European Driving permit/licence

S

SteveRallye

Joined
Apr 9, 2019
Posts
411
Likes collected
368
Location
East Riding Of Yorkshire
Funster No
59,795
MH
A Class
Exp
30 years Caravan 13 years Motorhome
Just in case these snowflakes in charge (Boris apart) decide to make a decision on leaving the EU decided to get ours sorted before a final rush/Panic.Went to get our driving permits for France/Portugal and Spain and what a caffaffel! It was lucky for us that (a) we had a wonderfully patient experienced lady (Lindsey) in Lytham St. Annes post office to get us thru and (b) a photo booth of course we needed new id photos So almost one hour later and a few tuts from waiting to get served customers (luckily there was another lady on the main counter) we finally got thru the chore, having parted with £10 for the photos and £5.50 each for the permits. Time will tell if we have wasted our hard earned cash but we like to stick to our plans if possible.
 
I got mine in the spring, and had to wait ages in the queue to be told I needed photos, luckily handy photo booth then had to wait ages in the queue again. Why are post offices closing everywhere when every one I have been in has a long queue, surely they must make money with so many customers.:cautious:
 
You are right abut the queues we were lucky to have been 1st in it. The lady (Lindsey) said there was a rush in the spring and expects another on at the end of this month. Just lucky that we decided to do it while we were away as our local post office is tiny but thriving and no photo booth, the main one in the village was thriving but that and the bigger one still in next village both closed because the people incharge made it unviable.
 
The spanish one only lasts 1 year.
 
You don’t need the Spanish one anyway even if there’s a no deal Brexit according to the latest Gov.uk info. Until at least july 2020 and then probably only if you stay for longer than 6 months. Much the same for Portugal. We’re just getting the one for France in case our return ferry from Bilbao in December gets cancelled and we suddenly have to drive up through France. At least that one lasts 3 year.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
What do we need to come to Blighty from France ... anyone know ??
 
jetlag03 said:
What do we need to come to Blighty from France ... anyone know ??
Click to expand...
Check the government website, www.gov.uk. I would think it would depend on your status, eg EU Citizen, what driving licence you have. If you have a dog and will be returning to EU with it, it will need a rabies blood test certificate.
 
We got the French and Spanish ones in March this year and they both run out in March , 2020. So both valid for one year?
 
The 1968 convention IDP valid for France lasts for 3 years.

Pete

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
jetlag03 said:
What do we need to come to Blighty from France ... anyone know ??
Click to expand...
Just a vehicle assuming you have a UK passport.
Dog only needs the same pet passport/ tablet /signed etc; to get in but if no deal he /she would need the certificate for a positive titre test to be able to return to the EU
 
If you have a french reg vehicle IIRC you cant drive it in UK on a UK licence An EU Licence allows you to drive in all EU countries, but you MUST hold an EU Licence in your Country of Residence.
 
Tykatem said:
The 1968 convention IDP valid for France lasts for 3 years.

Pete
Click to expand...

If your UK licence expires, e.g. if you are less than 3 years from reaching 70, then your International Permit will expire on the same date.
 
We are currently 4 weeks I to an 8 week tour, didn't bother with any driving permit. No problem in any of the countries we've been in.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
AXO66 said:
Why so much bureaucracy after we leave?
I was told there would be less☹
Click to expand...
It creates more jobs, more taxes are collected. Even more civil servants and keeps the government busy. ? ?

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
tacr2man said:
If you have a french reg vehicle IIRC you cant drive it in UK on a UK licence An EU Licence allows you to drive in all EU countries, but you MUST hold an EU Licence in your Country of Residence.
Click to expand...
Can you expand a little on this and show your source? ( I sound like a teacher....! )
Are you referring to now ( which can’t be right because we live in France with French reg vehicles and I am not able to ( nor do I need to) exchange my UK licence yet, or are you referring to after the U.K. becomes a Third Country?
 
I was in GOV uk site , looking at something else re Aussie licence , cant find my way back , but tried googling and this came up that seems to confirm it ? HTSH
www.eyeonspain.com

Driving a spanish car on uk licence

This is a forum thread from the Eye on Spain general discussion forums.
www.eyeonspain.com

IIRC I had to get a Aussie licence to drive Aussie reg car as soon as I became resident there . Although I had been driving my UK reg Landie and aussie rental car on my UK licence prior . a few years ago now !
 
