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GOV.UK advice re driving post-Brexit

Posted: Fri Feb 1, 2019 1:08pm
14 replies569 views3 members subscribed
jimtaylor

jimtaylor

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GOV.UK are now posting more detailed advice. I've picked out the bits that I consider most relevant, and done a bit of collating and editing:

Driving licence exchange for UK nationals living in the EU

While the UK is a member of the EU, UK driving licences are directly exchangeable for EU and EEA country licences. From 29 March 2019, in the event that there is no EU Exit deal, this licence exchange arrangement will stop. Instead you will need to re-take your driving test in the EU country where you live to be able to carry on driving there.

If you are a UK licence holder living in the EU or EEA you should exchange your UK driving licence for a local EU driving licence before 29 March 2019.

You should consider exchanging your UK driving licence for an EU driving licence as soon as possible. Increased demand may lead to longer processing times and delays to exchanging driving licences the closer it is to 29 March 2019.

Number plates and national identifiers

Under international conventions, GB is the distinguishing sign to display on UK-registered vehicles when driving outside of the UK, including in the EU and the EEA.

You can display the distinguishing sign as either a GB sticker or a GB sign on your number plate.

From 29 March 2019, if the UK leaves the EU without a deal, you may need a GB sticker even if your vehicle has a Euro-plate (a number plate displaying both the EU flag and a GB sign).

You will not need a GB sticker to drive outside the UK if you replace a Euro-plate with a number plate that features the GB sign without the EU flag.

Vehicle registration documents

From 29 March 2019, in the event that there is no EU Exit deal, you should continue to carry your vehicle registration documents with you when driving abroad for less than 12 months. This can be either:

your vehicle log book (V5C), if you have one

a VE103 to show you’re allowed to use your hired or leased vehicle abroad

Vehicle insurance for UK registered vehicles in the EU

A motor insurance Green Card is evidence of motor insurance cover when driving abroad.

The EU, EEA, Andorra, Serbia and Switzerland are part of a Green Card-free circulation area. Currently, you do not need a motor insurance Green Card to drive a UK registered vehicle in these countries.

From 29 March 2019, in the event that there is no EU Exit deal and the European Commission does not make a decision ensuring that UK registered vehicles will not be checked for proof of insurance, drivers of UK registered vehicles will need to carry a motor insurance Green Card when driving in the EU and EEA.

Some countries also require separate insurance for trailers. This means that you may also need a separate Green Card for your trailer.

Contact your vehicle insurance provider to obtain a motor insurance Green Card.

Road traffic accidents in the EU

From 29 March 2019, in the event that there is no EU Exit deal, UK residents involved in a road traffic accident in an EU or EEA country should not expect to be able to make a claim in respect of that accident via a UK-based Claims Representative or the UK Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB).

Instead, UK residents involved in a road accident may need to bring a claim against either the driver or the insurer of the vehicle in the EU or EEA country where the accident happened. This may involve bringing the claim in the local language.

In the event of an accident in an EU or EEA country caused by an uninsured or an untraced driver, UK residents may not receive compensation if there is no EU Exit deal. This will vary from country to country.

If involved in a road traffic accident in an EU or EEA country before 29 March 2019, you may need to bring legal proceedings in the UK against either the insurer or the MIB before 29 March 2019. After 29 March 2019, you may need to bring legal proceedings against either the responsible driver or the insurer of the vehicle in the EU or EEA instead. If you need more information about this, you should seek legal advice.

Trailer registration

From 28 March 2019, you must register commercial trailers weighing over 750kg and non-commercial trailers weighing over 3,500kg before they can travel to or through most EU and EEA countries.

You can voluntarily register non-commercial trailers that weigh over 750kg but there is no legal requirement to do this.

Driving licences and international driving permits

From 29 March 2019, in the event that there is no EU Exit deal, you may need an IDP in addition to your UK driving licence to drive in EU and EEA countries.

If you hold a UK driving licence you should not need an IDP to drive in Ireland from 29 March 2019 as Ireland does not currently require IDPs to be held by driving licence holders from non-EU countries.

The UK issues 3 types of IDP to UK licence holders who are resident in the UK: the 1926 IDP, the 1949 IDP and the 1968 IDP.

EU drivers visiting or living in the UK after EU Exit

From 29 March 2019, in the event that there is no EU Exit deal, arrangements for EU licence holders who are visiting or living in the UK will not change.

Visitors with EU driving licences will not need an IDP to drive in the UK.

You can drive on your EU licence when visiting the UK until it expires or you turn 70 – whichever comes first.

If you return to live in the UK you can drive on your EU licence for up to 3 years. Then, provided you passed your driving test in the UK or another specified country, you can exchange your EU licence for a UK licence without taking another test.

For EU licence holders who passed their test in the EU or EEA, the UK will continue to exchange their licence.

EU licence holders who passed their test outside the EU or EEA have restrictions on licence exchange. As such, they may need to take a test to obtain a UK licence.

