A non-French driver’s license is valid for one year after the date of official entry into France. For people who will be residing in France for less than one year, your home country or international driving license is sufficient, under the following conditions:
•    Must have been issued by the home country.
•    Must be valid in the home country.
•    Must have been obtained prior to the application for a Carte de Sejour.
•    Must be written in French or accompanied by an official translation (an International License).
•    The holder of the license must be 18 years of age, the legal French driving age.

For those who wish, or need, to get a French license, both a code de la route (written) test AND a test de conduite (driving test) must be taken.

Auto école (driving schools) are located throughout Toulouse and its suburbs; they provide the opportunity to take practice tests, in French, in preparation for the final written examination. It is possible, though more difficult, to apply for a French license without being enrolled in a driving school, as a candidat libre. In this case, an examination file must be sent to the Préfecture and contain the application, photos d’identité (identity photographs) and a timbre fiscal (tax stamp). You are required to provide a dual-driver car on the day of the exam. You may have a translator accompany you on both test dates, however due notice of such an arrangement must be given to the Préfecture.

 

 

If you have a Indian driving license and your carte-de-sejour mentions the word "ETUDIANT", your license is valid for the entire duration of your studies. That could be 2-3 etc years. If you also have an international driving license then you start driving asap.. if not then get a certified translation and voila, you can hit the road !

 

 

An indian driving license, whether accompanied by international driving license or not, is valid for one year after time of entry into France. After that you have to take the French driving test to get a french License.

 

Please be advised that, in case of a serious accident for which you are found at fault (especially one involving injuries), doing so makes you vulnerable to charges of having been driving with an invalid license.

 

Driver’s licences and cartes grises can be obtained at the Préfecture

 

 

If buying a car in a private sale by a particulier (individual), the seller must provide a certificat de vente (bill of sale) and a certificat de non-gage (title clearance) that had been issued to the seller by their Préfecture. The certificat de non-gage is only necessary if the buyer lives in a different Préfecture district (different Département) than the seller. The seller must also cross out their name as owner and mark “VENDU” (sold) on the back of their carte grise. The buyer must present the seller’s carte grise, certificat de vente, and certificat de non-gage to their Préfecture within 2 weeks of the purchase in order to have the title placed in their name. Certificates can be obtained from your local Mairie.

When purchasing a used car, the buyer must be given a certificat de contrôle technique, a diagnostic test that determines its mechanical condition.

Documents needed to register a vehicle purchased from an individual:
•    certificat de vente (bill of sale)                      •    certificat de contrôle technique
•    certificat de non-gage    (title clearance)        •    Proof of residence
•    Seller’s carte grise                                       •    carte de séjour (copy)
•    Application for carte grise    

 

 

The following three items must be in your possession while driving.

However, due to the difficulty that would be encountered in the event that your car is stolen, it is recommended that you DO NOT keep items 1 and 2 in the glove compartment of your car:
•    A valid permis de conduire (driver’s license).
•    The car’s carte grise (car title/registration paper).
•    The car’s vignette assurance (proof of insurance sticker), provided by the insurance company, must be displayed inside the car windshield. Auto insurance is mandatory.

The policy should cover unlimited civil liability, defense, appeals, theft, fire, and collision. Depending upon the liability, a 1- to 3-months advance notice is required to cancel or transfer a policy. (For more information inquire at the insurance company of your choice. The vignette assurance is also known internationally as a “green card”. This means that your insurance is valid in most European countries. See your policy for restricted countries.)

It is also recommended that the following items be kept in the car at all times:
•    A constat amiable d’accident (accident report form), available from the auto insurance company, along with a pen for filling out the form
•    A disposable camera with flash, for documenting any damage.
•    A distress signal - triangular reflector.