyed the story telling/narration style of this video. You made it a lot of fun to watch with the little comments regarding the French system of obtaining a license.
I immediately reached for my volume button, to turn off the music I thought was playing on my computer, I almost fell off my chair! Thanks, Jay for playing the song! And of course huge congrats on getting the license! I worked as a coursier (scooter courier) in Paris for a company called Reels On Wheels delivering English language videos, oh so many years ago... 🔥🧨💪🏽🤠👍🏽🧨🔥
Awesome Jay had your music!
@@PaulYeghouchian I know! To say I'm proud would be an understatement! ☘💪🏽👀👍🏽☘
The cool thing about the rural Midwest is that I started driving at 13 😎
So proud of you Jay! What an amazing accomplishment!
OMG! What a freaking adventure. Well played professor. Thanks for sharing.
Thoroughly enjoyed this. Thanks Jay.
Congrats Jay!🚗🚗🚗🚗🚗
So happy for you! I can’t wait to watch your new adventures. Merry Christmas Jay!
Thank you!
Awesome! Thanks for making this and congrats on the license!
P.S. The right of way thing is how it is here in Sweden too. . . .as far as I know, all of Scandinavia actually has what we call höger regel and the round abouts are the same. I'm in the same boat you've been in so I've only ever driven in Norway :p If somebody drives me to the border I can drive on the other side but Sweden is a no no. My Swedish DL is my next thing to tackle actually.
It's a great one to tackle, definitely feels like a relief to have it behind me
Bravo!! Congratulations! That was a very informative video and really well done. 👏👏👏👏👏👏
Thanks Karin!
Congratulations and happy motoring!
Thank you!
Good luck with your Driving license, Jay & have lots of fun in 2022.
Thanks!
Congrats Jay, heroic job!!
Thank you!
Canadian living in London here. The moment I was eligible I swapped my Ontario licence for a UK one. Other than getting an automatic only licence, I don't regret it one bit... except that it's terrifying to drive here. Tons of weird signs, lane signs that don't match the markings on the road, etc. Every drive is an adventure!
I found that to be one major perk to being forced to take the test, now I understand all the crazy signs (even if I'm annoyed by half haha)
@@JaySwanson Definitely a good point. To prepare myself I downloaded several theory test practice apps and repeatedly failed over irrelevant things (like questions about changing gears, mechanical questions, etc.). But I've got the signs down now, and I'm confident driving my usual routes, it's just when Google Maps decides to take me an alternate route that things get scary.
@Léopold van Aubel Sure, but that probably has a lot to do with drivers' reactions to perceived risk... and of course the drives are more territorial in North America.
I'm Canadian living in Scotland and I decided it's not for me. Driving in Glasgow is seriously messed. I've driven all over the world and this is the worst. Even as a passenger I can't even spot the traffic lights. Lol. Bus lanes....and stupid sign placements. Ppl parking on the road when there's only one lane. 🙄 pulling over to let the other car pass etc... I HATE it. Now I just Walk!! Haha. I miss Canadian driving.
Wow this video was amazing. Totally amazing edited.
Thank you!
Brilliantly edited and put together story Jay. Good to see it like usual.
Thanks!
C'est incroyable les obstacles qui peuvent être franchis quand on a de l'énergie et une vue précises. Bravo!
Congratulations Jay! You’ve definitely earned that. French bureaucracy! Aaaargh!! It’s definitely so much easier over here in the Uk. Loved the video. Great to see Mssrs Taylor and Assal too ! Here’s to some fab road trips next year! 👍
All right…well prepared video…professional and we enjoyed it. You look great and told a good story. Keep it up, man.!😃
Thanks Paul!
Great tips! Very helpful information. Thank you!
My pleasure!
Congratulations xx
Congrats, Jay!!!
Thank you!
Ooh I'm excited to see more travel!
Me too! 🥳
Great video and valuable information. Good job. You did it.
Thank you!
Great stuff Jay.
What a great story.
Thank you!
I wasn't even this intrigued by getting my own license, but here I am, 30 minutes deep on your adventure. That was highly entertaining, Jay. I've said it before, but long-form storytelling Jay videos are the best videos. Congrats on getting your license.
