Driving licence - I know the answer is almost certainly "Nobody knows"

[BlackAmericanoNoSugar]

At the moment anyone with an EU licence can drive in another EU country with it, and also if they move to another country don't need to change their licence to the new country until the old one expires. Any ideas what the UK and EU are planning to do in the future? Do we think that the UK and EU countries will treat each other as recognised countries for licence purposes, meaning that we will still be able to swap one for the other?

I should say that I only have a hypothetical interest in this as my UK licence expired this year so I have already changed it for an Irish one, but it's possibly (although unlikely) that I might move back to the UK in the future. Not next spring though.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/uk-politics-45512152

Not sure but as very long term permanent resident in the uk (non uk citizen) with a uk driving licence I have to get an international driving licence to drive in the eu (not that anyone has ever looked at the bloody thing). I’m thinking this may be on the cards either in messy post brexit interim period or for longer ?? Costs under a tenner from post office at the moment. Can’t quite believe it will come to this but if we need visas to travel across the channel then who knows. God what a mess.

That's interesting, so the UK will probably be treated as any other foreign, non-EU country. No thoughts there about living in another country, hopefully most countries will consider the UK to be an approved country for swapping licences, although that will probably need to be reciprocal so if the UK decide to be tricky then so will the other countries.

Yes I hope so too. I’ll alwYs need this blasted extra licence anyway but hope to goodness we all don’t !

You will need an international driving licence. Due to some complicated legal stuff, if you get one now it won't be valid. In Feb 2019, you can get the one that will be valid. Post Office availability will be increased (it's currently shit).

Interesting bellinisurge you sound as if you have insider knowledge (how crazy is it that we are all in the dark about routine things which will happen in months!). Agree re extending availability this will be vital if yiu are right. currently I have very limited post office choice to go get this - I am in central London ! Although licence is cheap if I add in the time to get 2 buses, do it and get back to work it would be ludicrously expensive !

If there is a transition then you should have until December 2020 to get an international licence if one is required.

If there is no transition, you will need one from March 30th next year. If there really is no deal then I think that the ability to swap licences would disappear too, at least temporarily, requiring Britons who live in the EU27 to retake their test to obtain a local licence.

Mutual recognition depends on deals, and if there is no deal there is no mutual recognition.

That's interesting, so the UK will probably be treated as any other foreign, non-EU country.

It's called being a third country. Apparently that's what we voted for, will of the people and all that

I suspect that Ireland will still allow a UK licence to be directly swapped for an Irish one. Looking at the list of approved countries it basically includes everywhere that drives on the left and has a reasonably rigorous driving test, plus Canada and Switzerland, so the UK would naturally fit into that category. Plus I'm pretty sure that most of the foreign licence exchanges are UK for Irish and if they make UK licence holders resit their test then it would totally swamp the testing service.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/driving-in-the-eu-if-theres-no-brexit-deal

Before 29 March 2019
Your driving licence is valid in the EU. As long as you hold a UK licence, you can drive for both work and leisure purposes throughout the EU without other documents.

If you move to another EU country to live you can exchange UK licences issued by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) or the Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA) in Northern Ireland, for a driving licence from your new home country.

You do not need to re-sit your driving test.

After March 2019 if there’s no deal
Your driving licence may no longer be valid by itself when driving in the EU.

If you move to another EU country to live, you may not be able to exchange your licence after the UK has left the EU.

We’lol be a third country. So the same as someone from Brazil or India....

It’s not insider knowledge there’s been a scutch of technical notices published...all basically saying we don’t know but it’s going to be difficult.

www.gov.uk/government/collections/how-to-prepare-if-the-uk-leaves-the-eu-with-no-deal

I suspect that Ireland will still allow a UK licence to be directly swapped for an Irish one. Looking at the list of approved countries it basically includes everywhere that drives on the left and has a reasonably rigorous driving test, plus Canada and Switzerland, so the UK would naturally fit into that category

Yes, it's perfectly possible. There are some funny things about driving licences though: from what I understand from my American friends in France, it depends on which US state you come from. Some people with a US licence have to resit the test. So while I think something will eventually be worked out, I don't think that it will necessarily be that straightforward. (This is true of most Brexit related issues).

Probably do the same as in the US and elsewhere - where the UK one is valid for so many months.

Was coming into say the same as educator

*onto

No. There have been technical notices on this issue, it's really simple. If you get an international driving permit now, it won't be valid in EU after March 29 2019.You won't be able to hire a car or get insurance. If you get one now it may tide you over in US or Ireland for about a year.
Unless you need it right now, wait until Feb 2019. Get one from the post office. It will be valid worldwide post 29 March 2019.
There are complicated bits of applicable law but get one in February from the post office and you will be ok . This is not the same for lorry drivers who will need all sorts of new paperwork, permissions and insurance.

I live in Switzerland and had to change my UK licence to a Swiss one within the first year of my residency.

I am guessing that international driving licence will be the way forward.

The only 'benefit' I can see from my POV is that there is a little known rule that EU citizens driving a CH car over an EU Border back into CH, means that they are liable for the tax on the value of the car. So as I live close to the French border, if my parents drive my car from France back into Switzerland, they technically can be presented with a tax bill.

Luckily, I have never ever heard of this being enforced.

The situation will remain the same. You will still be able to drive in Europe with a UK licence for a set period of time as it is now. To do otherwise would mean that the UK would have to reciprocate and imagine just how great the administration would be for that.

@Educator66 - that's not what the technical notices say.
Good luck arguing with local law enforcement and with insurance people that there is a grace period.

Unless you need it right now, wait until Feb 2019. Get one from the post office. It will be valid worldwide post 29 March 2019.

Is it from Feb 1st? Or another specific date in February? asking in case I win the lottery between now and brexit

No it will only be valid post Brexit

Thanks - sorry I meant the date to buy it. As in if I buy it Feb 1st is that OK - or is it some later date in Feb where they suddenly start working post brexit? When is the crossover date for won't work post brexit/ will work post brexit?

The crossover date/time is 11pm on 29 March 2019.