TimFountain

Bit of a weird question. I have been in the US for >20 years and will be moving to France soon. My UK license expired in 2015. I see on the French driving license website (here - https://www.service-public.fr/partic.../F1460?lang=en) that I am able to exchange my license for a French one if it is valid. Problem is that I can't renew my UK license as I don't live in the UK, and can't exchange the UK license because it's expired. Final note - the state I live in (Oregon) is not one of the small number of US states that the French recognize and have a license exchange treaty with... Am I SOL or is there a way to do this?

Thank you

- Tim

Lin_NJ

If you can't establish an address in the UK and renew (if that is still possible since it is 8 years beyond expiry) you will have to take the French driving test. Or, move to a state which has reciprocity and stay there for a year or so after getting that state's license since I understand the French admin may be on to that wheeze.

Pulaski

British driving licenses can be reissued upon application, nothing more, until the licence holder reaches the age of 70, regardless of how many years ago their most recent licence expired. Then I think a doctor's approval/ signature is also required, as for anyone living in the UK and wanting a licence after the age of 70.

cyrian

In the UK you don't need a doctor's approval/signature to renew a licence after 70.
It is simply a self declaration that you do not have any of a list of conditions.
The doctor is obliged to notify DVLA if you have had certain medical conditions e.g. a stroke.
You can also be temporarily banned from driving while undergoing certain medical procedures.

Pulaski

Thanks for the clarification. I thought wrong.

TimFountain

I don't understand. I am not resident in the UK, nor have I been for >20 years. My understanding is that you have to be resident in the UK to renew. Or are you suggesting I can renew my UK DL in France?

Helen1964

One might think what’s being suggested is that you see if a close family member in the UK would let you use their address for the purpose of getting your UK licence reissued.
You would need to double-check the application procedure, though, as DVLA might require proof of address. Especially if there’s going to be a change of address involved (no parents living at the address on your expired licence?)

This forum being a jiggery pokery-free zone, however, what is actually being suggested of course is that you go to the UK for a nice long break and establish yourself as resident before moving on to France. Just enough to get your licence back.

Once you have a UK licence you’ll be able to drive around in France on it for 10 years. The French will only swap it for a French one within 6 months prior to expiry. Or if you
lose or damage it or it gets stolen.

Failing that, I’m afraid you’ll have to sit a French driving test.

TimFountain

Ah, I see! Well, the DVLA requires proof of address such has mortgage, utility bill, bank statement or rental agreement. I won't be able to supply any of those.

TimFountain

Absolutely no one! Sorry. Not being difficult. No living parents and the outlaws are all French....

Pulaski

He was planning to move back to Britain, he just changed his mind!
If you're driving on a British licence and it gets lost or stolen, how do the French know that you even had a British licence?

Pulaski

Yeah, well that's the direction I was heading, but under the circumstances of TimFountain, I find it very hard to believe that that would work.

Personally, I would guess that the DVLA would only issue a certificate of entitlement (until today/ this thread, I had never heard of such a thing) if there was a licence issued within the past 10 years, i.e. the licence would still be valid if it hadn't been lost, stolen, or destroyed.

Bomber Harris

Except the Certificate of Entitlement from DVLA would show that no licence is currently in force.
In the OP's situation there are no "workarounds" that do not involve one or more illegal actions.

Helen1964

I hadn’t thought of that.
Tim, looks like you’ll have to resit the test. Looking on the bright side, it’ll be very good for your French.

Pulaski

Yes, I omitted key words, which I mistakening thought we had already established. .... As subsequently discussed, you would need to prove you had reestablished residence in the UK to take advantage of that provision.

baroudeur

AFAIK the DVLA only requires an address at which the holder can be contacted. If you know someone who can be trusted to forward mail to you their address should be satisfactory. After all, there are many UK licence holders living in France who do not have a permanent UK address.

Edit: If more than two years has passed since your driving licence expired the DVLA may want to know why your licence has been expired for so long and.you may be made to retake your driving test if your licence has expired due to age or medical reasons.