consequences of foreign licence??
 

I've been here for a "while" and still have my UK licence, I frequent the UK and hire a car and that's what has put me off the possibily long wait to get a PT licence.

Anyway, almost 2 years ago I crossed a continuios white line, paid my 120€ fine and then 6 months later got a letter telling me to hand my licence in for one month, spoke to a solicitor I know and she wrote a letter saying how my licence was essential bla bla bla and she said if I hear nothing back all is well.
However last week(well over a year on) she got a letter say they were rejecting the appeal and the case will now be dealt with by the court. She assures me there is no doubt I will have to appear in court. As of yet, no diiect contact with me and no date.

I'm thinking I'm probably going to now that my UK licence is going to be a problem, she reckons I should not change at this stage as it will look bad?! I'm not so sure!
Anyone been fined etc for this or know of possible consequences? A fine is one thing but I'm really with a big problem if I get a ban!:banghead:

I was thinking today maybe the least I should do is register UK licence with IMTT, never heard of anyone doing that around here but know some of you on here have done it, is this enough to be "Legal" and what is the document required?

Re: consequences of foreign licence??
 

Is your UK photocard licence 'in date' as there is an expiry date on it, I suggest checking that.

Re: consequences of foreign licence??
 

Yes, it has another 8 years left on it.

Re: consequences of foreign licence??
 

I'm surprised you've got away without doing this for so long - I've been asked on more than one occasion at a random stop to show the IMTT document proving the licence is registered with them. You can be fined for not having done so. Even more surprised it wasn't a problem when you incurred the fine. I guess you've been lucky :thumbsup:


Documents required :
Document of residence from either Câmara or Junta de Freguesia
Modelo 13 IMT form *
Original plus a photocopy of driving licence
Original ID document


* This was provided to me, blank, at the IMTT office with someone else's request for me to copy but you can download and complete the form in advance.


I would suggest copying the ID document too, in case they want a copy. Photocopies in govt offices can be very expensive if they insist on having one. Also take contribuinte card - it's not mentioned as required but it wasn't for the exchange I requested last week either and they still wanted it.


It is all that is required to be fully legal. Can't answer your other questions - I never, ever commit motoring offences :angel: but I can, if I remember, let you know how long it took when my shiny new Portuguese licence arrives. I'm currently in limbo, with a temporary document, only legal to drive in Portugal.

Re: consequences of foreign licence??
 

Attachment 121771

Document looks simple enough, although I wonder what should be written in comments/observations exactly?!:unsure:

Been stopped a few times and only once asked why I had a foreign licence, told them I spend half the year in the UK. Customer of ours is waiting 2 years this month for her licence, that's what has put me off! I have seen others more recently get them with in 2 or 3 months though. I reckon it also depends on the IMTT office.

They have changed their system in the last few months and had intended to get everyone in who was already waiting on their licence to take a digital photo and get a digital signature but since it's been chaos, they are now just issuing the licences anyway.. so you should hopefully get yours soon! How long you been waiting Eric?

Re: consequences of foreign licence??
 

I can't remember what I copied now for the Modelo 13! It was a good few years ago and my Portuguese wasn't all that good back then. If I come across some standard format I'll let you know, otherwise I'm sure you can be guided as I was when you apply.

I lodged the application for the exchange on Friday last week - they took a photo and a digital signature there and then (did they REALLY have people applying and not do this before?) As I say, I'll let you know when it arrives so you can guage current delay.

Re: consequences of foreign licence??
 

Hi All

When I went to submit my UK license I took the form from my doctor and the lady at the IMTT in Coimbra did everything else for me. She said that the form she gave me was my new license to use unit the plastic card arrived all done and no problem.

Peter

Re: consequences of foreign licence??
 

I have been advised not change my licence as I'm court bound so it's going to look bad if I get there with no licence to hand in and having started the process knowing fine well I'm looking at getting banned.

At least if I have it registered with a bit of IMTT paper I can play dumb:whatchutalkingabout and say i thought that was all that was required.

Re: consequences of foreign licence??
 

