According to the rules I have been told, you have to exchange your American driver's license (mine is from Ohio) within 1 year of moving to France and getting your first Carte de Séjour. Otherwise, if you are a French citizen you have to go back to the States, stay there for 6 months, and register with the consulate before going back to France to exchange the license. Otherwise, if you wait too long or do not follow this bureaucratic process you have to go to a driving school, pay several hundred euros, and take a difficult written and practical exam which many fail.
Can anybody confirm to me that this is the only way to drive in France and/or get a driving license? I hope not! That doesn't leave me many options as I have already lived in France for several years (I now have dual nationality). I would be interested in hearing about your experiences driving and/or getting a French license, especially if you got around this seemingly rigid rule. Thanks a lot for sharing your experiences and/or advice! Rontay (blog floating in France)