heritagestanley

It's reported that the UK and French Govern any ments have reached an agreement that UK driving licences will remain valid in France until their expiry. So far as I know the position in Italy is that validity lasts only until the end of this year. It would be great if a similar deal to France could be agreed. I've asked the Foreign Office for any informaton they have about this; but in the meantime does anyone have any?

Serrano

Not as an answer to your specific questiion, no. But if such a deal were reached, I would be amazed if it allowed anything more relaxed than before. In other words, validity until the expiry date on the licence or what it would be if it were an Italian licence, whichever is the earlier. It can sometimes make a great difference - for example for a 50-year old in Italy the validity is only 5 years.

Walton

This is an extract from the UK gov website....If you live in Italy you should obtain an Italian licence. You will need to take a driving test. If you started exchanging your UK licence before 1 January 2021, you do not need to take a driving test

You can use your valid UK licence until 31 December 2021.

If you moved to Italy after 1 January 2021, you can use your valid UK licence for 12 months from the date you became resident.

so...... you can’t use your UK driving licence until it expires.....unless it expires this year

jiminalpago

I hope that whoever is negotiating with Italy is aiming at parity of recognition of the national test system, ie that the pre-Brexit "swap" arrangement is restored. Facing a practical test as you get older is daunting (and, yes, I realise the irony.).

Walton

A friend of ours has just gone through the process of getting an Italian licence.....the theory was a nightmare and the practical test took 5 minutes.......

jiminalpago

Well done her/him!
it's strain enough having the missus sitting in judgement...

Walton

😹 fortunately we both exchanged our licenses in good time......cant imagine a driving instructor picking up all my bad driving habits..... but I am yet to master having a phone in one hand a cigarette in the other and taking in the views while driving.......so lucky no test for me 😹

chris120

i believe that the italian written test can only be done in Italian, i would say this is an impossible task after only one year in country.

Does. anyone know about exchanging italian for Brit on returning to UK?

Geordieborn

I've not checked this is still the case, but a long way back I'm sure I read the UK would KEEP the same exchange rule as opposed to the EU stance.

philat98

You are right according to this.
https://italianiamanchester.com/2021...i-guida-in-uk/

SanNico

You're only allowed to do that if you have your grandchild on your lap to take care of the steering wheel. If your wing mirrors are broken you need another grandchild standing between the front seats to tell you what's going on around you.

chris120

i remember girls ridding side saddle on vespas in cagliari in the 1970s!

tpw21

Your Italian one has your GB licence number on it still, so the DVLA would be able to see you’d taken the test in the UK and issued the licence.

Plan B

An update from the UK Gov Living In Italy site which extends one deadline until end of 2022: