UK Drivers Licence conversion

[Rosamunda]

I would read it the same way as you, but it would be nice to have an official categorical statement on that.
Good catch about the 2033 date. I had ignored that because my licence will expire on my 70th birthday which is before that date, but it could be important for others who are not so ancient.

On the UK website it does say that pink-paper licences are still valid. The new rules only apply to newly-issued licences.

I will also turn 70 before 2033. But I don't intend to stop driving in 2028... what the hell are we supposed to do then? I don't fancy having to do the on-line highway code test...

[tjawatts]

I have a UK photo license. I just renewed it. I just used my family address in the UK. I didnt have to prove residence. They sent the renewal form to my UK address, it got forwarded to me, I filled it in and sent it back. License came very quickly.

T

[Rosamunda]

I have a UK photo license. I just renewed it. I just used my family address in the UK. I didnt have to prove residence. They sent the renewal form to my UK address, it got forwarded to me, I filled it in and sent it back. License came very quickly.

T

Yes, but my mum has moved twice since I got my pink paper licence and I never changed the address... So that no work for me.
I should probably call DLVC and fess up big time then listen to their suggestions.
But I HATE dealing with "UK" call centres....

[DMC]

On the UK website it does say that pink-paper licences are still valid.

That's good to know. It answers one of the 2 questions. Do you have a link to that page? I have tried searching but I just come up with a gazillion references to the paper counterpart to the credit card style licence.

We are then left with the open question of whether Finland applies validity periods to these licences. Any ideas what would be the best way to check that?

Yes, but my mum has moved twice since I got my pink paper licence and I never changed the address... So that no work for me.

If you can claim your mum's address as your UK address, can't you just send in your licence for change of address details? You would get a modern style licence back. (Also new licences for change of address are free, whilst just changing a paper licence for a credit card version costs 20 quid).

[Rosamunda]

All the websites I viewed agree that the old pink paper licences (and even the old green ones) are still valid because they have no photo.
But on many other points there seems to be no consensus... ie there is no requirement to change the address on a UK licence when you move abroad and you can drive in the EEA with a UK licence BUT on the other hand, it says the address on your licence must be valid ??? A big grey area...

http://expatmum.blogspot.fi/2011/08/bri ... tters.html
http://www.theaa.com/public_affairs/new ... newal.html
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthre ... 534&page=2
http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/in ... 732AAqdn9A

Hungary was really well organised... they took my UK licence off me when I moved in, and gave me a Hungarian one, and then when I moved away they posted my UK licence back to me. No hassle.

[cors187]

I think the standard for sending a replacement license is that you already have a photo taken by the official photo machines at the License places,then the photo needs to be not older than a certain date.
Im sure this is the ethical standard.

[cors187]

When i changed my license over to a Finnish one the girl did all the administration work, took my foreign license and when she offered me the receipt also explained that i cant drive until i receive the Finnish license which will be posted in the mail
I said , i just drove my car here , i use my car everyday for work and there is noting on the poliisi website that mentions i cant drive
So they think about it for a few minutes and then photo copy my foreign drivers license and tell me to produce the photocopy, my receipt and passport if i get asked on the road.
3 weeks later a lady from poliisi calls my phone and said we cant complete the exchange because your drivers license doesn't have a issued date
Obviously my state didn't care about the issue date back then.
So i have got online and sent myself another copy of my foreign drivers license, it was lucky because my photo was almost past the acceptable date.
I have to leave Finland for a family holiday but i hope when i get back home my Finnish drivers license is there.
For continuous residing residents the swap to the Finnish License needs to done before month25 which is counted back from entry as a resident.

[Rosamunda]

You are off topic... we are talking about swapping a UK licence. There is no time limit. The rules for non-EU licences are completely different.
With regards to photos, there is no photo on my UK licence and I supplied photos for my Finnish licence and they were accepted, no problem.

[cors187]

You are off topic...

It wont be the last time........

[JasonS]

You should definitely change from the old paper licence to a photo one before you move abroad even if they only last 10 years. I did about 11 years ago and last summer just before mine expired I changed it for a Finnish licence with no problems. They gave me a temporary licence for a few weeks until the proper card was ready.

Although breathalised a couple of times in 10 years I was never once required to show my UK licence to police (and I drive alot) so I cannot comment on how they react to a UK licence.

[DMC]

I still have my old paper UK licence. I quite regularly have to show it to the Finnish police and to other people. Most are bemused. One was annoyed at there being no photo. No major problems though. I see no pressing need to change it for a modern UK licence or Finnish licence - unless the validity period described earlier in this post is a problem, and the jury is still out on that.

[daveba]

You are off topic... we are talking about swapping a UK licence. There is no time limit. The rules for non-EU licences are completely different.
With regards to photos, there is no photo on my UK licence and I supplied photos for my Finnish licence and they were accepted, no problem.

Not sure whether you solved your problem, but I just got off the phone to DVLA as my photocard licence has expired. They said that I can't renew it any more and will need to swap with a Finnish one. They will send me a letter confirming the authenticity of my licence etc. This guy on the other end was really helpful and did not ask any difficult questions. You only need to provide your first name, last name, DOB and the address as on your licence. Then your current address. It costs £5 and they send it next working day so I guess this could work for you.

BTW, does anyone know if the Finnish police would be too concerned about an expired photocard licence? Of course the licence itself does not expire for many years to come, and I do have a paper counterpart.

[Rosamunda]

Thanks for that information. That is really good news. I need to do that too.
Thanks for thinking to post on here

[Pursuivant]

Oh, and UK is scrapping the "paper counterpart" start of 2015. Tax disks got scrapped already. There was some talk of the DVLA being able to handle foreign addressess... Apparently the old hamster retired and the new one has a bigger wheel.

[daveba]

Thanks for that information. That is really good news. I need to do that too.
Thanks for thinking to post on here

Hey no problem, your posts have always been helpful.