Foreign License Question

[billybloke]

Hi guys (first post!)

I've been messing around with off road bikes for years and have finally decided to get on the road and get a license (scary!)

Im currently travelling around a lot and wondered if i could do a test in any european country that would be legal in the UK.

Or would i need to go back to the uk to take the test?

Is that is so, would i get a worldwide/european license at the end of it?

If anyone has any info on this that would be a great help

Keep up the good work guys, amazing forum this!

BB

[Matt B]

You can drive in the UK until you are 70 on an EU licence but after 3 years of being a resident here you should exchange it.

You are a resident here? If you are then you will probably find it hard if not impossible to book a test in the EU. Even if you did manage it you would then have to exchange the licence after 3 years.

This sounds like a major waste of time ball ache so why bother?
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stinkwheel: He had an animated .gif of a cat performing fellatio. It's not socially acceptable. It can have real life adverse effects on other people.

[map]

IIRC any foreign licence is valid for a year in the UK if issued outside the UK. You then need to apply for a UK licence, starting at provisional and work your way through the tests.

Depends if you consider yourself a resident in the UK and/or a UK citizen.

If licence obtained in EU country then apparently ok until you're 70 or 3 years after becoming a UK citizen. Not sure what the rules would be if you're already a UK citizen.

I suspect, and you'd need to get some other proof of this, you can exchange an EU licence for a UK one by handing over money. No retests needed. See here.

The nice UK government has a website for this question - click here.

HTH
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...and the whirlwind is in the thorn trees, it's hard for thee to kick against the pricks...
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[MC]

It varies from country to country I believe, with regards to exchanging your license or having to resit test(s).

There was a scam (might still be going on) where people were applying for an easy to obtain license (Hong Kong was one iirc), which could be exchanged for a UK license, without the person ever having to leave the country or sit any test.

Not suggesting this, just saying you might find a territory where it's possible, I'm guessing former colony's etc.
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Honda XR-125L '04

[billybloke]

wow great info guys thank you

yes im a UK resident and citizen

going to read up on those links now, nice one!

[wr6133]

For EU licences the 3 years or till 70 thing is whichever is longest not which occurs first.

[Taught2BCauti...]

I'm pretty sure that for most EU countries, you have to have residential status in that country in order to be able to take a driving test there.
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www.TheFutureIsHere.eu

[wr6133]

I'm going to hazard a guess that OP is not old enough to get an A licence here so thinks he has a cunning plan to get round that.

[Confusion]

[Confusion]

[FlightRisk]

[Val]

yes you can do your license in ANY EU country and it will be valid in UK till you are 70.

Or you can get your license in any EU country and to exchange it for full UK license - this is better because with EU license your insurance will be very high not to mention most insurers will insure you only if you have UK full license.

This is what I have done you just fill a from in post office and send your EU license to DVLA and they will send you back your full UK one:

https://www.gov.uk/exchange-foreign-driving-licence

In fact I know many foreigners come to my native Bulgaria to do just that - the cost for full A motorcycle license is £300 and this inlcudes at least 2 weeks training on dedicated training area plus riding in town. Some good school can include a free training with 100% pass guarantee till you are ready to get the exam means even longer then 2 weeks.
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[billybloke]

Wow thats such fantastic, comprehensive information guys, thanks very much to all of you.

I guess i better get reading and then make the big decision!

and to the poster who asked about my age, no im not young anymore but still young enough! If you know what i mean

thanks for the help guys!!

[billybloke]

What is the rice these days to take the test in the UK?

If its not too much i guess its just easier to go back home to do it

[Minty]

[billybloke]