Allanm I do believe you are correct. I live in France and have tried to exchange my GB licence for a French one to have my application returned telling me that all is on hold until after Brexshit. After that date my GB licence will continue to be legal for a period of 12 months giving enough time to make an exchange. Excepts to the above are 1: If you have to exchange your licence because of the date of renewal 2: Have to exchange your licence as you have been been fined and received points due to being a very naughty boy or girl. good game .... good game

(Dear Teacher ... We are in the process of moving home at the moment and my errant son and cannot presently put his hands on the document returned from Nantes, but, will as soon as he can.):LOL::LOL::LOL:
 
BusyBuilder said:
We are currently 4 weeks I to an 8 week tour, didn't bother with any driving permit. No problem in any of the countries we've been in.
Click to expand...
That's because UK is still in the EU. BUSBY.
 
AXO66 said:
Why so much bureaucracy after we leave?
I was told there would be less☹
Click to expand...
It's EU bureaucracy not UK.BUSBY.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
tacr2man said:
I was in GOV uk site , looking at something else re Aussie licence , cant find my way back , but tried googling and this came up that seems to confirm it ? HTSH
www.eyeonspain.com

Driving a spanish car on uk licence

This is a forum thread from the Eye on Spain general discussion forums.
www.eyeonspain.com

IIRC I had to get a Aussie licence to drive Aussie reg car as soon as I became resident there . Although I had been driving my UK reg Landie and aussie rental car on my UK licence prior . a few years ago now !
Click to expand...
you are only required to exchange it if it has an indefinite expiry date , or over 15 years validity left. Uk plastic licences don't require exchanging due to the "10 year life" .
Only paper types do once a resident. Only has to be exchanged when due for renewal.
France is completely different & as posted , has stopped issuing them to brits at the moment.

It is only residency in a country that requires you to drive a vehicle that is registered in that country.Elsewhere you can drive anything & with whatever licence.
 
tacr2man said:
I was in GOV uk site , looking at something else re Aussie licence , cant find my way back , but tried googling and this came up that seems to confirm it ? HTSH
www.eyeonspain.com

Driving a spanish car on uk licence

This is a forum thread from the Eye on Spain general discussion forums.
www.eyeonspain.com

IIRC I had to get a Aussie licence to drive Aussie reg car as soon as I became resident there . Although I had been driving my UK reg Landie and aussie rental car on my UK licence prior . a few years ago now !
Click to expand...
I had a look on google and DVLA website and it appears there are different rules for different countries. Some require a licence change as soon as you become resident and others like Belgium and France allow you to drive there on a UK licence. Others require you to pass another test to get a local licence. ( https://www.gov.uk/guidance/driving...holders-who-live-in-the-eu-eea-or-switzerland)
i know you may not be allowed to drive foreign registered cars on a UK licence if you are still resident in the UK and you can only buy a French vehicle if you have a French address.
I sent a query to DVLA asking about driving a French registered vehicle on a UK licence in the UK whilst being a French resident as their website doesn’t cover that.
Their first reply ( as always) was unhelpful as they just restated what was on their website instead of answering the question so I asked it again.
I’ll post their answer if I get one that makes sense.
 
Last edited:
Allanm said:
Their first reply ( as always) was unhelpful as they just restated what was on their website instead of answering the question so I asked it again.
Click to expand...
You'll take forever. The only way I ever got any sense out of the dvla was to ask exactly the same questions of the EU advice system .Took 12 emails once to get someone with a brain at the dvla to answer correctly, what the EU answered with the first reply. Unfortunately we will be losing the ability to use the service after an eventual brexit.
 
gus-lopez said:
You'll take forever. The only way I ever got any sense out of the dvla was to ask exactly the same questions of the EU advice system .Took 12 emails once to get someone with a brain at the dvla to answer correctly, what the EU answered with the first reply. Unfortunately we will be losing the ability to use the service after an eventual brexit.
Click to expand...
Surprise!
This was the reply I got just now from DVLA...

As a GB licence holder living in France, if you return to GB as a visitor you can drive on your entitlement for as long as the licence remains valid.

Driving a foreign registered vehicle in the UK.

A Non UK vehicle can be used displaying foreign plates for 6 months in a 12 month period provided the vehicle is fully registered and taxed in the country of origin.

It is the responsibility of the keeper/driver to demonstrate that they are eligible to use the vehicle in the UK without registering and taxing it if challenged.

With regards to Brexit as it stands we have not been made aware of any changes that could come in to place if the UK were to leave the E.U without a deal. If this did happen information regarding any changes would be made available at that time.

So, not much planning has been done by Mr Gove in anticipation of a no deal!
 
Standard reply from Gov FR Gov GB is ... no idea at all ... how can we respond to a status that has yet to be decided ... or ... your guess is as good as mine .. FUBAR !!!!

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 

Join us or log in to post a reply.

To join in you must be a member of MotorhomeFun

Join MotorhomeFun

Join us, it quick and easy!

Join us

Log in

Already a member? Log in here.

Latest journal entries

Back
Top