France in Focus

We oldies already have this if we passed our driving test before 1997.

However, imminently the UK Government is going to give B+E to everyone - they have already scrapped the trailer test.

I presume that anyone now will be able to tow up to 3500Kg trailers - presumably in France also. Not sure I would trust any of my children to do so - except maybe the youngest.

source: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-rules-f ... utumn-2021

Don't effect us as changed to french licences years ago, as should have all whov'e been here long.

Is that your opinion or is it the law?

It's a right balls up at the moment regarding driving licence exchange, and it seems to change by the month. I swapped mine a few years back and I can't remember the palaver that we are now having changing OH's, initially made an application before Brexshit, that disappeared in to the ether, subsequent to that I have made 3 applications on her behalf and am now awaiting the third one to be ratified. She has the old paper only one which expired in July this year on her 70th, so has been unable to drive since then, some might say longer, , the latest request is a check code from DVLA, and a letter of renunciation for what the French term Heavy goods. The old UK licence gave her entitlement to drive up to 8.25 ton, so that with a myriad of other documentation is now sitting with either ANTS or Certs, "en cours", and has been since July. My understanding is that those with a photocard licence can still drive here even though the photo might have expired, but as long as the licence entitlement is valid, normally up to 70 years old. Should you receive any infractions then the licence must be exchanged for a French one. There is a very good Facebook group run by a very dedicated woman, for anyone having difficulty filling in the application, which is not very straightforward, and as I say the waiting game is extremely frustrating.

Pathca wrote: ↑Sun Nov 21, 2021 7:13 am Is that your opinion or is it the law?

If your refering to my post yes it was the law when we came here 34 years ago, in six months here should be changed
I was stopped at least three times by the Gendarmes and told off for not getting mine changed so went down to Cahors prefecture and in 15 minutes got a french one ordered, it came through the post in four days, how things have changed.
Havn't a clue what it is now but a pigs ear from other posts.

Not wanting to disagree with you Doug, but my understanding is that at that time you could drive on your UK licence unless you incurred an infringement. I too was stopped on several occasions by the Gendarmes and the question of the licence was raised. I explained the situation as far as I was aware and nothing further was said about it. Unfortunately a lot of these Gendarmes have not got a clue about technicalities regarding licences, all they know is how to point a radar gun at you and raise a few quid, and a licence is not proof of address, merely proof of entitlement. What I would say in defense of your opinion is the fact that if you have informed the DVLA that you have left the country, obviously they will not issue another with a foreign address, where does that leave you regarding the validity of your existing UK one, presumably it would be annulled.

Not if it was prefreedom of movement.Can't remember the date.But like doug I had to change mine within 6 months

1992, so yes you are correct if that was the case at that time.

I haven't a clue what the law is now. Whatever it is, it is interpreted differently by each prefecture (like so much else). We still translate a couple each month, including Dutch driving certificates!

I arrived in September '99 and was offered a job on the lorries in December. It was blocked at the last minute by the sub-prefecture who said my UK licence was ok for cars but not HGVs. I went there the next day and had my authorisation there and then and started driving the same day. I suppose my main licence arrived in the post a few days later.

I insisted my wife change hers at the same time, so she wouldn't be bothered by Swansea when she got to 70. Somehow she ended up with both licences which she still has to this day, although no longer driving. Both of hers are paper and the French one is for life, unlike mine which, because of regular renewals with medicals to maintain the HGV entitlement, was for 15 years the last time.