Hi support group!
I didn't want to start a new thread, but I did a search and all the old threads on this matter have been deleted.
I have an Irish driving licence and my husband has a UK one and we both want to get French ones.
I have searched and searched and there is SO much info, can anyone give me the link to the forms that I need? Also, I want to know, is there a medical for a certain age group?
Any help would be most welcome, thank you.
When we changed our English licences to French ones we went to our prefecture to do it in person. The bloke there gave us some forms to fill in, photocopied our passports & utility bill as proof of residence& gave us a form as proof of the categories we were allowed to drive. He kept English licences. The new French ones arrived by post some weeks later. I, because of my age, have to have a "medical" every 2 years to keep my HGV up to date. This involves a fresh licence each time. It's very simple & costs about 35 euro for the doctors time. The replacement licence is free. It is worth changing to a French licence as it can be used as ID when like us you don't have an ID card.
And just a little postcript, Caroline. The old threads are not deleted - James and Catharine are very aware of what gems are often contained in these. This one goes back to 2010 but nevertheless may contain something of use to you. :-) http://www.survivefrance.com/profiles/blogs/do-i-need-a-french-driving
Thanks Celeste, but I think you've fairly nailed it there. From the older posts on this, I recall that the way in which you are treated can differ vastly from département to département. I think both Celeste and I would have gone to the Prefecture in Carcassonne. I had omitted two things, one was I hadn't taken a photocopy of our Irish licences (thinking they are going to keep them) and I had also forgotten the stamped addressed envelopes. To both, the lady replied "c'est ne pas grave", photocopied the licences and gave me two envelopes to complete.
We didn't have to do medicals as both licences were still valid - Celeste has steered you in the right direction re these. The only circumstance in which you HAVE to change to French licences is if so directed by the police or gendarmes. If your Irish and UK licences are still valid, you can continue to drive with them. If you are resident in France, and the licence is due to expire, then you will also have to apply for the French licence. Celeste didn't mention, but for us there was no charge, and we had our new licences 7 days after our visit to the Prefecture.
Just make sure you bring all documentation as set out below by Celeste.
These pages give all the requirements you need and the documentation to down load!
AFAIK the only medical requirements are that the photos show spectacles if you wear them and if you require a licence giving you a right to drive a vehicle over 3500kG PTAC. There might be a need for a medical if you have a condition that could affect your safety ie Epilepsy or diabetes.
(1) gives the documentation so that you can exchange your Permis from a European country to a French Permis and (2) gives the conditions under which you can continue with your existing permis!
(1)
http://vosdroits.service-public.fr/particuliers/F1758.xhtml
(2)