UK to French Driving Licence Swap - why have i lost categories?

Cars / Motoring / Insurance
101

Hi Stella, yes you can by either the DVLA check code which is what you provide to a hire car company in the U.K. or by contacting the DVLA for the D737 certificate. These show your entitlements to drive but the D737 has more detail.

To generate the check code you need:
Licence number
NI
Postcode licence last registered

For the D737 you need:
Name as on licence
Licence no
Date of birth
Address on licence.

If you took tests but they no longer show on your licence as happens with the heavy categories C & D if you don’t renew the medicals, you can apply to the DVLA for an extract of your driving rights (about 5 pages) and this should show all your categories, past and present.

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102

Sorry I don’t understand, do you have a French licence now or a UK one?

103

See my reply to Stella, you don’t have to be a UK resident and you don’t necessarily need to know your NI number.

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104

Thanks Kim! The form asks for all those details - I didn’t test it to see if it would work without the NI number…

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105

The check code does but if you call the DVLA for the D737, which personally I think is better, plus they email it to you now, you don’t need your NI.

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106

A Cunning Plan!

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107

UK licence UK resident but close relatives in France and visit regularly.

The licence check code only goes back to May 1976 so I’ll try the DVLA full check and see what it produces. It will be interesting to see how the auto conversion to HGV when I was 21 then “grandfather rights” to C in 1972 pan out or if they do.

My C category hasn’t been renewed because I no longer need it and didn’t take the medical but was informed it can be re-instated within 10 years of the last one…

108

If your C originally showed on your UK licence, with different column 10 dates, then with the extract of your driving rights this should show.

If it doesn’t but you have your original book licence, this will be accepted as well, I can walk you through that if you need to.

You’re not reinstating it on a UK licence you just need evidence that you passed a test for it to be included on your French licence.

I’m still confused are you planning on moving to France? If not then disregard the above. I can’t help with renewing your C category in the UK.

109

thanks everyone for information in this thread. preparing a move to france soon and saw some stories online of motorbike licences being downgraded from A to A2, so wanted to check.

just to check if I have understood correctly:
I passed my motorbike category A licence in 2001 - therefore this will be transferred fully and not downgraded to A2 as its pre 2006.
my C1 and D1 licences won’t be transferred. I’ve never taken specific C or D tests.

with regards transferring to a french licence - my understanding is that its not absolutely necessary and that current UK licence will remain valid for driving in france until its expiry date. is that correct? if so, what are the reasons to swap to a french one? I have been doing my intital due diligence and research about visas and carte de sejour, and I’ve seen mentionthat having a french driving licence can be helpful when applying for your carte de sejour after year one on a long term visa?

gary.

110

If your dates in column 10 are different for A and B categories your A will be transferred.

Having a French licence is irrelevant to renewing a visa/applying for a CdS.

Nope you don’t get to choose when you change your licence if you passed your test pre 01/01/2021. It is column 10 that determines when your licence was issued and not 4a date on your card.

These are the criterias and you can apply just under 12 months before 4b expires.

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