US Renewal and Driver's License Exchange in France, How does it work?

Question

I'm going to apply for the exchange of my driver's license in France where I must 'surrender' my American license. However, my license is up for renewal, so I was thinking about renewing it while in the States this summer. Would I be breaking some law here? I mean, technically, I have surrendered the license as France asks. ...I will just have a new one.

Answer 1

Firstly, you can only exchange US licenses issued in certain states.

If you can exchange your US license the French will return it to the state that issued it.

A better plan is to report your US license lost and obtain a duplicate before exchanging it ? This is what many EU expats have done.

Peter

Answer 2

It is a possibility as you don't surrender your license, you supposedly exchange it for a French one. You might escape French notice if you have a French license but you'd better be careful about your own services. There's now a lot of exchange of information about official papers like passports, social security cards or driving licenses between the two countries, someone asking for the renewal of your ex driving license might raise some alarm.

Better ask at your driving license office or whatever it is called in the States.