EU Driving Licence - Peter D
I have received confusing information form DVLA and other sources regarding the use of an EU driving licence whilst resident, i.e. not visiting, in the UK Some say you have to excange it for a UK licence within 3 years and some sources suggest you can drive on it until you are 70. The DVLA site is confusing and speaking with them at some length both face to face ( Visit ) and agin today by telephone give different results. Any ideas or pointers. Regards Peter
EU Driving Licence - Dynamic Dave
Peter,

maybe someone over in discussion can help you - kick--->

DD.
EU Driving Licence - Peter D
Yep, I realized after the click. Regards Peter
EU Driving Licence - Dwight Van Driver
This is covered by Road Traffic Act 1988 Sections 99A.99B as amended by
The Driving Licences (Community Driving Licence) Regulations 1996 which states that a
a Community licence held by a British resident is valid for the same period as an equivalent British licence unless it would have expired earlier had the holder remained in the state of issue or would otherwise have been invalid in that state (in which case its validity is governed by the law of that state).

But within 12 months of the relevant date :

"relevant date", in relation to a Community licence holder who is normally resident in Great Britain, means?
(a) in the case where he first became so resident on or before 1 January 1997, that date; and
(b) in any other case, the date on which he first became so resident."

must send the Com Lic to DVLA with the below details:

(a) the name and address in Great Britain of the Community licence holder;
(b) his date of birth;
(c) the classes of vehicle which he is authorised by his Community licence to drive;
(d) the period of validity of the Community licence in the EEA State in respect of which it was issued;
(e) whether the licence was granted in exchange for a licence issued by a state other than an EEA State; and
(f) such other information as the Secretary of State may require for the purposes of the proper exercise of any of his functions under this Part or Part IV of this Act.

DVLA will then issue a Counterpart Licence on which sins can be recorded and also will return the Com Licence. Counterpart can also act as Provisional entitlement to other groups not covered.

This is in relation to the ordinary motor car Licence. There are certain other restrictions if the Com Licence has goods/passenger vehicle entitlements.

dvd

EU Driving Licence - Dwight Van Driver
Whoops forgot to include validity under statute:

(a) the date on which he attains the age of seventy years, or

(b) the expiry of the period of three years beginning with the relevant date,

whichever is the later.

dvd
EU Driving Licence - Peter D
Thanks dvd. I think the law has changed and it is not 3 Yeras for an EU issued licence but there is much confusion. Regards Peter
EU Driving Licence - pmh
European Community Directive (91/439/EEC)

If you Google on this you will find enough to keep you quiet until the next millenium!

Certainly in France you will find as many interpretations as people you ask! Many of the problems appear to arise because there is no implementation of systems to allow 'points' to cross borders. Hence one of the pragmatic local interpretations in 34 is that if you acquire local points whilst resident and driving on a UK Licence, they try to insist that you change your licence for a local one that can be suitably endorsed.
However several people I know have just continued to drive on the UK licence with local points just held 'in abeyance.'
--

pmh (was peter)


EU Driving Licence - Dwight Van Driver
My Traffic Law Books of circ 2006 do not mention any change. I haven't picked up any amendment.

Indeed DVLA confirm:

If you have a valid Community licence, this will authorise you to drive in this country for the periods set out below. Alternatively, you can apply to exchange your licence for a British one at any time.
Provided your licence remains valid you may drive in GB -
Ordinary licence holders
Until aged 70 or for 3 years after becoming resident whichever is the longer period.

The idea that you obtain the Counterpart is two fold.

Without it at the moment you cannot avail yourself of the Conditional Offer/Fixed Penalty Notice which means for all transgressions you have to go to Court. Further it provides, as stated before, a sin sheet for endorsements/points to be recorded. Those acquired before issue of the CP are recorded on a skelton record at DVLA .

dvd
EU Driving Licence - pmh
The EC directive appears to set out for full reciprocity (without having to exchange), but so far cannot find confirmation that it is binding as of todays date.

Also taken from a dvla document possibly the same as you quote,




* All EC Countries


Visitors

If you hold a valid Community licence and you are visiting Great Britain, you can drive any vehicle for as long as your licence remains valid. The appropriate full entitlement for the vehicle you wish to drive must be shown on your licence.

Residents

If you have a valid Community licence, this will authorise you to drive in this country for the periods set out below. Alternatively, you can apply to exchange your licence for a British one at any time.

Provided your licence remains valid you may drive in GB -

Ordinary licence holders
Until aged 70 or for 3 years after becoming resident whichever is the longer period.

Vocational licence holders
Until aged 45 or for 5 years after becoming resident whichever is the longer period.

If you are aged over 45 (but under 65) until your 66th birthday or for 5 years after becoming resident whichever is the shorter period.

If you are aged 65 or over for 12 months after becoming resident.

In order to continue driving after these periods, a British driving licence must be obtained.

This seems to impose some tighter (and looser) restrictions than your quote on age grounds.



What is a vocational licence holder?????????







--

pmh (was peter)


EU Driving Licence - pmh
ec.europa.eu/transport/home/drivinglicence/princip...m

It appears that dvla does not comply with this directive!


--

pmh (was peter)


EU Driving Licence - Peter D
Hi DVD. This is the confusion.

Ordinary licence holders
Until aged 70 or for 3 years after becoming resident whichever is the longer period.

Until aged 70 is clear and so is or for 3 years after becoming resident.
but ,whichever is the longer period.,

Lets say you where 50 and resident her in the UK for your 4th year. Do you need a UK licence or not.

I think you do but the wording whichever is the longer period appears to knock that on the head i.e. 50 to 70 is 20 years so longer than 3 years. DVLA say you do not need to change the licence on one phone call and say you do on another. They even suggest that if you where 69 then you can drive till you are 72 by merit of the 3 year rule. Even my local cop shop after calls to the Prosecutor Fiscal could not agree what applied. Thanks Peter
EU Driving Licence - Dwight Van Driver
From the Regulation quoted verbatim:

"a) the date on which he attains the age of seventy years, or

(b) the expiry of the period of three years beginning with the relevant date,

whichever is the later."

I read that as covering to the age of 70, but coming in at 69 yrs then Licence Ok until 72 years.

Vocational Licence is for those enganged in Driving as a living i.e. heavies?

dvd
EU Driving Licence - Peter D
Don't think so. The 3 yeras is to do with residency. If you are not resident in the UK you can not drive in the uk if you are 70 or older without obtaining a UK licence and medical. If you you are resident in the UK then your EU licence falls invalid on your 70th birthday or when you have been resident for 3 years. The wording of the legislation and the DVLA web site is very poor. Regards Peter