driving with an ec licence

MarcoM

Hi All,

My mother is 71 and has just become resident in the uk. She has an EC licence which is valid for another few years.

The dvla regulations state that:

Provided your licence remains valid you may drive in GB:
Car, motorcycle driving licence holders (ordinary driving licence):

• until aged 70 or for three years after becoming resident, whichever is the longer period

Lorry, minibus, bus driving licence holders (vocational driving licence):

• until aged 45 or for five years after becoming resident, whichever is the longer period
• if you are aged over 45 (but under 65) until your 66th birthday or for five years after becoming resident, whichever is the shorter period
• if you are aged 65 or over for 12 months after becoming resident

Am I right in saying that since her foreign licence is still valid she can still drive until 73?

Regards,

NickWarren_2

My reading of it is the same as yours, As it says "whichever is the longer period"

so reaching 3 years as resident is longer than her reaching 70. I would just call the DVLA to clarify though that there aren't any other rules with her being over 70 already.

Hintza

She needs a medical at least.

jamesbrownontheroad

I'm not up to date on what drivers over the age of 70 are required to do, but in principle any EU citizen can have their driving license converted to a British one for a fee of (IIRC) £50. There is no need for a test, it's just a formality. EU co-operation means every EU country expects every other EU country to have a satisfactory driving test for their citizens, so there is no need for another driving test to have a British license issued.

(Daily Mail readers may insert their own ponderous xenophobic comments about European drivers here :rotfl:)

However, like I said, once she has a UK license, I believe the UK conditions of driving over the age of 70 will then apply: a re-test every few years I presume. The DVLA will confirm this.

Inactive

jamesbrownontheroad wrote: »

However, like I said, once she has a UK license, I believe the UK conditions of driving over the age of 70 will then apply: a re-test every few years I presume. The DVLA will confirm this.

Wrong I'm afraid.