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A keen motorcyclist has flagged up to us challenges he and other more mature drivers are now facing with regard to exchanging a British isles driving licence for a French licence.
Kevin White, 69, not too long ago received a French licence in exchange for his expiring British isles a person but it does not consist of his ‘A’ greater bikes classes.
He stated it is protecting against him from taking pleasure in his favorite pastime, which he pursued with no problems for a long time in the Uk and has ongoing given that shifting to Nouvelle-Aquitaine in 2018.
It means he owns a €18,000 BMW 1200cc bicycle he now are not able to journey.
Yet another reader, John Hindhaugh from Indre, reports very similar considerations expressing that it will be “an utter catastrophe” for him to drop the types as he is a member of many motorcycle clubs and has savored riding significant bikes for 56 years.
Read through extra: How long does it acquire to swap overseas driving licence to a French one?
Told to just take decrease licence and a system
Mr White’s situation has been additional difficult by first confusion more than the policies relating to British isles licences.
In speaking about the problem with the ANTS company that issues licences, it knowledgeable him that France no extended exchanges the comprehensive ‘A’ group (big bikes) for international licences but only the reduced A2 category for much less potent bikes.
This ought to then be held for two many years in advance of the holder can choose a 7-hour training course to receive the complete ‘A’ class.
Mr White claimed: “Most motorcyclists will have a whole motorcycle licence, and virtually absolutely a motorbike that involves classification A.
“I’m not obtaining a smaller bicycle to journey for two a long time ahead of currently being capable to ride the €18,000 bicycle I have presently bought.”
Browse more: Can a French insurer reject me simply because of a overseas driving licence?
France does not trade the ‘A’ group
The site of ANTS confirms these principles, but notes an exception for EU licences.
In a lot of conditions, notably with regard to validity and renewal, France treats United kingdom licences initially issued ahead of January 1, 2021, as equal to EU types. This is primarily based on a 2021 France/British isles settlement on licences.
We tried using to double-test if any procedures are laid down relating to bike categories, but no duplicate was out there.
We also asked the French government’s Sécurité routière road laws office about this but it also referred us to the rule on France not exchanging the ‘A’ class.
Uk did not keep records of assessments ahead of digitisation
Mr White, a retired motor vehicle enterprise manager, has given that found a additional complication in his scenario: his licence in point demonstrates neither ‘A’ nor ‘A2’ (the latter is for medium-run motorbikes).
French driving licence officials have now informed him it is for the reason that they imagine he acquired his bike licence instantly, with his vehicle licence, and this is not recognised by France.
It is mainly because his licence exhibits the similar begin date in 1976 for both equally, with a modest arrow, which the UK’s DVLA driving authority informed him signifies the assessments ended up handed just before then.
He was instructed that this is since the Uk did not preserve entire data of tests passed just before digitalisation of driving information in the 1970s.
“The French will not acknowledge it, for the reason that they want the precise day, but I really don’t know if it is feasible. It would be a pain to take a French exam – but even if I do, I will have to just take an A2 exam, then wait for two many years to be equipped to push my ‘A’ group bike.”
Mr Hindhaugh instructed us he fears the identical occurring, as his groups all have the identical begin dates (incorrectly) and his licence is coming up for a swap.
“You could value that at 75 yrs of age I can not wait around all over for years or go by means of the extensive course of action of getting a French test – this is utterly absurd,” he stated.
Spouse has been awarded both ‘A’ categories
Mr White claimed that his spouse, who is 54 and had the exact check dates marked on her British isles licence, has just been given her French just one – such as both ‘A’ categories.
A motoring lawyer from the business of Eric de Caumont in Paris, Basile Tissot, verified that devoid of evidence of independent checks, it is typical for France to refuse these groups, as it does not recognise bike classes obtained quickly.
This would apply even for European licences, he stated.
- It seems that the issues explained earlier mentioned are not ‘Brexit-related’ as these, as Britons whose licences present the specific dates are claimed to have been capable to retian their ‘A’ classes. Nonetheless, some readers have confronted a comparable problem concerning HGV classes (which include for driving a minibus). In this scenario, to retain the categories a health care is necessary by France, having said that there is a even further complication exactly where some more mature British drivers experienced these awarded routinely, which is not acknowledged by France. In accordance to Mr Tissot, an exception would likely be built for European motorists in such a circumstance, so this may be a write-up-Brexit modify. We are creating futher enquiries about this.
Have you had any issues with licence swaps? Enable us know at [email protected]
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