Swapping British driving licences

Q: I HAVE an English driving licence with my old address on it and, as I live in France now, I think I should change it for a French one. If I decide to live elsewhere in the world, can I still use this or would I need to change it again? M.O.

The French government says that, if you become resident in France and still hold a licence that was valid in Britain, you are not obliged to swap it.

However, you may wish to do so anyway, so you have a licence in French and with your French address, which might simplify matters in the event of being stopped by gendarmes etc.

If you do, your French one will be usable elsewhere in the world under similar conditions to a British one, ie. you can use it freely in the EU, but in other countries you will have to check the local rules.

Note that when visiting some countries as a tourist you need an international driving licence (permis international) - a translation of your licence into several major languages.

You apply for one of these, free, from your prefecture.