Do Americans need special permits to rent and drive a car in France?

I used to work in a car rental agency in France, American drivers licenses are accepted, no translation required.
Make sure to have a valid credit card for a security deposit.

We just got back from France a couple of days ago and didn’t have any problems with renting a car – just the passport, credit card and US driver’s license was needed. we rented a car with Sixt for 9 days, I’m not sure if that works with longer periods of time.

In France, driver’s licences issued by non-EEA countries are only valid if they are written in French, or accompanied by a notarized translation or an International Driving Permit.

Quoting from the official information page from the French authorities:

Vous pouvez conduire temporairement en France avec votre permis
délivré par un pays extérieur à l’Espace économique européen (EEE),
sous certaines conditions. Les règles qui vous sont applicables
varient suivant votre situation : court séjour, installation ou
poursuites d’études en France.

Si vous venez en France pour un court séjour (pour des vacances par
exemple), vous pouvez conduire avec votre permis. Il doit être valide
et être rédigé en français ou accompagné de sa traduction ou d’un
permis international.

My translation:

You can under certain conditions drive in France with a driver’s
licence issued by a non-EEA country. …

If you are in France for a short period (e.g. for holidays), you are
allowed to drive with your foreign licence. It must written in French
or accompanied by a translation or an International Driving Permit.

In the USA, International Driving Permits are issued by AAA or AATA for a US$ 20 fee (plus postage if you apply by mail instead of going to a local office).

I didn’t think it should be necessary to go into details about the consequences for violating these regulations, but since both Greg Hewgill and Savannah seem to indicate and believe that an IDP or a translation is not necessary because they were able to rent cars in France with only their US or NZ licence, here some further information:

• The rental company is beyond all doubt entitled to refuse handing out a car to you if you can only present a foreign licence, which for itself is not valid in France. For exmaple, the wording in Sixt’s terms and conditions is that at pickup, the driver must ‘submit a driving licence that is valid in France’. Note, that the terms do nowhere obligate Sixt to actually verify that you have presented a licence, which is valid in France. Other rental companies are very likely to operate with similar conditions.

• Any insurance (liability insurance is mandatory in France) of the rental car is likely void. To stay with Sixt, they clearly state in their terms and conditions, that the insurance policies do not apply if the driver, at the time of the accident, does not have a valid driver’s licence.

• I was not able to find any specifics on the legal consequences of driving with an unrecognized foreign licence in France. Penalties for severe traffic violations are unusually high in France and driving without a licence carries for example a one year imprisonment and a 15,000€ fine. The page I previously linked to has a very clear warning: ‘Si vous conduisez avec un permis étranger non valable en France, vous risquez une peine de prison, une amende et la confiscation de votre véhicule.’ or in English: ‘If you drive with a foreign licence, which is not valid in France, you risk imprisonment, a fine and confiscation of the vehicle.’ From this statement, I would assume that driving with an unrecognized foreign licence carries the same penalty as driving without a licence at all.

Driving in France

While France has an extensive rail network, a car is probably the best way to explore the country in total freedom. From motorways to departmental roads and country lanes, France has an extensive road network, and driving is a good option if you plan to explore the countryside. The most detailed maps are produced by IGN (Web site in French only), and show even the smallest paths. Others, such as Michelin maps (Web site in English), also give an excellent overview of the road network. As a general rule, tolls are levied on motorways. Seat belts must be worn in both the front and back seats of all automobiles. Children under 10 may not ride in the front seat. If you are on a motorcycle, scooter or moped, you are required to wear a helmet. All cars must also carry a safety jacket or warning triangle at all times.

If you are staying in France for less than 90 days, you can drive with your valid US driver’s license. It’s also generally recommended to get an International Driving Permit, which provides a translation of your license. These are available from the American Automobile Association. If you are staying in France for longer than 90 days, you can drive with your US license for one year. You can find more information about the requirements through the French Embassy. A valid driver’s license (permis de conduire) and passport are required to operate a motor vehicle. The minimum age for drivers is 18. Proof of insurance is necessary. Carry your identification, license, insurance certificate and vehicle registration (carte grise) with you when you drive.

Source: Atout France, the official government agency whose mission is to develop travel and tourism to France.