Do I need a driving licence as an au pair?

Are you planning to go au pair soon? If so, having a driving licence might be a plus on your profile. But if you find a host family in a big city, you probably don't need one. First, if you want to maximise your chances of finding a family even without a licence, I advise you to focus on writing a good profile.

Having a driving licence is an advantage for you, as you will have many more host families to choose from. Indeed, many families are looking for an au pair who can pick their children up to school, to their extracurricular activities or whatever, and sometimes using a car is necessary.

You don't have your driving licence, what can you do about it?

As I said before, it is possible to go to an au pair without a driving licence. But, if you plan your departure plenty of time in advance, you can take your code and/or your driving licence before leaving for your au pair experience. Of course, even without a driving licence, you can still create your account and fill your profile while you are waiting to get it, at the same time as looking for a host family and leaving even without having it.

Another solution, but it is quite rare. It turns out that it is wholly possible to get your licence abroad. Indeed, when I was an au pair in England in 2019, I met another au pair who learned to drive there and got her British driving licence.

Taking a driving test (and theory test) abroad

If you have taken your code and licence abroad as well, share your story in the comments 👇👇

First, it is important to know that it can be complicated to get your driving licence abroad. Indeed, you have to find the time with your au pair job, language courses, activities, etc. In addition, the language barrier is a constraint that should not be forgotten.

In France, there are different ways to get your driving licence. You can learn to drive by accompanied driving or supervised driving (in driving school). The best way for you, it's the second one:

• First, you need to pass your theory test (highway code), then you can start to learn how to drive. You can register at a driving school or on a website (e.g. Ornikar) to learn the highway code through exercises, mock tests, etc.
• For the practical part, carry on with your driving school or your online driving school. After 20h driving mandatory, you can try to pass the test.

⚠ Driving school is not free, it's quite expensive depending on your budget.

Butrfly offers you French courses thanks to its partnership with VivaLing which offers you a 3 weeks session of 4 x 1h20 course a week for 10 € per hour, whatever your level in French 👇

Becoming an au pair with your driving licence: tips

If you already have your licence, that's fine! But be aware that depending on the country you come from, driving may be different.

Driving on the left or right side of the road?

There are countries where you have to drive on the left side of the road, such as Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Japan, Ireland, etc. And on the other hand, there are countries where you drive on the right side, like France. This implies some changes and new habits to take. In France:

• The steering wheel is on the left,
• You change gear with the right hand,
• Roundabouts are to be taken anti-clockwise,
• On the motorway, you overtake on the left.

I recommend that you take some driving lessons with a teacher or ask your host parents to help you feel comfortable in the car. Find out about specific rules of the road such as speed limits, priority rules, etc. I think this can also help you.

International driving licence and insurance

It is important to check whether your permit is also valid in the country where you are going to be an au pair, so actually in France. It is possible that it is valid for a certain period of time, so check also according to the duration of your stay.

⚠ You can drive in France with your driving licence if you got it from an Europeen country. It's not possible to drive with a temporary document.

If not, find out how you can drive in France? You may need an international driving licence. I suggest you work out what you need to do. Remember to do this well in advance, as the application for an international permit can take a few weeks.

⚠ The international licence is "only" the translation of the national licence and allows you to drive the same category of vehicle abroad as on your national licence.

It is essential to clarify with your host family before you leave, or at least before your first drive, how the car is insured and what will happen if you have an accident, or you damage the car.

If you have had all the information you needed 👇