Would you by any chance have the name of the lady you dealt with and whether or not she spoke English because I went in there on Monday and could not find anyone who spoke English?

Re: consequences of foreign licence??
 

Hi Jessel

Sorry i didn't get a name you just get allocated a number and a desk to go to as i am sure you know. Most of the security guards speak English or when i have been in they have.

I have sent a PM.

Peter

Re: consequences of foreign licence??
 

That's all good until you want to hire a car (or drive) in another country. Our exchange took nearly a year.

Re: consequences of foreign licence??
 

Are you still UK resident?

http://www.blplaw.com/media/how-can-...0flowchart.PDF

If you are UK resident, then you can't show your Portuguese residency papers as you won't have any.

However, you may have the Atestado de Residencia which registered your presence in Portugal if you stay for more than 3 months.

The EU confirms that EU Citizens can stay in any EU Country for more than 3 months without registering for residency but under restricted conditions (i.e., you can't get health benefits nor apply for unemployment / child benefit etc.) in the host country.

However, your UK driving licence should be registered at the IMTT if you are driving a Portuguese registered car according to the rules.

Unfortunately, Portugal does not have any leeway for human error where driving is concerned and it's a total pain in the .... but, unlike England which has a warning and points system, Portugal is very much more of a police state without leniency. In that respect, it's not a very good place to drive in because mistakes happen as we're all human - but the Portuguese don't really care about human nature - they only care about their stringent, unrelenting laws.

Unfortunately, you are highly likely to have your licence taken from you unless you stay away from Portugal completely for a number of years. If you like the place, better to take the pain and believe me, court is not a pleasant experience in this troubled country.

The government and officials appoint family who aren't really capable of performing the job - they get the job because they are family.

A local Portuguese person had his license taken for 3 months who ran a bread van business for a similar offense - he had to employ a driver to keep his business going during that period of time.

Portuguese authorities really don't care about anything other than trying to adhere to their own laws that the Portuguese themselves don't even like. Portuguese authorities don't work for the people - they work for the government (we hear it all the time from the horses mouth).

They also try to bring anyone who happens to be within their borders into the bargain too even if certain situations have nothing at all to do with them.

It's not hard to see why Portugal is one of the poorest countries in Europe and it can't get its act together, and why the country is very slowly but surely emptying of had enough of it in Portugal Portuguese and filling up with more ignorant of the country foreigners.

Its a country which, in it's relentless need to fulfil it's own laws, fines it's own volunteer ambulance drivers and fire brigade for minor offences including missing "no smoking" stickers in cabs or speeding through residential areas without blues and twos.

Unfortunately, your "I need my licence" isn't likely to have a great deal of effect.

Re: consequences of foreign licence??
 

Blownaway, no, I have pernament residency! I'm pretty much with no excuses, I should have took the 1 month ban and not appealed it... bad advice from a young lawyer I reckon! Lawyer said it's first case of many she has done that has failed and that includes drunk drivers! All I done was pass a continious line with zero danger, my worry now is I'm also going to get hammered for the UK licence! Just hope the ban comes soon so it's during period when my kids are on holiday from school.

Re: consequences of foreign licence??
 

I don't see there can be any harm in your registering the licence with IMTT now.

What was the circumstance of the offence BTW? Did you just pull out carefully and observantly to go round an obstruction? - I've often wondered whether that could get you pulled so I frequently sit and wait while everybody else shoots past me and obstructions.

Re: consequences of foreign licence??
 

U turn a couple of metres short of the end of the continuous white line on an empty road, knew police were there but thought nothing off it. Police said he knew I did nothing dangerous but regardless I broke the law... Felt like giving him abuse but refrained stayed friendly and he even apologised after he fined me!:blink:

Re: consequences of foreign licence??
 