Thanks so much Ryan!
Congratulations Jay! I'm so happy for you! All the adventures we are gonna have 😁😁😁😍😍😍.
Can I just say you are looking beautiful,all that self care and exercise you look incredible! Sending you much love 😘😘😘
Thank you so much Maiko 🥰
Love this vlog. What a bureacratic fuddle this France is. I salute you for muddling thru it and persevering. And now you're officially a driver. Looking forward to your new adventures! We will happily ride along.
Thank you!
I like how logically you say all the things. Great man!
I appreciate that!
Good for you. Honestly the signage would have had me stumped for sure and the whole process seems very intimidating. Which explains the horror stories you had been hearing. Your efforts and determination really paid off. Now you have the freedom to explore! Congratulations 👏
So happy to have it behind me!
OMG! So glad you finally got it. Looking forward to Travels With Jay around France. Parallel parking almost did me in as well. You would think there would be fewer drivers after all the hoops you had to go through. But, no, c’est la vie.
That should always give us hope when pretty much anyone can do it with enough effort haha
Congratulations!
Jay. Congrats 🎉 on passing and getting your French Driver's license. What a nightmare to get it. I thought using our DMV and driving in NYC was a pain.
Looking forward to your road trips !!!!
Haha, glad I could survive and hope the adventures that follow make it all worthwhile
Félicitations, Jay!🎉 A lesson in perseverance! The greater the obstacle, the greater the glory in overcoming it! Honestly, it sounds like the constant 48hr waiting period was the most trying!😆 Congrats again! Vroom, vroom!
Always 48 more hours 😆
Congratulations!!!
Thank you!
The question where the Vitesse or speed limit is the largest factor of lives lost, is because the specific mention of Autoroute. On highways speed is the largest factor and on normal roads and agglomeration alcohol is the largest factor. I was myself confused with this question, while revising for my Code De La Route, which I passed last week on my first try (it was just luck). But yeah saw your video for pure production quality, and info for the final driving test. Good luck mate.
Congratulations on getting your 🇫🇷 license! Fortunately, I was able to use my CA license this past August and September when I drove to Charost and to Normandy. For some reason I didn't mind the roundabouts in France; I hate them here, maybe because none of us are used to them and I've seen many near misses. It was great to drive in the countryside. In Paris, EEK, UGH, CRAZY!
I disagree about the bus. We loved them. In Paris we took the Metro only once (in 8 days) so we could hurry back to the hotel. We took the bus or walked so we could see the sights. I highly recommend the bus, at least for tourists.
As a German living in the states the sign with the black cross that you call “free for all” makes me laugh. It’s a easy rule. If there is no stop or yield sign, the car of your right has the right away. Once you get used to that it makes sense. What i can’t get used to is all way stop signs in the USA. That’s a full blown Mexican stand off! How do you determine who was at the stop first if a crash happens and people cut in front of me a bunch of times. Or people sat around and confused the heck out of each other. I hope you enjoy driving in Europe my friend. Keep up the content. Happy to see you develop and hope you are doing well. Going to Paris with my wife in august!
LOL poor Lindsey 🤣 she looked like she was having flashbacks to getting her license the first time in the US! Can't wait to see all the new towns and villages you'll get to visit!
I can't wait to gooooooo
Great Action ... waiting what happend next .. going by car in France and Europe. . Enjoy it .
Can't wait to get out there!
Congratulations! The French red tape is LONG and STICKY! 🤣 48 hours? Crazy! At least they didn't constantly say, "Pas possible!" Ugh! I'm excited to see what new adventures you take us on. We rented a car in Avignon and drove around Provence to Arles. It was great getting to stop at little wineries, visit Les Beaux and all the windmills. Cool stuff you only see by car. ENJOY!!! 😊👍
I live in London, we have zip-car, which is great for people who want to occasionally use a car but don't want the expense/hassle of owning one. But youre right, there are still places you need a car to get to, sadly.
There are some cool services like that here in Paris too. Thankfully I rarely if ever need a car here but if I do... I'll be ready!
