What I have learnt recently

[antstar]

The "old paper" UK licence expired when you were 70 also, but with these "new photo" ones they have a 10 year life. must be becasue of the photo (or a money making scheme)

[MC Deli]

As the UK will not renew if you are not a UK resident and the Finns will only do you a swap within 18 months of becoming a resident...

Slightly off topic question, but how does the UK know you're no longer a resident? (in the absence of registration laws etc.) Good old electricity bills again?

In the online DVLA address change routine you are asked for proof of previous addresses (leccy bills probably) and they also do identity checks.

I think living in Finland for 7 years means that "just getting a new license sent to a family member in the UK" is not on the menu.

Obviously this is all moot if you know that you should swap your UK license for a Finnish one within 18 months of residency

[Earman]

But isn't it so that the driving licence also includes your postal address (or am I wrong)? Wouldn't they get suspicious if they sent your driving licence to a different address than stated on the licence?

So you use a family members address and they forward the licence to you..
The problem comes when you reách the age of 70..happens to us all eventualy..
Then your UK licence expires..
For renewal...The UK licence authority require that your GP provides a certificate of health/eye sight etc. ..
Not a UK resident = no GP= no certificate= no renewed licence...

By the way if you change address you have to notify the licence authority..Change of Address form at the UK post office.
They are not flexible...You have to send old licence with the form they issue a new one...
This is also a way to get a free of charge new format licence (with the photo) as change of address is the only way to get the new format licence FOC.

The DVLA will also only issue 3 year licences for people with certain health problems such as diabetics. As a diabetic myself planning to move over to Finland in July I have to sort this out pronto. I am not sure how strict the Finnish authorities are as I only have sight in one eye which is acceptable to the DVLA (after a free field trest at the opticians).

[MC Deli]

But isn't it so that the driving licence also includes your postal address (or am I wrong)? Wouldn't they get suspicious if they sent your driving licence to a different address than stated on the licence?

So you use a family members address and they forward the licence to you..
The problem comes when you reách the age of 70..happens to us all eventualy..
Then your UK licence expires..
For renewal...The UK licence authority require that your GP provides a certificate of health/eye sight etc. ..
Not a UK resident = no GP= no certificate= no renewed licence...

By the way if you change address you have to notify the licence authority..Change of Address form at the UK post office.
They are not flexible...You have to send old licence with the form they issue a new one...
This is also a way to get a free of charge new format licence (with the photo) as change of address is the only way to get the new format licence FOC.

Yes - I should have notified the UK DVLA when I changed address - but I thought they might revoke my license - and the UK license has so many more letters than the standard Finn one (I can drive trailers and big vans in Finland that my friends cannot). Of course they would have told me to get a Finn one - but then would I have got the standard Finn one without all the letters? Has anyone had their license transferred and got all the letters?

(PS I am in the middle of travelling hence my lack of appearences on these boards of late)

[blaugrau]

If you have the right to drive big vans etc. in Britain, thus taken the appropriate test for driving these vehicles, then it would to me only be logical that you keep this right also when changing your licence to a Finnish one. As far as I understand it, it's a change of the authority in charge for monitoring your driving, not a change of your rights to drive or qualifications for certain vehicles.

Check http://www.poliisi.fi/poliisi/home.nsf/ ... endocument

[Upphew]

If you have the right to drive big vans etc. in Britain, thus taken the appropriate test for driving these vehicles, then it would to me only be logical that you keep this right also when changing your licence to a Finnish one.

Wrong. Little clicking with your link and...
"A person holding a driving licence issued in a country that has signed the Geneva or Vienna Road Traffic Convention and who resides permanently in Finland may apply to exchange the licence for a class A1, A and B driving licence permit without the need for a new driving test."

And then comes someone and corrects me...

[blaugrau]

Mhm, what you quote doesn't actually disprove my hunch/impression about the issue at stake. Furthermore, the police also says

A person who lives permanently in Finland or has been studying in Finland for at least six months may apply to exchange a driving licence issued in another EU or EEA country, excluding temporary driving licences, for an equivalent Finnish driving licence without having to take a new driving test.

equivalent to me means that
if licence={A, B, C, D} in Britain then
licence={A, B, C, D} in Finland

but of course could be that I'm wrong, thing is the poliisi-pages don't clarify the matter explicitly, maybe best would be to ask them directly.

[cressers]

i have all the classes from my Uk DL tansferred no problem - now allowed to drive bus with trailer

[ZARTAN]

I would like to apply for a driving licence, but would like to know a few things first. Do I need to show a visa to get a licence. How about proof of address? How do you prove you have been driving in Finland for 6 months? How strict are they on all these requirements?

[Pursuivant]

Well you have to be in the computer so your address is what the computer says... and the police issue the residence permits so they know if you're in the country and how... the 6 months you show generally with... having had a car and in traffic and/or a written note by someone whose lent you a car.

[raamv]

I would like to apply for a driving licence, but would like to know a few things first. Do I need to show a visa to get a licence. How about proof of address? How do you prove you have been driving in Finland for 6 months? How strict are they on all these requirements?

Very strict on all those things!!
If you dont have a visa, you are illegal here..
If you dont have a Finnish ID no. then you cannot get a DL based on your Valid International Driving license.
For your ID no. you need to have an address to register..
In order to register, you need a Visa and a resident permit.

[Bubba Elvis XIV]

This 18 months for the UK license -> Finn license exchange...that's permanent residency?

I think I just missed out...been about 1 year and 7 months!!!! Sh!t...

(seeI am pissed about this as I actually went to the police place to check this out and the woman said "It's ok" and that I could just drive on a UK license. I asked if it should be transfered etc etc and the dozy cow got angry with me for asking too many questions. I got home and thought I should go back and ask her name just in case....and didn't).

[Kai]

18 months is for licences from outside eu, a european driving licence is good here until its expiry date

[Bubba Elvis XIV]

yeah - but then I have to do the Finnish driving test?

[Kai]

yeah - but then I have to do the Finnish driving test?

Hope not, i have been living here for 3 years and my uk licence expires in november and if i have understood correctly i have until then to exchange it. I am prety sure thats right, have read a few threads here and the police website. Or has your uk licence expired already? then you might have to take a Finnish driving test or just renew your old licence at a uk friends address and then swap it for a Finnish one