French driving licence for driving in the UK??

[LordPanofthePeaks]

Her Ladyship has been living in England for 3 years and has been driving on her French licence.
She has been told that 1. she can no longer drive on her French one, and 2. to get a UK licence she must hand over her Frenchie one which DVLA keep and she is given a UK one.
She is rather attached to her FRench one and doesn't wish to give it up.

Does anyone know if this is the case? It was all very vague on the DVLA website?

Merci beaucoup......bisous.

[LordPanofthePeaks]

beump??

[walkthedinosaur]

Isn't her French licence an EU licence like the UK photo ones? I'm the other way round, I drive on my English licence in France but it's recognised because it's one of the new EU cards and my friend has clung onto her Belgian licence and she's fine too. In fact, the only British people I know who have had to change to a French licence are oldies who would have had to be reassessed in the UK, or those people holding a UK paper licence only.

[LordPanofthePeaks]

yes, it is a photo one - I ahve googled the question and sites come up with differing advice.

Maybe she should phone a car insurance co - they WILL know the difinitive answer...

[scaryteacher]

From the DVLA website:

Residents

If you have a valid community licence, this will allow you to drive in GB for the period set out below. Alternatively, you can exchange your licence for a British licence.

Provided your licence remains valid you may drive in GB:

Car, motorcycle driving licence holders (ordinary driving licence):

• until aged 70 or for three years after becoming resident, whichever is the longer period.
  
  In order to continue driving after these periods, you must get a British driving licence.
  
  Sooo, it looks like she is OK. However, I know that the DVLA will use the licence to track your address if there is an accident.

[LordPanofthePeaks]

Many thanks st - I did think it was odd but she took it from a misreading of the DVLA site, I think.

[frakkinpannikin]

I would read that as after 3 years she needs to exchange it.

However, I fully intend to keep driving on my British licence in France because I don't want to hand over my driving license for the French to keep. If they would give me two then I would be more than happy to get another but they won't!