I like this video format, or at least your tone of voice narrating
Thank you! It's fun to switch it up a bit
FYI they used to tell you right away if you passed, but after some 'violent reactions' of some candidates who I bet didn't pass, they changed the system to protect the inspector. In my case, the guy told my instructor, which I believe is a common thing because they all know each other, so I just had to work her a little to get my answer.
Haha, at least they cracked for you. Definitely don't think it's a good solution personally, but it's what we get to live with (and what's another 48hrs of unnecessary stress in France?😆)
Bravo! I'll not be getting a license in France I guess. Great job you!
Haha, it's a trip to be sure. Thank you!
Tres bien, Jay!!!! Would say 'BRAVADO' instead of Bravo. You survived to tell the tale..... 👍
Thank you! And survive I did 🥳
Toutes mes félicitations pour cette belle réussite !! L'épreuve la plus difficile finalement aura été de surmonter la lenteur administrative française... Prochaine destination pour les vacances = Massy !!
(Ton copilote en Mini de la rue des belles feuilles) 😉
Tous mes road trips dans le futur traverseront Massy, c'est clair ! 🚗
Wow Jay, I am so happy for you! This can only help with your quest for citizenship, non? Looking forward to your enhanced adventures😉
Here's hoping!🥳
My first car was a 1970 Pontiac LeMans, very similar to your Malibu. I loved that car so much that I bought another one around the time I turn 50
I'd love to get another Chevelle
Nice accomplishment 👍🏽
Thanks!
I am a huge fan of Jay's and enjoy his videos very much. Do others that watch these videos upon the opening few seconds go to make a cup of coffee? Due to Jay's love of coffee, I have a Pavlovian response and a need for coffee whenever I watch.
☕☕🤗☕☕
great video
Thank you!
I am glad that is I decided to exchange my American license for a Canadian one it looks a lot easier than what you had to do.
I have the same book code de la route 2020 :)
Got my first driving license in Washington DC at the age of 16. Then exchanged it for an Algerian one at 18. And now, I have a French one. Without hassle :)
You've jumped through many hoops in your driving journey
my French license was stolen on vacation in Italy. When I returned home to Germany I told the government office ….and without proof of ever having a license, they gave me a German license . Even they knew how bad it would be to go thru French administration ! I already had to replace my French license once. I ended up having to say I lived with the pastor of the church I went to when I lived in France…but that is another story.
Haha, the Germans keep coming up as champions in the comments here
Since you were in France did you expect it to be easy or make sense? Way to go and a great vlog. Looking forward to more car adventures around Europe. May I suggest a drive through downtown Napoli?
I would love some road tripping in Italy
Love from Massy
😆🥂
Thank YOu for the Christmas Sticker,I was SURPRISED Thank you. Thank You for this video. This is a VIP video for me. I am NOT certain which country I'm Moving to, France is still there. It's between France The Netherlands and Andorra. I haven't driven my whole life and I'm very tired of living like you've been living except I'm not in Paris. IDK where my life is going ...all in all I just have a PERMIT ...My LIFE IS IN LIMBO. I am just in baby language learning stage. Thank You.
Language learning is a great start! Best of luck
Lol. In August 2019, my last trip to France, I traveled by train to Mont-Saint-Michel from Paris via Granville and from there went to Normandy, Very enjoyable train trips and at that time, everyone had to take a bus to the Mont-Saint-Michel -- it wasn't possible to drive there. I guess that's another thing that has changed over the last 2 years. Good to know.
You do have to take a bus the last mile to Mont Saint Michel, but I don't think there's a train that gets you that close. All we saw were parking lots at least 😆
Wow. What a PITA!!!..... LOL Just a small taste of what REAL life in France can be like! ;-) Congrats on getting your license! Looking forward to road tripping with you!... maybe in 48 hours...
I'll let you know in about 48hrs
This tale shall be told for generations, and your name shall be sung: Jay, the driver!
Haha, finally, my song!
Hello Jay, congratulation!
I laughed a lot while watching this video, especially with the road signs.
I'm 54 yrs old but, surprising as it may seem, I don't have the Drive license.
I passed it 25 years ago. I got the code at the first time, making a single error.
From my third driving lesson, the instructor took me through the humming point of the Place de l'Etoile at the top of the Champs Élysée.
