JohnFB Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 Have just exchanged my UK licence to a french licence. Some of the categories, eg C1, have been given a limited period of validity. I understand that. The overall period of validity of the licence itself though is only 5 years. I was expecting 15. Prefecture assures me it is correct. I want to check that but can find no info on the web.Anyone have reasons or suggestions.JFB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suein56 Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 It is because the old UK licences had on them validity to drive what are now regarded as 'poids lourds' but which weren't so regarded back in the days when we passed our test. The ability to drive these categories has been transferred wholesale from the old licences to the new ones to speed up the giving out of the licences but then the licence has been given a short life. The préfecture person who dealt with us explained to OH and I that the renewal of the licence in 5 years time would require a medical or medicals if we then wanted to keep the heavy goods categories.Edit : Caractéristiques du permis... le permis est valable 15 ans (ou 5 ans pour les catégories dites "lourdes").from here : http://vosdroits.service-public.fr/particuliers/F1758.xhtmlSue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnFB Posted December 18, 2014 Author Share Posted December 18, 2014 Thats what i don't understand. The poids lourd and similar categories have marked validities for either 1 or two years. Thats on the back of the licence. The overall validity on the front of the licence is 5 years only.JFBEdit one or two years because i am 62 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnOther Posted December 19, 2014 Share Posted December 19, 2014 You're right it should be 15 years for group B and one or two years for the heavier groups.Somebody has made a mistake but how you go about correcting it is another matter ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnFB Posted December 21, 2014 Author Share Posted December 21, 2014 Ho Hum. The lady at the precture is standing on her dignity and not acknowledging any mistake and without any explanation. A bit worrying as there does not seem to be in place a renewal procedure. Not surprising as none are expected until 2028. It is at moments like these that France seems to evidence southern european caracteristics. I expect I will have to dream up an oblique approach to the problem if it is real.Suein56, was the overall period of validity of your husbands licence also limited to 5 years.JFB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suein56 Posted December 21, 2014 Share Posted December 21, 2014 [quote user="JohnFB"]Suein56, was the overall period of validity of your husbands licence also limited to 5 years.[/quote]Yes. There is no error. Our friends here in Morbihan who have the new card licences also have a period of validity of 5 years.We were told a letter will be sent out in 5 years time re renewing the licence.In the meantime we will be notified about medicals to be taken if we want to keep some of the heavy load capability on our licences beyond the noted expiry date .My OH is thinking about keeping one of the categories. I happy with just the usual car and low weight remorque category.It was explained that if we don't have the required medical the category for which it is needed will just drop off the radar.Sue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnOther Posted December 21, 2014 Share Posted December 21, 2014 Well at least the Morbihan prefecture seems consistent !It would be interesting to hear from someone from another department who's recently got a new licence.BTW you do know that group B entitles you to drive a car/trailer up to 3500 kg don't you ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minnie Posted December 21, 2014 Share Posted December 21, 2014 This prompts me to ask the following - we have the old pink card French licences. There does not seem to be an expiry date on that. Can anyone clarify what the limit is (if there is one)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnOther Posted December 21, 2014 Share Posted December 21, 2014 They are supposed to be phased out by 2033 but don't hold your breath [;-)]I have no idea how they propose getting in touch with people since there is no requirement to notify a change of address and many people will have moved several times since they got their licence ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minnie Posted December 21, 2014 Share Posted December 21, 2014 I'd be very surprised if I'm still driving in 2033....Thanks AnOther. I couldn't find an expiry date on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnFB Posted December 21, 2014 Author Share Posted December 21, 2014 Yes I was aware. Car plus trailer < 3.5 is all I need now.Thanks Sue. Your Prefect' is more informative then mine in 46. The concern was that all web info indicated that no renewals were expected b4 2028. Plus the lack of logic between category expirey of 2 yrs and licence of 5. Could see a no win on the horizon.But having worked in Africa and similar I tend to roll with the flow but keep an eye on what can happen.Think I will go back to sleep on this one for 5 years, don't want my retirement unneccessarily ruffled.Happy Xmass JFB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YCCMB Posted December 22, 2014 Share Posted December 22, 2014 [quote user="AnOther"]They are supposed to be phased out by 2033 but don't hold your breath [;-)]I have no idea how they propose getting in touch with people since there is no requirement to notify a change of address and many people will have moved several times since they got their licence ![/quote]I think you will find that there IS a requirement to change your address....http://www.motorlawyers.co.uk/offences/driving_licence.php Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnOther Posted December 22, 2014 Share Posted December 22, 2014 Do keep up Betty, we're talking about French licences not UK ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Posted January 3, 2015 Share Posted January 3, 2015 FWIW,I recently swapped my UK licence for a french licence, in Indre. They've given me 15 years (with no time off for good behaviour..)Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idun Posted January 3, 2015 Share Posted January 3, 2015 That link is not very good Betty. There is a question, do I have to exchange my EU licence and it says do so after a year, but it is up to the age of 70 basically.AND people holding UK licences in France, cannot change the address on them, as they will not allow a french address on a UK licence....... and yet the licence is legal. All too complicated for words and proper information so hard to get hold of. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nomoss Posted January 3, 2015 Share Posted January 3, 2015 [quote user="AnOther"]Do keep up Betty, we're talking about French licences not UK ![/quote]I think it has something to do with living in Surrey [:D] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonzjob Posted January 3, 2015 Share Posted January 3, 2015 A valid U.K.licence for a non U.K. resident is valid in any of the EU countries up until it needs to be changed either by an infringement or reaching the age of 70, when it needs renewal by U.K. law. Then, as it isn't possible to get a new U.K. licence without a VALID U.K. address you will have to get a licence of the country that you live in, i.e. here in France, a French one.I changed mine about a year ago as my 70 was looming [:-))] and I decided to drop the heavy stuff and stick with the 3500kg limits. There's no way I'm going to be legging it around with a 7.5 tonner now!So. Even although you may have a U.K. licence and be a permanent resident here your U.K. licence is fully legal until you either reach 70 or 'earn' points to be deducted from it [:$] Even then, if you are copped with a lead foot and get a speeding fine, if it's decided that you owe the French lot a single point you probably won't have to do owt but pay your fine, like what I did about 7 years back for having my photo took doing 131km on a 130 km autoroute! Well, that was what the paper said.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mint Posted January 3, 2015 Share Posted January 3, 2015 Not invariably till 70, Jonz.If it's one of those card licences (with a separate green paper), it would be valid till the expiry date on the card. If memory serves, my card licence was valid for 10 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonzjob Posted January 4, 2015 Share Posted January 4, 2015 I stand, sit and lie down corrected Mint, but I had a nice pink-ish paper one and never even saw a card type. I did know about the 10 years, but had a bit of a senior moment there [8-)]I also carried a bit of paper in the car glove box that explained to the nice gendarmes that the paper licence is perfectly valid here and that their demand that it HAS to be changed is a load of old pony poo [8-|] It's still there as SWMBO still has her paper jobbie. She's younger than I [:D] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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