Irish driving licence in the uk

[Leopardspota]

AIBU to say my husband should convert to a uk licence?

He is adamant he doesn’t need to as our insurer (I’m the main holder) has said he is covered even though his licence is Irish. He has renewed it registered to parents address.

I say he could be fined as he is a uk resident and has live here for 15 years.

AIBU? I am interested in those with real understanding of the law and links to government sites that confirm either of Our views, not random ‘seems ok to me’ comments.

If his address is not correct on his licence then it’s illegal and he can be issued with £1000 fine. He’d only have to get pulled for any minor motoring offence to be found out on this so it’s not worth it. What’s his reasoning for not wanting to change it?

He feels like he’s losing his sense of irishness.

so he thinks that is just of you have a uk licence. There is a government website that says you can drive until you’re 70 on a full eu licence, doesnt say anything about an up to date address. I’m so confused!

EU licences are valid for a year of being in the UK.

I'm not sure if that includes ROI due to the free movement between the two countries.

Ireland have the same rules about up to date addresses on their licences. It must be up to date or it is illegal. So he will have to apply for a UK one as whichever country his licence was issued in, it’s still illegal to put the wrong address on it

In fact, a quick Google would show he has to change it within 3 years of living in Great Britain (not Northern Ireland).

If I were him - I would update to have the correct address on it. But he doesn’t need to change his EU driving license

I'm resident in the UK with a German licence so this comment gave me a fright. I've just checked online and the twelve-month limit only applies "if you got your EU licence by exchanging your non-EU licence".

I’m really not stupid or using mumsnet instead of google. We have googled, and also spoken to the insurer, and I’m not entirely sure he’s wrong, but it like he must be.

the comment about his Irish licence requiring an up to date address seems the most logical, and he is using his Irish address - he still has property and bank accounts in ROI so pays tax etc hmmmm still confused!

I think according to this he needs a UK license considering he's been in the UK for 15 years.
https://www.gov.uk/driving-nongb-licence/y/a-resident-of-great-britain/full-car-and-motorcycle/any-other-country

@Leopardspota

you don't necessarily need to change your EU driving license after three years, as you can continue to drive until you turn 70. You only need to exchange it if you became a resident in the UK at age 68 or older, in which case the 3-year period would have passed, and you would need to exchange it now. Otherwise, you can continue to use your EU license until you turn 70, at which point it must be exchanged for a UK one.

• If you became a resident before age 68: You can keep your EU license until you turn 70.
• If you became a resident at age 68 or older: You must exchange your license for a UK one after three years.
• You can exchange at any time:You have the option to exchange your EU license for a UK one at any point, even if you don't have to. The process does not require you to retake a driving test, but you will need to give up your EU license when you exchange it.

But how on Earth is he doing the eye test?! My Irish licence required an eye test from a specific Irish-registered optician; not even any optician in Ireland could do it. I don’t understand how he’s doing this unless he’s travelling home for it, which seems a lot of effort!

Where did you get this from? EU photocards don’t just run until you’re 70! 🤣

This is your driving license! Not a photo card! You can go on the uk government website and type in your circumstances and it tells you the info. And for your information EU driving licenses are valid until you hit 50 and then when you turn 60 and once you hit 70 it is renewed every 2 years. They are not renewed like in the UK. I know this because I have one. I have had it since I was 18 and I have only renewed once I got married as I changed my name. 🙄
edited for clarity

Assuming that he passed his test in Ireland and is under 70, I think he is fine to drive on his existing license, but I do think he needs to update the address.

https://www.gov.uk/driving-nongb-licence

I do remember going to a shopping centre place with him somewhere in west Dublin to do a renewal.

He can’t update his Irish licence to our uk address we tried. He uses he parents address that he has his bank account registered to…

What do you do about your address?

@Leopardspota: Nothing! As far as I know the licence is still legal to use but there might be practical implications.

This is really useful info for us, thanks. Family member with German license has just moved to the UK and wasn’t sure about when to convert it by. The German licence doesn‘t have an address on it because it’s used in combination with the ID card, which has to be renewed whenever you move or every 10 years. My German licence doesn’t even actually have an expiry date on it - it certainly doesn’t run out at 50 or even 60.

Yes that can be the case. It’s different for Germany. I have lived in several countries and I have 3 driving licenses atm 🤣🤦🏽‍♀️. But if you are in the UK as long as you have an EU license that is valid you don’t need to swap it for a UK one until you’re 70.