Non-EU driving licence exchanges continue to result in issues in France
Audience proceed to share difficulties around the exchange of a foreign driving licence for a French licence.
These provided disability adaptation codes, what happens when the holder initially passed their take a look at in a distinctive nation from the one particular that issued the international licence, and issues with employing automobiles abroad.
Study also: What are the rules on exchanging your driving licence in France?
Browse also: How extended to exchange a driving licence in France: your suggestions
Peter Spence, 68, from Deux-Sèvres, who is paraplegic, swapped his British isles licence as Brexit approached, but codes for variations letting him to handle his automobile by hand ended up missing from the French licence.
“When I looked into putting in added adaptations to assistance me get in and out, the garage reported ‘we can’t do this simply because your licence does not have the expected aspects on the back’.
“It’s an outdated computerized Toyota with a hand regulate for the brake and accelerator. Now I also just can’t purchase a new car and put these adaptations into it.”
Retired document producer Mr Spence explained officials would not alter the licence, saying he should really retake a French examination. He has commenced lessons.
Licences can be issued with 1 of quite a few quantity codes on the back again, indicating modifications for disabilities: for example, 10 for the gears or 15 for the clutch (see below for much more details).
They are the exact same on British isles licences.
Go through also: United kingdom driving licence exchange: Why is there a 70 on my new French one particular?
Examine also: Biker can not ride his motorbike soon after French driving licence swap
Avocat Basile Tissot, from the workplace of main motoring attorney Eric de Caumont, said these codes do not ‘entitle’ you to push an tailored car or truck, but relatively ‘require’ you to drive just one.
So, in concept, if Mr Spence’s French licence does not have them, there is very little legally halting him from making use of his latest adapted auto or obtaining a identical a single, Mr Tissot mentioned.
He added, even so, that there may possibly be troubles in boasting particular state economic help toward the price tag.
If the deficiency of the codes proceeds to pose sensible troubles, there must be no legal explanation why Mr Spence should consider a new take a look at.
“He ought to get in touch with his prefecture and ask for an appointment with the commission départementale médicale and they will be equipped to consider his disability and give him a certification of aptitude for driving with, potentially, the obligation to use an tailored automobile (véhicule aménagée).
Then he really should request for the licence to be modified with the minimal codes on it.
“He ought to only have to retake a take a look at if there have been another problem with the exchange of his licence. It ought to not be joined to his disabilities.”
Go through also: Can a French insurance company reject me simply because of a foreign driving licence?
What about licences received in place distinct to exactly where delivered?
Irving Hunger, 76, from Haute-Savoie, was refused a French licence as his United kingdom one particular was acquired in trade for a Zimbabwean one particular. He experienced passed his check in Kenya prior to relocating to Zimbabwe.
Even in the case of exchanging a licence from a different EU place (Code de la Route R222-1), this is not possible the place it was attained in trade for a single from a place that has no exchange deal with France (see listed here for a nation simulator). Kenya is accepted but Zimbabwe is not.
The French legislation on exchanging non-EU licences suggests at report 5 that the licence ought to have been “issued in the nation where you had your regular residency before coming to France”. It also refers back again to R222-1.
Having said that, a circular from 2012 (click on listed here for the PDF variation) states the nation that sent it must have been the one where you received the driving legal rights.
We look at this places in question the trade of a United kingdom-issued licence, even if it was doable to confirm the examination was handed in Kenya.
The dilemma occurs as to no matter if United kingdom licences issued in relation to driving rights pre-courting Brexit may well however fall under the exact regulations as an EU exchange.
As the Uk-France driving licence swap deal is not publicly offered, we are awaiting clarification from the Inside Ministry.
Eventually, a reader who was informed she can not exchange for the reason that her paper United kingdom licence is valid in France until she is 70 has experienced troubles with employing cars and trucks on visits to the Uk. She was informed she demands a code from the DVLA.
A DVLA spokesman explained: “To retrieve a code to seek the services of a automobile, the reader desires to provide their licence number, National Coverage selection and the postcode revealed on the licence.”
See the United kingdom govt website for much more particulars on this.
Examine also
Article Brexit: When do Britons want to swap to French driving licence?
Is it accurate that older drivers will have to put an S sticker on cars and trucks in France?
Continue to no France-United kingdom offer to share aspects of speeding drivers