Hmm, I suppose the problem here is that ignoring a traffic law is not down to an individual's assessment of the circumstances. In the UK, if a driver takes no notice (for instance) of a "no right turn" sign because there aren't any other road users around, a watching police officer will almost certainly stop the vehicle and issue a fixed penalty notice. On the other hand, the chances of this happening is highly unlikely as there just aren't enough police officers to check that all the laws are being obeyed all the time - so in most cases offenders will not be punished. The majority will probably be glad of this as we hope the police are out there catching the real villains! Also, I imagine all of us would prefer a ticking off if we do get caught, but I imagine this will depend on how benevolent the police officer is feeling at the time.
I suspect Portugal and the UK are pretty similar in this respect, but in many places in London cameras are watching us 24 hours a day, so stopping your car in a bus layby to drop off passengers (which seems the sensible thing to do) automatically attracts a fixed penalty fine - how do I know? Guess! :o

Re: consequences of foreign licence??
 

Was it GNR? If so, did he salute you on greeting or do they dispense with that for a ticking-off? I love the salute - makes me feel like a VIP.

Re: consequences of foreign licence??
 

I almost burst out laughing the first time one of them done that, I thought he was taking the piss! Don't think he did salute me though, was Brigado Transito... but they are GNR too, no?!

Re: consequences of foreign licence??
 

Hi Ged. If you ever get your licence back and still want to exchange it for a Portuguese one, I can now inform you that in my case it took just under 8 weeks. I lodged the application and handed in my UK licence on May 22nd and received the Portuguese licence this morning - in the meantime I had a piece of paper from IMTT authorising me to drive in Portugal but of no use outside the country.

Re: consequences of foreign licence??
 

I've been stopped on several occasions but never been saluted........ how dare they! LOL :rofl:

And the last time I was stopped, I think the officer's parting words were the PT equivalent of f#*k off and leave me alone.

Re: consequences of foreign licence??
 

May I ask which IMTT office handled your application?

Re: consequences of foreign licence??
 

Blimey! How did your end of the conversation go up until that point? Mine's usually along the lines of "Good afternoon, Sr Guarda.....yes Sir, No Sir, three bags full Sir..... I thank you Sir.. until next time / have a good weekend/ rest of the day" or somesuch. Seems to work OK for me.



Yes - it was Viana do Castelo.

Re: consequences of foreign licence??
 

GEEZ gedscottish...you've just put the fear deep in me. I think I overlooked the change of Drivers Licence....SHOOOOT! Will do this tomorrow. Have you the link to the application form? Deb

Re: consequences of foreign licence??
 

If you just want to register your current licence here, it's this:
http://www.imtt.pt/sites/IMTT/Portug...s/Mod13IMT.pdf

If you want to change its best get the document there and then as they are a bit fussy about poor copies.

Re: consequences of foreign licence??
 

Hi All

Can't see the point of the link as when i changed my licence i first went to see my Doctor to get a form filled in that the Doctor supplied. The Doctor said that anything other than B, BE, on the UK licence would involve further tests. All i supplied was Photos and i then took the form and Photos to the IMTT in Coimbra. I was then given an A4 size letter type form that said i could drive until my new licence arrive.

All the above was how things happened for another Brit in my village and neither of use had to provide any other forms. My friend received his new Portuguese after 11 months.

Peter

Peter

Re: consequences of foreign licence??
 

think they are referring to the form to register there uk licence not change it peter

Re: consequences of foreign licence??
 

I'm lost, (so easy in these early-elderly days)
We are both Portuguese residents as of March this year
MePat has an Irish Drivers Licence
I have a New Zealand Drivers Licence.
We drive a French car...but that's another thing.
What must we do to be legal drivers here. We will travel internationally during the coming 2-12 months and rent cars.
Thank you for your patience if your are repeating what's already been explained here.

Re: consequences of foreign licence??
 

Munster - a NZ driver's licence needs to be exchanged within 185 days of establishing residence in Portugal. Just paperwork - no test required.


An Irish licence should be registered with the IMTT within 60 days of establishing residence. It can be exchanged for a Portuguese licence but there's no need to do so - the process is slightly quicker and easier for registration and you don't temporarily lose the licence (and therefore the right to drive overseas).


If resident in Portugal, you definitely do not want to get caught driving a foreign-plated vehicle unless it's your own and in the process of matriculation.

