Getting a motorcycle license

Expat in France · L Plate Warrior Joined: 03 Jul 2012 Karma :

I have an unusal problem, I am British but have lived for 17 years in the US and now I have moved from the US to France and discovered that my US motorcycle license can not be exchanged for a French permis A. Therefore, I have been told that I must take a French motorcycle test which requires a short oral exam that has to be completed in French and at present my knowledge of French is not good enough. Does anyone have any advice on taking the French test (other than becoming more fluent in French) or is there anyway that I could take my test in the UK?

pendulum · Traffic Copper Joined: 13 Feb 2012 Karma :

If you were French you'd have to live in the UK for 6 months before you could take the tests in the UK, as I understand it?

But if you're British, with a UK passport, I cannot see any problem. You can surely take the motorcycle tests just like any other Brit. You won't even get asked about it.
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1998 CG125 (Sold) CB500 [+ Clio 172]
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Teflon-Mike · tl;dr Joined: 01 Jun 2010 Karma :

In England, when you apply to do the tests, there is a box to tick if you have any dissabilities or 'special needs' and ONE of the options is quite specifically IF English isn't your first language you are entitled to an interpreter... and WHY I remember this I have NO-IDEA.... but also said that the interpreter MUST not be your driving instructor......

I have absolutley NO expertise in this area, BUT, I would be asking, in that universal language ENGLISH, as spoken LOUDLY and SLOWLY as if to a johnny foreigner.....

Que vouse non Fournir un interprète, silvous plait?

And asking WHY we have such provisions within the UK system..... and WHY if they don't, the Frogs don't! Because I suspect that WE have it because of some dint of EU bludy law & the Human-Rights Act!

WHO liberated them from the ruddy Hun! TWICE! Damnable Garlic munching snail-eaters! The EU! THIS is the thanks we get! THIS is their revenge for Quatre-Brass!
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Daytona Paul · Scooby Slapper Joined: 16 Aug 2009 Karma :

In the UK we just have to sign a declaration that the bike is insured and that you have lived in the UK for the last 6 months or so (or words to that effect Smile

)

They have no way of checking so if you can obtain a UK licence go for it I say Smile

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multijoy · World Chat Champion Joined: 03 Oct 2008 Karma :

You can do the UK licence without any issues. Might be worth checking if you're permitted a translator for the French portion, if that's easier than going through the mod1/2 & theory in the UK.
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'11 CBF1000A, '99 C90, '98 CB500
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