UK driving licence

Help!!!!

Not sure if this is the right forum or not
My missus has a UK driving licence does she have to change to an Irish now we're living here? Or can she continue with the UK one?

biko

She can drive here as long as the UK one is valid.

Help!!!!

biko wrote: »

She can drive here as long as the UK one is valid.

So she wont have to change it now she's a resident in Ireland?

corktina

Problem is, it is a UK requirement to have your correct address on the license, so she could hit trouble if she is driving back in the UK on it whilst living here.

biko

Help!!!! wrote: »

So she wont have to change it now she's a resident in Ireland?

Yes, I know many EU foreigners that reside here and still use their EU licences (with Irish cars) and have been stopped several times for other stuff but got no bother about the licence.
There may be some impact on insurance premium but that's a different question.

Mycroft H

Don't need to change it. I wouldn't either.

Chisler2

biko wrote: »

Yes, I know many EU foreigners that reside here and still use their EU licences (with Irish cars) and have been stopped several times for other stuff but got no bother about the licence.
There may be some impact on insurance premium but that's a different question.

DVLA require notification of change of address of the UK licence holder. I used my UK licence whilst resident in UK and visiting Ireland and hiring rental cars - and this applies also if you are visiting but non-resident in USA. The rental firms always checked the paper version of the licence as well as requiring to see the laminated card. My (UK) car-insurance covered driving in all EU countries. Continuing to use a UK licence after shifting residency to Ireland might lead to difficulties in the case of accident or claim as insurance is linked to personal details including place of residence.

CiniO

Chisler2 wrote: »

DVLA require notification of change of address of the UK licence holder. I used my UK licence whilst resident in UK and visiting Ireland and hiring rental cars - and this applies also if you are visiting but non-resident in USA. The rental firms always checked the paper version of the licence as well as requiring to see the laminated card. My (UK) car-insurance covered driving in all EU countries. Continuing to use a UK licence after shifting residency to Ireland might lead to difficulties in the case of accident or claim as insurance is linked to personal details including place of residence.

What are you talking about?
If someone is changing residence to Ireland, then UK licence is still valid. Fact that there is not-up-to-date address there doesn't matter.

Rashers72

Mycroft H wrote: »

Don't need to change it. I wouldn't either.

Spoke to someone who was stopped by Gardai with a UK license, and were instructed to change to Irish license as they were now an Irish resident. Car was registered in ROI. Would love to know 100% what the legal position is...

sunnysoutheast

Of course it is perfectly possible to be resident of more than one country at the same time.

It is a legal requirement to have a correct address on a UK licence. DVLA will not change it to a non-UK address so, unless you have a UK address, you will have an issue when you try to renew the 10-year photocard element of it.

In practice I would expect that there wouldn't be an issue until that point, however. I sent a copy of my UK licence to my IE insurer with no issues. I wil be able to renew my photocard in the UK.

sunnysoutheast

Rashers72 wrote: »

Spoke to someone who was stopped by Gardai with a UK license, and were instructed to change to Irish license as they were now an Irish resident. Car was registered in ROI. Would love to know 100% what the legal position is...

As far as I know it is fine as long as the UK licence is valid. For all the Guard knew you could be a resident of both the UK and IE.

When I moved here in 2007 I had a UK paper licence (valid until 2038!!!). When I wondered about changing it I contacted both the DVLA (who said it would be fine) and the registration office here (who said I would have to take my test again!!!). Eventually we all settled on a compromise where I wrote my new address but didn't send it to the DVLA. Passed a few Garda checkpoints with that.

Del2005

Rashers72 wrote: »

Spoke to someone who was stopped by Gardai with a UK license, and were instructed to change to Irish license as they were now an Irish resident. Car was registered in ROI. Would love to know 100% what the legal position is...

The Garda was 100% wrong. The free movement of people within the EU means that you can use your licence in any other EU country till it expires, some people have licences that expire when they turn 70.

biko

The Garda was wrong, there is no pressure on you to change licence as long as it is valid - but of course the regulations can change at any time.

Deub

Del2005 wrote: »

The Garda was 100% wrong. The free movement of people within the EU means that you can use your licence in any other EU country till it expires, some people have licences that expire when they turn 70.

Some countries even have driving licence without expiration date at all (France being one)

return guide

I lived in UK and passed my test in the early 90s
Moved back to Dublin in 95. Kept my UK paper licence since.
Unfortunatly I have had cars stolen, accidents and been fined for speeding.
In all cases I produced my paper copy to Gardai and Insurance companies, never had a comment passed.
In the case of one insurance claim, the company could check my driving record with DVLC in Swansea and this speeded up the claim

I have also hired cars in Europe and the UK with this.

I hope this helps,
RG

CiniO

sunnysoutheast wrote: »

Of course it is perfectly possible to be resident of more than one country at the same time.

sunnysoutheast wrote: »

For all the Guard knew you could be a resident of both the UK and IE.

You couldn't possibly be resident in two countries at the same time. It's either one or the another.

marzic

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/travel_and_recreation/motoring_1/driver_licensing/exchanging_foreign_driving_permit.html

"Holders of licences issued by an EU/EEA member state
If you have a driving licence issued by an EU/EEA member state you can drive in Ireland as long as your existing licence is valid. If you wish to exchange your driving licence for an equivalent Irish driving licence, you must do so within 10 years of your driving licence expiring"

sunnysoutheast

CiniO wrote: »

You couldn't possibly be resident in two countries at the same time. It's either one or the another.

Nope. Very common to have dual residency, it is why double taxation treaties are in place.

You can only have one domicile, which is very different.