Re: consequences of foreign licence??
 

Red Eric THANK YOU...clear as a bell....and yes we know about driving our beloved French Santa Fe here and the (official) E9,500.00 matriculation fee...we just didn't own it for 12-months plus 1-day to be able to register it within the 6-month deadline. SHOOT, SHOOT, SHOOT. So we are driving it back to its people to sell it and will buy a Portuguese car. "So it goes." says Kilgore Trout (quoted from the seminal read for all hippies of the day Trout Fishing in America)

Re: consequences of foreign licence??
 

Your unbounded joy may be tempered slightly by the documentation required for the NZ licence exchange :-

• Original DL
• Photocopy of ID and show original
• Doctor's certificate for drivers
• Consular declaration attesting authenticity of licence, date of emission and validity, categories covered and that the licence was obtained by sitting a test.

If the licence is for categories other than light vehicles, you may additionally need to pass a psychological exam to retain those categories.


There's a requirement for a consular-authenticated translation of the licence in some cases but it looks as though that doesn't apply if the licence is in English (they do speak a sort of English in NZ, if I remember correctly from my childhood?).


I should think they might need proof of address and probably contribuinte card as well, even though they're not mentioned.


Cost €30


I think I've got all that right. The consular declaration might be fun - in your shoes, I'd probably get the Irish licence registered and enquire about the exact requirements for the NZ exchange at the same time to get it from the horse's mouth, as it were.

Re: consequences of foreign licence??
 

JESUS!

Re: consequences of foreign licence??
 

Peter means well, it's just he never reads the posts properly!

Re: consequences of foreign licence??
 

I'm afraid he won't be of much use on this matter - you'll have to go above his head straight to the Godzone Consular Service.


They're sticklers for the rules here.

Re: consequences of foreign licence??
 

I have to go to the Godzone NZ embassy? Really? Damn, I mean damn! I've not had a drivers test/exam in 45 years...can't imagine doing this, traded in my USA licence for a German licence, traded my German licence for a NZ one...now a possible Drivers Test? No, I don't need to take one just for the sake of taking one! Is it too early for a G'nT? A pitcher of G'nTs? Feel like I can't win for losing here...the loss of our French Santa Fe the heat and now this? grumble, grumble, knash, grrrrrrrr!
Well every day we don't wake up in the hands of ISIS is a good day.

Re: consequences of foreign licence??
 

Hi Nigel

You know my friend in my village. He was stopped in a roadside check and was told by the GNR that as a resident then he had to get his UK licence changed for a Portuguese licence. This he did by going to the Doctors and getting the form required by the IMTT. Nothing was said about registering his licence.

Peter

Re: consequences of foreign licence??
 

Easy there, Munster - who mentioned a driving test? You don't need a test, it's just paperwork for the exchange (assuming your licence is current).


The Embassy or Consulate is required to confirm that your licence is genuine, as the PT authorities can't verify that for themselves.


However, (as I said) if I were you, I would go to the IMTT office and ask there what exactly is required before approaching the NZ authorities.


Relax - it's probably all quite straightforward. Just a minor bit of hassle.

Re: consequences of foreign licence??
 

K, dad, tanx, me stand down now.

Re: consequences of foreign licence??
 

Ged

I can't see the problem. Go to your Doctor get the form from the doctor and 2 passport photos and go to the IMTT. As i said before the GNR warned my friend in my village he faced a fine of 250€. You can of course carry on doing what you are doing and when something goes wrong Oooops what do i do now.

After my friend was warned by the GNR 4 other Brits by me have all been to the IMTT including myself.

Peter

Re: consequences of foreign licence??
 

was that because he turned 70 peter,because you do not have to exchange if you dont want to but you must register,good luck telling alan he must change his

Re: consequences of foreign licence??
 

Sorry Nigel but who is right GNR or gossip on a Forum, me i will listen to the GNR. No you know Allan better than i do you tell him.

Shame Chas is no longer here he would have posted Chapter and verse but sadly he is no longer here.

It was before his 70th birthday when he was stopped.

Peter