British passport, British licence. Just discovered UK licence invalid in UK since am now officially resident in Italy. And have also discovered UK licence doesn't count over here as I've been here too long (6 years - registered resident) and you're supposed to change it within 2, or something equally ridiculously.
So much for the 'open frontiers' of the EU, eh?!
Or am I just misinformed/paranoid?
2006-09-26 04:53:13 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Travel ➔ Travel (General) ➔ Other - Destinations
Yes I am sure you need to take a test in Italy to obtain their national driving licence. Once you have this you can drive in Britain much the same way as you can on a British licence in Italy for a short period of time i.e. holidays. As for your British licence being no longer valid in Britain, I not too sure that's true but to be on the safe side get onto the DVLA website, at the very least it will give you a phone number to ring and ask an adviser.....Best be safe than sorry
2006-09-26 05:00:50 · answer #1 · answered by Denise W 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It is European Law actually that a driving licence from any EU country is valid in any other EU country. You can use your driving license for up to two years but after that - and since you are considered a permanent resident in a different country - you have to change your driving license. The point is that your address needs to be up to date (how can you have a UK license with an address in Italy on it? or if you haven't updated the address that's against DVLA regulations as well) and that the authorities need to be able to add points or penalties. In Italy they cannot do it if you have a UK license.
To get a replacement you don't have to go through the test again. Contact the DVLA equivalent in Italy and apply for an Italian driving license in replacement of your UK driving license. This means that your UK license will be retained and you will only have the Italian one because you cannot have two type of official documents.
I went through this process in the UK with a Greek driving license and it took about a month (consider that the documents need to travel to the originating country).
2006-09-27 23:31:28 · answer #2 · answered by sofiagk 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You automatically qualify for a transfer of licence within any European Country without having to have a test. I have done so here in Ireland having held a UK licence for over 20 years!! Ciao and enjoy!
2006-09-26 05:08:47 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, you are neither misinformed nor paranoid.
But after driving on a UK license in Italy for SIX YEARS, you are Rip van Winkle. Wake up!
2006-09-26 05:01:40 · answer #4 · answered by Hermit 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have two years when moving to a different country? If you move to a different state in the US, you have to get your license changed within 90 days, and that's all in the same country. I think it actually sounds pretty lenient over there.
2006-09-26 05:04:14 · answer #5 · answered by Lillith 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get the damn italian license!!!!! Cuz once you come back to england and u do silly things on the road you won't get point taken off of it! not yet! That's what I done I just went to spain and got a license down there! Use it here in the UK.
Cheers
Al
2006-09-29 13:19:38 · answer #6 · answered by Netinho 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
your best bet is to check with the DVLA. Use there website, it should be able to give you all the info that your need.
2006-09-26 08:48:18 · answer #7 · answered by angel 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