Sitting chatting with my British pal Anna within the native café within the village, she sighed and mentioned, “If I might hand over driving in France, I might. Making an attempt to do my driving licence swap is driving me mad – excuse the pun.”
We each laughed. However it’s not humorous when it’s a must to cope with French admin and also you’re not good at on-line programs or your French is coming alongside, however you’re not fairly there but with it.
Do it’s a must to swap your international driving licence for a French one once you reside in France?
Principally, for those who transfer to France and you’ve got a international driving licence, it’s legitimate for as much as a yr, past that, it’s a must to swap it to a French one (except you’re British, and/or your British licence was issued earlier than Jan 1, 2021 once you moved right here, a UK Brexit factor and you’ll verify on the ANTS web site – Agence Nationale des Titres Sécurisés – to make sure you’re compliant. The trade can solely be achieved the place international locations have an trade deal. The UK is included, however within the US, solely 18 states enable for reciprocal trade. In case your licence isn’t eligible, that you must take a driving take a look at in France. Because of the Brexit settlement, a UK Driver’s Licence want solely be modified for a French one when a) UK licence reaches its expiry date b) once you flip 70 c) for those who get caught rushing by the French authorities and factors should be deducted and d) when you’ve misplaced your UK licence.
If you’re already a French resident – don’t try and get your UK licence exchanged within the UK as for those who get stopped by the Police/Gendarmes, they will verify these particulars. A 1,500€ was utilized lately by the French tribunal to a British licence holder for not respecting the principles.
For some, the trade has proved comparatively simple, however not for all. There have been frequent studies of issues, delays, system points, and errors or omissions within the issuance of French licences, as an illustration, leaving off the qualification for using a bike, or failing to consider drivers with incapacity adaptation necessities.
Every little thing that you must find out about a driving licence swap in France
Should you make a mistake along with your software, for those who don’t observe a course of so as, don’t present the right documentation, don’t present an authorized translation of your international licence if required, or additional information from the issuing licence company if requested – you may have points. Even for those who full all duties throughout the required (usually very brief) timeframe, you should still encounter issues along with your software.
And that you must remember that the trade can take a number of months.
Lately, it was my flip to resume my licence. Anna was nonetheless bemoaning her ongoing as but not sorted out software, largely as a result of she has given up for now. She’s not the primary pal who’s informed me of the nervousness it may possibly trigger to undergo the cycle of swapping your international licence for a French one. I made a decision life is simply too brief to cope with all this anxiety-inducing admin.
I bought in contact with Eric Donjon on the European Concierge and requested him to assist. Eric, who’s French however splits his time between France and the UK, the place he’s the North of England Honorary Consul for France. He’s famend for with the ability to type out administrative points associated to France. From visas to establishing a enterprise, organising healthcare, and extra – he’s the person who might help.
I had images taken in a French picture sales space which offers a code, so that you don’t need to ship bodily photos off. I gave Eric the code and copies of the paperwork he requested, and he set me up within the ANTS system (Agence Nationale des Titres Sécurisés (French Nationwide Safety Company) processed my software and inside 2 days, I acquired affirmation that my licence could be despatched to me in 8 months, when my UK license expires. It took simply minutes of my time and was price each penny.
If you’d like assist with exchanging your international licence for a French one, visas, establishing a enterprise or checking out any side of administration in France – get in contact with Eric at: theeuropeanconcierge.com
