EU driving license swap with a twist

Foulpax

Hello All,

looking for some advice on my situation.

i moved to the UK last year from france and have a pre-settled status. I understand that after 12 months of settling I have to get a Uk driving license. Also I have not been able to get any insurance so far to drive a car with my French license.

I understand it is possible to swap your EU license with a UK license. But my French license is a swap from a previous US license, and there is a code clearly written on my French license mentioning this.

on the Gov.Uk website US is not a recognised country for swaps.

So my question is - if I send my French driving license away for a swap, will it be denied because is was a US swap and I will then lose the French license?

i read that they can’t return licenses sent in for swaps.

thanks for your advice.

sheramber

The online questionnaire stipulates where you passed your test so in that case you will not be able to exchange your licence.

https://www.gov.uk/exchange-foreign-driving-licence

neilmcl

As above, the exchange is based on where you originally took your driving test and as the US has no reciprocal arrangement for driving licenses you may not be able proceed with the swap. As far as insurance is concerned you'd be best speaking to an insurance broker.

This may help: https://www.uswitch.com/car-insurance/driving-in-the-uk-on-a-non-uk-licence/

Sandtree

Foulpax said:

Also I have not been able to get any insurance so far to drive a car with my French license.

Why not? Know plenty of people with EU licenses and UK insurance.

Ultimately the answer is to go to a proper insurance broker if you are hard to place but it will be for a reason other than your license if you arent able to get insurance.

sheramber

Sandtree said:

Foulpax said:

Also I have not been able to get any insurance so far to drive a car with my French license.

Why not? Know plenty of people with EU licenses and UK insurance.

Ultimately the answer is to go to a proper insurance broker if you are hard to place but it will be for a reason other than your license if you arent able to get insurance.

Maybe  because the original licence was issued in US so does that make it  not strictly an EU licence.

DB1904

sheramber said:

Sandtree said:

Foulpax said:

Also I have not been able to get any insurance so far to drive a car with my French license.

Why not? Know plenty of people with EU licenses and UK insurance.

Ultimately the answer is to go to a proper insurance broker if you are hard to place but it will be for a reason other than your license if you arent able to get insurance.

Maybe  because the original licence was issued in US so does that make it  not strictly an EU licence.

If it's issued in the EU then it's an EU licence. Why would you think otherwise?

neilmcl

sheramber said:

Sandtree said:

Foulpax said:

Also I have not been able to get any insurance so far to drive a car with my French license.

Why not? Know plenty of people with EU licenses and UK insurance.

Ultimately the answer is to go to a proper insurance broker if you are hard to place but it will be for a reason other than your license if you arent able to get insurance.

Maybe  because the original licence was issued in US so does that make it  not strictly an EU licence.

That shouldn't make any difference in terms of the difficulty (or not) of getting insurance.

Car_54

DB1904 said:

sheramber said:

Sandtree said:

Foulpax said:

Also I have not been able to get any insurance so far to drive a car with my French license.

Why not? Know plenty of people with EU licenses and UK insurance.

Ultimately the answer is to go to a proper insurance broker if you are hard to place but it will be for a reason other than your license if you arent able to get insurance.

Maybe  because the original licence was issued in US so does that make it  not strictly an EU licence.

If it's issued in the EU then it's an EU licence. Why would you think otherwise?

Yes, it's an EU licence, and just as valid as any other so far as driving is concerned. However, only those where the holder passed his/her test in the EU can be exchanged for a UK one.

DB1904

Car_54 said:

DB1904 said:

sheramber said:

Sandtree said:

Foulpax said:

Also I have not been able to get any insurance so far to drive a car with my French license.

Why not? Know plenty of people with EU licenses and UK insurance.

Ultimately the answer is to go to a proper insurance broker if you are hard to place but it will be for a reason other than your license if you arent able to get insurance.

Maybe  because the original licence was issued in US so does that make it  not strictly an EU licence.

If it's issued in the EU then it's an EU licence. Why would you think otherwise?

Yes, it's an EU licence, and just as valid as any other so far as driving is concerned. However, only those where the holder passed his/her test in the EU can be exchanged for a UK one.

That was covered in the second post. 

sheramber

DB1904 said:

sheramber said:

Sandtree said:

Foulpax said:

Also I have not been able to get any insurance so far to drive a car with my French license.

Why not? Know plenty of people with EU licenses and UK insurance.

Ultimately the answer is to go to a proper insurance broker if you are hard to place but it will be for a reason other than your license if you arent able to get insurance.

Maybe  because the original licence was issued in US so does that make it  not strictly an EU licence.

If it's issued in the EU then it's an EU licence. Why would you think otherwise?

Because the AOP says 

But my French license is a swap from a previous US license, and there is a code clearly written on my French license mentioning this.

There must be a reason for that.

Sandtree

sheramber said:

DB1904 said:

sheramber said:

Sandtree said:

Foulpax said:

Also I have not been able to get any insurance so far to drive a car with my French license.

Why not? Know plenty of people with EU licenses and UK insurance.

Ultimately the answer is to go to a proper insurance broker if you are hard to place but it will be for a reason other than your license if you arent able to get insurance.

Maybe  because the original licence was issued in US so does that make it  not strictly an EU licence.

If it's issued in the EU then it's an EU licence. Why would you think otherwise?

Because the AOP says 

But my French license is a swap from a previous US license, and there is a code clearly written on my French license mentioning this.

There must be a reason for that.

Well for the absolute reason you'd probably need to ask on a French forum given its the French that have done it.

Whilst it makes no difference for insurance I wouldnt be surprised if it werent intended to help stop people bouncing licenses to get to the desired one (eg British) without having to take the test etc. I remember many years ago people saying you could basically buy one from X, Y will allow you to switch if for theirs and the UK allows you to exchange a Y license for a UK one.

Always sounded a lot of hassle to me but for someone like my Aunty that took 20 years to pass her test, may have been a better idea.