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Changing IE license for UK license

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  • 29-04-2008 7:01pm
    #1
    Random
    Closed Accounts Posts: 19,080 ✭✭✭✭


    I've been watching Road Wars a lot and the one thing which stands out is that no matter what country you have your full license from, once you get a UK provisional the full license is irrelevent and you are bound by the terms of the UK license system (i.e. all their provisional rules etc).

    I also hear that after you're in the country a year you have to apply for a UK license.

    Does this apply to Irish licenses also?

    Say (for example) I have a full Irish license and I move to the UK to live/work. I can drive around fine and legally with my IE license. If I'm there more than a year do I have to get a UK one?

    If I go through getting a UK one, getting a provisional first (as I assume you have to do?), does this mean that I'm driving fine for a year, then 6 months as a learner again with learner rules and then back to full license?

    Or can I just swap an IE license for a UK one and all the above crap just applys for non EU licenses?

    Thanks


Comments

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    #2
    vengeance52
    Registered Users Posts: 1,526 ✭✭✭vengeance52


    http://www.dvla.gov.uk/drivers.aspx

    some good info there.


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    #3
    denhaagenite
    Registered Users Posts: 1,169 ✭✭✭denhaagenite


    Nope.... same entitlements as your home state gave you .. and no obligation to swap no matter what the state your in says. If its an EU License then its valid all over the EU. Kind of a balls though when the irish license is so big and the Dutch license is a plastic card that fits nicely in your wallet!!!


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    #4
    Random
    Closed Accounts Posts: 19,080 ✭✭✭✭Random


    denhaagenite wrote: »
    Nope.... same entitlements as your home state gave you .. and no obligation to swap no matter what the state your in says. If its and EU License then its valid all over the EU. Kind of a balls though.
    Assume I want to swap for a UK one.


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    #5
    Alun
    Registered Users Posts: 21,465 ✭✭✭✭Alun


    random wrote: »
    I've been watching Road Wars a lot and the one thing which stands out is that no matter what country you have your full license from, once you get a UK provisional the full license is irrelevent and you are bound by the terms of the UK license system (i.e. all their provisional rules etc).
    Why on earth would you want to get a UK provisional if you already have a full Irish licence?
    I also hear that after you're in the country a year you have to apply for a UK license.
    Well, you heard wrong. That requirement went away several years ago. It applies EU wide, so no matter where your original licence is from in the EU it's valid in every other EU country until it expires. There's nothing stopping you from swapping it ahead of this time should you so wish though.
    Does this apply to Irish licenses also?
    No.
    Say (for example) I have a full Irish license and I move to the UK to live/work. I can drive around fine and legally with my IE license. If I'm there more than a year do I have to get a UK one?
    No. You can carry on driving on your IE licence until it expires.
    If I go through getting a UK one, getting a provisional first (as I assume you have to do?), does this mean that I'm driving fine for a year, then 6 months as a learner again with learner rules and then back to full license?
    Where did you get this from? When your IE licence expires you just swap it for a UK one, simple as that. No need to get a provisional licence, or take a new test.
    Or can I just swap an IE license for a UK one and all the above crap just applies for non EU licenses?
    You've got it :)


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