Using a UK driving licence in France
A POLICE officer told me that I must change my UK driving licence for a French one as I live here. I know this is not the case but feel I need the relevant chapter and verse to quote. Can you help? R.A.
FRENCH law says that any driving licence obtained in an EU country and that is still valid can be used for driving in France.
This is stated in article R222-1 of the Code de la Route, which you can find on www.legifrance.gouv.fr British licences remain valid for driving until age 70. The final expiry date is shown on the back of the licence card, said a spokesman for the DVLA.
This will not change after June 8 when new British licences will no longer have the paper counterpart to the plastic card.
This change also does not affect old style paper driving licences which will continue to be valid.
After this, details that appeared on the paper section (such as endorsements and which vehicles you can drive) will have to be consulted online, which can be done at: www.gov.uk/view-driving-licence
Note, however, that French law states you should swap your licence for a French one if you commit a driving offence that would normally involve a loss of licence points. the French system is that you lose points rather than gain them as you do in the UK.
In another recent change to British licences, new ones now feature the union flag as well as the EU one which has appeared on licences since photocards first came into use in 1998.
