Must address on UK driving licence be changed after moving to France?
UK drivers may have to exchange their licence for a French one after moving
French driving licences do not need address change in some circumstances
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Reader Question: I have recently moved to the South of France but still have my UK licence. Do I need to update my licence to show my new address here in France?
The British driving authority (DVLA) does not allow licences to be updated to show addresses outside the UK on driving licences. This is the case both for a licence renewal and update of address.
Read more: Can I renew expired UK driving licence from France?
It also states that to change the address on your UK licence you must be a UK resident.
The solution given to us by the DVLA in the past has therefore been that you do not need to do anything with regard to your UK licence.
If you have moved to France permanently, however, you can opt to exchange your UK licence for a French one, and indeed, if you passed your UK test in 2021 or later, you are required to do so within the first year of settling.
Otherwise, you can keep your UK licence until it is nearing expiry, if you passed your test prior to this. Pre-2021 licences are treated similarly to EU licences.
It is, however, no longer necessary to wait until six months before expiry to do so, and indeed this is probably not advisable, as the exchange process can take some time.
Read more: Foreign drivers can now switch to French licence 'at any time'
Address on French licence does not need changing
Drivers in France who saw their address change last year as part of the new ‘EDS’ law were required to update their vehicle registration documents with the new address.
Read more: Missing this car registration detail in France may cost you €135
However, changing the address on your French driving licence when moving is not a legal obligation.
In the case of driving fines, the address on your vehicle registration is used, and not your driving licence.
You only need to change the address on your French licence if it is lost, stolen, or expiring and you are obtaining a new one (and have moved since receiving your previous licence).