Surely that doesn't mean much to an American who doesn't know this roundabout. But those in the know can tell how creepy it can be for someone passing his third driving lesson. I had only driven three hours in my life before this ordeal. 😂
Yet, I did very well, the instructor told me.
But, having missed the driving test, I gave up. I intended to try it again of course, but pushed back each time and the years went by.
Yet even though it has been so long ago, I have correctly identified all the signs you have shown without any hesitation.
Have a friendly day and .
At least you gave it a solid effort! Your literacy carries on
Interesting. At 16:04 you show the warning sign with the cross roads, in Germany we place those at intersection where the right of way is not signed (so defaults to right-most first), where the crossroads might not be easy to spot, or when accidents have been more frequent there.
Edit: Finished the video now. In Germany you even get handed your drivers license the moment your test is over, if you pass the age requirement and it has actually been already produced and shipped to the examiners office beforehand.
Oh wow, German efficiency in ACTION.
I've bought (and am driving) a car in france, with a US license (with the international license rider, which is a notarized paper addendum that you can get by stopping by an AAA in the US before you leave for france). I did have to have a residence here, however. My home insurance company was fine with it, too...but I am required to get my french license faster than I would otherwise have to.
Great content and congrats on getting your French license bro, however I wonder how you get to drive a rather powerful vehicle like ds7 since new drivers can’t insure anything above 6 cv. I’m currently stuck with a weak Peugeot 508…
Merci bien! This tragic-comedy brings back some memories. There was the drive from Nice to Aix where I exited the autoroute, stopped at the stop sign at the end of the exit & was promptly rear ended. The diver of the other car was having a rage attack & wanted to know why I stopped. I pointed to the stop sign & he exploded while explainig to me that everybody knows to ignore the sign & forge ahead into the traffic on the road at the end of the exit. Round-abouts? Don't t even get me started. French bureaucracy? Don't get me started. And yet in spite of all that I LOVE France--most of the time ;->
Glad you're ok!
Have you watched the recently released Gran Tour episode? It's all about French cars and driving in France. Quite funny. Not sure if this video is a segue to it or vice versa!
years ago inspectors used to tell you the result of the driving test and even gave you a "permis provisoire" (before getting the definitive one at prefecture) so you can drive right away after passed the test but because of agressions of inspectors when people failled, the result is now known days after.
I got my driving license in 15 days : 2 days for learning "code" : nearly 1000 photos in 48h (5s to answer instead of 30s during test - dreaming about it when sleeping because it was so intensive), got 0 errors and the other days to learn practical driving , first on a circuit and after in real cities.
That’s the best view of Mont St. Michel. Up close it’s tacky and busy and it loses its mystical look when you get closer. There’s even a plastic cow on the approach. Then most of the shops are obviously tourist tat. Oh, and if visiting in the summer use mosquito repellent when visiting. Even the car park hosts a whole mass of mozis.
Your confusion with the road signs made me laugh, I think a lot of them are standardised across Europe so things like No Through Road are very familiar. And roundabouts. At least you were familiar with driving on the right & LH drive cars. What puts me off driving a French car in France is that everything would be back to front. Have driven my GB car here - trickiest thing is remembering speeds are in kms, not miles, and looking at the speedometer correctly. But well done at passing (relatively) quickly & easily.
Driving on the opposite side of the road is always intimidating at first, and flipping seats too. I did for a while in South Africa, you'd be surprised how quickly you get used to it
They stopped giving the result right after the driving test because in some "hot suburbs" some angry candidates who failed were becoming aggressive and some examiners got assaulted...
C’est ça 😆
Passed my driving licence in 2004 and it was the year we started to have to wait 48h for the results. Before that it used to be known on the spot, but too many people who failed the test got mad and hurt the exam officers, so now we have to wait 48h to know if you passed.
In all fairness, the signs are applied throughout entire Europe. We all suffer through these signs regardless of which European country 😂
You drive a Déesse. You can't choose better. For no french poeple the brand car name is DS, it means déesse in french = godess.
I was told the presidents used to ride in them
Bravo
Thank you!
Very helpful info, one question - For a person who's lived over a year in France with a foreign driving license - assuming I do not get a French driving license soon - can one still drive in other EU countries with my valid non EU country license + IDP?
