France on a Japanese Licence — IDP Recommended & a Side Switch
Japan
France
Yes — a Japanese licence holder can drive in France, with an IDP recommended (rental desks and police expect to see it alongside your Japanese licence). The single biggest adjustment is the side switch: Japan drives on the left, France on the right. Add a mandatory breathalyser and Crit'Air city stickers and you have the full picture.
France is a superb self-drive country, but for a Japanese driver it asks for two things that visitors from mainland Europe never think about: a permit and a complete change of road sense. Neither is hard, but both reward a little preparation.
The verdict: IDP recommended, carried with your licence
You can drive in France on your Japanese licence, and an International Driving Permit is recommended. It is not always demanded at the roadside, but rental desks and police expect to see one as a recognised translation of your card. Carry the IDP, your Japanese licence and your passport together, and arrange the IDP in Japan before departure — you cannot obtain one once you arrive. The Driving Permit Checker confirms exactly what you need.
The real adjustment: switching to the right
Japan drives on the left; France drives on the right, and this is the thing most likely to catch you out. The risk is concentrated in your first day — pulling out of a petrol station, taking a roundabout that now flows the opposite way, or a reflex glance the wrong direction at a junction. Start on quiet roads, not in central Paris, and stay deliberate at every turn until right-hand traffic stops feeling backwards.
Breathalysers, clean-air stickers and faster motorways
France expects a breathalyser in the car alongside the warning triangle and reflective vest; most rentals carry them, but check. Cities add a second layer: many run low-emission zones needing a Crit’Air sticker on the windscreen, so sort that before driving into Paris or Lyon.
Speeds run higher than home. Motorways reach 130 km/h against Japan’s 100, towns are 50, and rural roads default to 80 (90 where signed). Cameras are everywhere, fines are fixed, and a 10 km/h overrun is about EUR 68. Emergencies: 112 general, with police on 17. For the full national rules see the France driving guide.
Speed limits, fines, equipment & license requirements
Your home country driving rules for reference
Side-by-side driving rules comparison
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Winter tyres in France — 2026–27 season
Winter tyres are required in France whenever conditions are wintry — 1 Nov - 31 Mar (mountain law, designated departments).
- Tread minimum: 1.6 mm — France sets no separate winter figure.
- Accepted marking: M+S or 3PMSF
- Studded tyres: restricted
- Penalty: Not published by the French authorities. Note: the obligation is only enforceable where the B58/B59 signs have actually been installed (Code de la route art. D. 314-8).
In French the rule is pneus hiver, and snow chains are chaînes à neige — that is the wording on signs, in hire-car paperwork and on any penalty notice.
Verified against national legislation, August 2026 · Full France tyre law · Compare all countries
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, with an International Driving Permit recommended. Carry the IDP, your Japanese licence and your passport together; sort the IDP in Japan before you fly, as you cannot get one in France.
No. Japan drives on the left, France on the right. The danger window is your first day — junctions, roundabouts and petrol-station exits — so take it slowly until the new side feels natural.
A warning triangle and reflective vest are required, and a breathalyser is also expected in the car. Many city centres need a Crit'Air clean-air sticker on the windscreen.