Moving country driving license exchange
Discussion
Settle an argument for me please
https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/vehicles/dri...
Was this always the case or did you previously have to exchange your license when moving in the EU?
https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/vehicles/dri...
Was this always the case or did you previously have to exchange your license when moving in the EU?
stef1808 said:
The site was created July 2019 and also says re 2 the years obligatory exchange
“
if you have a driving licence valid for life
“
So does my UK license that expires at 70 not apply?
The question is since the UK was in the EU was this always case or is this new since 10.19?
Cheers
It has always been the case!“
if you have a driving licence valid for life
“
So does my UK license that expires at 70 not apply?
The question is since the UK was in the EU was this always case or is this new since 10.19?
Cheers
Your UK license, that expires at 70, will need to be exchanged.
A friend of mine has exchanged his UK licence a few times, he's exchanged it back to a UK licence on more than one occasion, over the years!
Driving licenses are covered by the 1949 Geneva convention, updated by a Vienna convention that not every country signed up to.
Most countries require you to have a local license if you are resident for more than 6 months, I'd recommend that you 'lose' your UK license shortly before moving out of the UK, get a new one and then use the 'lost' one when you exchange, Some countries keep your UK license and they can't be relied upon to find it when you leave.
Some countries, like Norway actually have a law that a resident can't hold a foreign (UK) license. Your UK license requires that you you have UK address that you can be contacted through, my Uk license is in an address I haven't used for 20 years, it sits in a file with all the other papers I don't use, I drive in the UK on my foreign license its not an issue, I have had hire companies ask for proof I'm entitled to the foreign license, and I just show my resident permit, its considerably easier to do this than get the DVLA to issue a confirmation to the car hire company.
Most countries today conform to the std set in the Geneva convention, in fact the old paper UK license did not conform to this std.
A foreign license is no problem in the UK and hiring a car can be easier on a foreign license, I see no advantage in having a UK license if you live overseas.
Most countries require you to have a local license if you are resident for more than 6 months, I'd recommend that you 'lose' your UK license shortly before moving out of the UK, get a new one and then use the 'lost' one when you exchange, Some countries keep your UK license and they can't be relied upon to find it when you leave.
Some countries, like Norway actually have a law that a resident can't hold a foreign (UK) license. Your UK license requires that you you have UK address that you can be contacted through, my Uk license is in an address I haven't used for 20 years, it sits in a file with all the other papers I don't use, I drive in the UK on my foreign license its not an issue, I have had hire companies ask for proof I'm entitled to the foreign license, and I just show my resident permit, its considerably easier to do this than get the DVLA to issue a confirmation to the car hire company.
Most countries today conform to the std set in the Geneva convention, in fact the old paper UK license did not conform to this std.
A foreign license is no problem in the UK and hiring a car can be easier on a foreign license, I see no advantage in having a UK license if you live overseas.
Can’t say I have done a lot of research, but I moved to France in 2005.
At that time, if you had an EU flag on your license, you did not need to exchange. It was regarded as an EU license.
At the beginning of this year, the French authorities stopped exchanging licenses until Brexit was resolved. Too much effort for their overworked civil servants. The last time I checked, if we leave with No Deal then I would be expected to exchange within 6-months. In the event of a deal, then we would need to exchange before the end of the transition period.
A separate statement was issued to say that a new status could be rendered for former EU citizens. Not seen anything new recently on this.
In France you do not need to apply for a new license at 70.
In short, I think that a National licenses within the EU are governed under subsidiarity rules, but the EU introduced overarching rules to recognise the reality of freedom of movement.
Not certain, but if I was an HGV driver I think there would be supplementary tests in France before I could be employed by a French company. So not quite the same freedom.
At that time, if you had an EU flag on your license, you did not need to exchange. It was regarded as an EU license.
At the beginning of this year, the French authorities stopped exchanging licenses until Brexit was resolved. Too much effort for their overworked civil servants. The last time I checked, if we leave with No Deal then I would be expected to exchange within 6-months. In the event of a deal, then we would need to exchange before the end of the transition period.
A separate statement was issued to say that a new status could be rendered for former EU citizens. Not seen anything new recently on this.
In France you do not need to apply for a new license at 70.
In short, I think that a National licenses within the EU are governed under subsidiarity rules, but the EU introduced overarching rules to recognise the reality of freedom of movement.
Not certain, but if I was an HGV driver I think there would be supplementary tests in France before I could be employed by a French company. So not quite the same freedom.
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