Driving in the EU and EEA from 29 March 2019

In the event that there is no EU Exit deal, the government will seek to put in place new arrangements for EU and EEA countries to recognise UK driving licences when people are visiting, for example on holiday or business trips. Until such arrangements are in place, UK driving licence holders may need an IDP in addition to their UK driving licence to drive when visiting EU and EEAcountries

Each EU and EEA country will decide if they require a foreign driver to have an IDP, in addition to a driving licence, to legally drive in their country.

In some circumstances you may need more than one IDP. For example, when driving through France (1968 IDP) to Spain (1949 IDP).

On 29 March 2019, if there is no EU Exit deal or any other relevant agreement, you may need a 1968 IDP to drive in these EU and EEA countries:

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden,  

On 29 March 2019, if there is no EU Exit deal, you may need a 1949 IDP to drive in these EU and EEA countries:

Cyprus, Iceland, Ireland, Malta, Spain

Ireland has ratified the 1949 road traffic convention but does not require foreign drivers to carry an IDP in addition to their driving licence. As such, if you hold a UK driving licence you should not need an IDP to drive in Ireland from 29 March 2019.

How to get an IDP

You can get 1926, 1949 and 1968 IDPs over the counter from 2,500 UK post offices.

Each IDP will cost £5.50.

UK licence holders who live in the EU or EEA

If you are currently using a UK driving licence and live in an EU or EEA country, from 29 March 2019 you cannot use an IDP to guarantee that your UK licence will be recognised in that country.

If you wish to continue to drive, you should exchange your UK licence with a local licence, where this option exists.


Paolo51

Posted: Fri Feb 1, 2019 2:05pm

Paolo51

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Posted: Fri Feb 1, 2019 2:05pm

The UK government obviously know nothing about trying to get things done quickly in Spain with appointments having to be made many months in advance. I wonder how many ex pats will be willing to take another driving test if this idiotic Brexit nightmare happens.

This along with other scenarios ie needing medical insurance etc to me greatly detracts from the economic advantages of living here.

I for one being a pensioner and needing a car in Spain will be making tentative arrangements to be back in the UK for good before the Brexit date.

jimtaylor

Posted: Fri Feb 1, 2019 2:25pm

jimtaylor

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Posted: Fri Feb 1, 2019 2:25pm

DGT aren't bad with appointments. Out of interest I've just had a look, and for the full monte including medical, I could have got an appointment on the 17 th Feb, and for a simple swap on the 25 th Feb.

Paolo51

Posted: Fri Feb 1, 2019 2:35pm

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Posted: Fri Feb 1, 2019 2:35pm

Hi Jim

I booked a couple of weeks ago for Elche to exchange my licence and the first appointment was for July.

jimtaylor

Posted: Fri Feb 1, 2019 3:03pm

jimtaylor

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Location: Mudamiento

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Posted: Fri Feb 1, 2019 3:03pm

That's weird, and I wish I'd taken a screenshot. I've just been back into it and it's now saying there aren't any appointments available at all for an exchange.

It's still saying lots of appointments on 17th and subsequent days for the full monte.

All I can think of is that someone had cancelled an appointment just before I viewed it. Might be worth keep looking and see if that happens again.

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Paolo51

Posted: Fri Feb 1, 2019 3:16pm

Paolo51

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Posted: Fri Feb 1, 2019 3:16pm

Cheers Jim

I just checked my appointment online and the web site does not recognise the date I have my appointment, I have to input the date in mm/dd/year (07/05/2019) order for it to find my appointment for 05/07/2019, as you say weird.

Movingon

Posted: Fri Feb 1, 2019 4:48pm

Movingon

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Posted: Fri Feb 1, 2019 4:48pm

I wonder if Spanish licence holders in UK will similarly face taking UK test? 

Such tit for tat nonsense could see special arrangements being promptly implemented. 

yan

Posted: Fri Feb 1, 2019 5:42pm

yan

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Posted: Fri Feb 1, 2019 5:42pm

Hi Jim as usual a very informative post. My question, should we crash out without a deal, is that we are retiring to Spain on 16th February and beginning application for Residencia ASAP. It seems clear that this won’t be concluded before March 29th owing to the lack of final appointments. Does this mean that I won’t be able to change my driving licence, as I believe you need to be a resident to do this? In which case it’s back to the Spanish Highway Code lol. Seems crazy that I’ve been driving in Spain no problem for the last few years, but that after ‘D’ day I’m incapable of driving in Spain without being tested? 

Paolo51

Posted: Fri Feb 1, 2019 6:37pm

Paolo51

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Posted: Fri Feb 1, 2019 6:37pm

Hi Jim

I have just changed our appointments at DGT to renew our UK licences for Spanish ones instead of just exchanging them for the remaining period.

Medical booked for Mon 4th Feb. and DGT booked for 13th Feb.

Not sure which application form I need is it Mod. 03 or Mod. 2.40, the DGT website doesn’t seem to want to help me?

Cheers

Paolo51

Posted: Fri Feb 1, 2019 6:40pm

Paolo51

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Posted: Fri Feb 1, 2019 6:40pm

Movingon wrote on Fri Feb 1, 2019 4:48pm:

I wonder if Spanish licence holders in UK will similarly face taking UK test? 

Such tit for tat nonsense could see special arrangements being promptly implemented. 

As I understood the gov uk site European licence holders will just carry on as normal in the UK.

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