France licence Tunisia

Driving in Tunisia with a France license

Short answer: to drive in Tunisia with a France license you need an International Driving Permit in the 1968 Vienna format, carried together with your France license.

Bring an IDP

Yes — to drive in Tunisia on a France licence you should carry an International Driving Permit together with your France licence. Tunisia expects foreign drivers to hold an IDP.

Convention basisTunisia uses the format of the 1968 Vienna Convention. Our certified translation is prepared in that exact format.

At the rental deskTunis desks request an IDP for non-Arabic, non-French licences.

CarryCarry BOTH your France national licence and the IDP at all times. The IDP is a translation of your licence and never replaces it.

Minimum age18+ to drive; rental typically 21+ with a young-driver surcharge under 25

Validity1–3 years (you choose at checkout)

FormatDigital PDF you print yourself, plus a QR-verifiable ID card — accepted alongside printed permits

Last verified July 2026Source: 1968 Vienna Convention

Get my IDP for Tunisia Full Tunisia guide

French drivers should carry an International Driving Permit with their licence when driving outside the EU and EEA. Your International Driving Permit is a certified multilingual translation of your existing licence, prepared in the 1968 Vienna format and carried alongside your national licence.

What driving in Tunisia is like

Driving in Tunisia with a foreign licence

The mountain road over the Cap Bon peninsula and the coastal P1 down to Hammamet and Sousse is a popular, scenic self-drive. For most visitors the real draw is the freedom to reach places trains and tours don't, on your own schedule, with the open road generally capped around 110 km/h autoroutes. Getting behind the wheel is the easy part: your International Driving Permit is a certified translation of your France licence, carried alongside it, so rental staff and officials in Tunisia can read your credentials at a glance.

Driving rules in Tunisia

Drive on the right.
Toll motorway along the coast.
Zero alcohol tolerance for driving.
Carry passport, IDP and home licence.

Local driving facts in Tunisia

Emergency number: 197 (police), 190 (ambulance) (112 also connects from most mobiles). Typical maximum for cars on the fastest road class: 110 km/h autoroutes. Posted limits always take precedence.

Tolls & road charges: The A1 (Tunis-Sfax), A3 (Tunis-Oued Zarga) and A4 (Tunis-Bizerte) motorways are barrier toll roads charged by distance; pay cash in Tunisian dinar at booths as cards are generally not accepted.
Parking: In Tunis and coastal towns paid street parking is run by uniformed attendants who collect a small dinar fee, and informal 'guardiens' will watch your car for a tip; use secure paid lots overnight as theft from unattended cars is a real risk.
Penalties & enforcement: Police issue on-the-spot fines for speeding, no seatbelt and phone use, payable in cash in dinar; rental companies pass on camera/parking fines plus an admin fee to the card on file. Drink-driving and serious offences carry court action.
If you have an accident: Dial 197 for police; a police report is required for any injury accident and for insurance, and you must not move the vehicles. In death or serious-injury crashes police can place the driver in protective custody until cleared, so call your rental firm and consulate immediately.
City driving: Tunis traffic is dense and assertive, roundabouts ('ronds-points') give priority to cars already circulating, and lane discipline is loose; the central Avenue Habib Bourguiba area has restricted access and heavy congestion.
Winter driving: No winter-tyre rules - tropical/Mediterranean climate, though caution is needed for fog and flash flooding on northern and mountain roads.
Fuel: Stations sell petrol ('essence' / sans plomb 95) and diesel ('gasoil'); most are attended (no self-serve) and many, plus toll booths, take cash only, so carry dinar. Pump prices are low, roughly 2.5 TND per litre (about USD 0.75).

Sources: autoeurope.com, expat.com, travel.state.gov, tyremap.com

Common questions

Can I drive in Tunisia with a France license?

to drive in Tunisia with a France license you need an International Driving Permit in the 1968 Vienna format, carried together with your France license. Tunisia uses the format of the 1968 Vienna Convention. Our certified translation is prepared in that exact format.

Is my France driver's license valid in Tunisia?

Yes — to drive in Tunisia on a France licence you should carry an International Driving Permit together with your France licence. Tunisia expects foreign drivers to hold an IDP.

Do I need an International Driving Permit for Tunisia?

Yes — to drive in Tunisia on a France licence you should carry an International Driving Permit together with your France licence. Tunisia expects foreign drivers to hold an IDP.

Can I rent a car in Tunisia with a France license?

Tunis desks request an IDP for non-Arabic, non-French licences.

What IDP format does Tunisia accept?

Tunisia uses the format of the 1968 Vienna Convention. Our certified translation is prepared in that exact format.

How do I get an International Driving Permit for Tunisia?

An International Driving Permit is a certified multilingual translation of your existing France license. You apply online, and it is issued as a printable PDF booklet with a QR-verifiable ID card in the 1968 Vienna format Tunisia uses — carried alongside your France license.

Do I still carry my France license?

Carry BOTH your France national licence and the IDP at all times. The IDP is a translation of your licence and never replaces it.

What is the emergency number and speed limit in Tunisia?

In Tunisia, dial 197 (police), 190 (ambulance) for emergencies; 112 also works from most GSM phones. The general maximum for cars on the fastest road class is 110 km/h autoroutes; posted limits in towns and on secondary roads are lower and always take precedence.

How do tolls and road charges work in Tunisia?

The A1 (Tunis-Sfax), A3 (Tunis-Oued Zarga) and A4 (Tunis-Bizerte) motorways are barrier toll roads charged by distance; pay cash in Tunisian dinar at booths as cards are generally not accepted.