=hello 8 I just watch your video. The 48 hrs wait after passing the practical test is fairly new. Before they would give you the answer right away. But too many driving inspectors got violently beaten or harrassed after falling the test. So they had to put that in place to avoid violence. So that's why !!
They wait 48h to give you the result so people dont mug their practor. ofc they have the result immediately
Yep. Still feels silly
In Portugal you don't know straight away. I took my exam a long time ago, but I still remember we don't get the results at the time.
Thanks for posting that! I think you're the first with a similar experience
How did you get the practical test within a week? I past my Code and now have to do 14 lessons starting in June and than they will decide when I can do my practical test!
I've actually got to take an eye exam to renew my license here in the states. I've got about two months to do it so it should be no big deal.
I forgot to mention this, but one of the crazy things was how there were no eye exams or other physical tests
Hmmmm, I rented an Audi which was the only automatic vehicle available in Paris, and drove all over France, for a whole month. And yes, Mont Saint-Michel was one of the visiting sights. Having my husband next to me helped with the signage. Other than that , I had no problems. Driving with US driver's license, that is. Thank goodness didn't have to deal with all that joy:/
I'm surprised that more US states don't have reciprocity agreement with France (I had to look it up) FLORIDA is listed? the last thing France needs is Floridians driving in their country.
"Persons with valid driver's licenses, issued prior to their first entry into France as a resident, from the states of Florida, Pennsylvania, Illinois, New Hampshire, Kansas, Michigan, South Carolina and Kentucky may directly 'exchange' their state driver's licenses for French permits."
Good golly, your driving instructor is good lookin'! Do they all come like that?? 🤣
Exclusive perk to this school 😆
39/40 ! Wowzers !
🥳
Bad news for you: since last year, you now have to pas a different writing test for your motocycle licence. And the driving tests (yes, plural) are insanely hard, especially the first one, the dreaded "Plateau". The second one, the "circu" is much easier.
you could make a business on coaching people to take the test
Congratulations! So freakin' grueling. It's like you passed the bar exam 😆
Haha, if only it left me as qualified
Wow🎉 omg wow🥂
It's ironic that I am allowed to drive in France with a US license, but the French have to jump through hoops. It should probably be the other way around. It wasn't until my fourth trip that I learned: no right on red, max speed on highways is 10% less the posted limit during wet conditions, etc. At the beginning of each trip I seem to forget about the reduce to 50 when entering a town until when one of those reminder signs pops up or the speed measuring sign flashes red with a frowny face. I had no idea the right priority could apply to round-abouts. No wonder ... For the most part I'm usually driving the smallest car possible, paying attention to my speed and the changing limit displayed on my dash with hands clenched on the steering wheel trying make sure my tires don't slip into the meter deep trench on the side of the road as a giant semi passes me head-on on a country road which feels more like someone's winding driveway. It's amazing I made it this far without an accident or ticket.
I'm glad you're accident and ticket free! But it definitely seems like there should be at least a one hour crash course (no pun intended)
Most people: "Uergh, the French are ruuuuuude! 🙄"
Me, going to Paris in 2018 with barely passable French skills: "YOU GET OUT OF IT WHAT YOU PUT INTO IT!"
French people in Paris, Versailles, and Mont Saint Michel: *Chill af human beings.*
Don't know who Puxan is/was but they're right!
Also, your videos were great prep for my French trip!
Surf Wisely.
Im sitting in Paris as I write this and I can’t believe it takes that long to get a driver’s license. I thought they just handed them out.
Evening Jay thing i dont wanna french licence lol
😆
Now, hear me out..."Jay's Campervan Life" 😉
Could go for a nice long trip 😊
I'm curious
Did they ask you exactly the same questions on both your 1st & 2nd attempt ?
Nope, all different from a randomized pool
What kind of questions are asked in written paper.
Anything is game- You can even find practice exams of "code de la route" online and have a look!
I have passed the general theory test the first try. It took me about two months, going to a driving school 3 times a week and taking practice tests. Now comes the in the car driving test. My instructor yells at me because I don't stop for cars entering on the right. One time, the car, on the right, was about a half a block from the intersection and I thought I had time to pass. He Yelled "You have to stop!" Okay.