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The law on driving licence exchange tightened to improve road safety

Foreign drivers must prove they have passed an appropriate driving test before getting a British licence under tough new rules announced by the DfT.

An inconsistency in the law meant that previously some non-EU drivers were able to exchange their licence without proving that the necessary standards to drive in this country had been met. The change in law means requests to exchange driving licences from outside the EU will only be accepted if the licence holder can prove they passed a driving test in a country where the testing standards are comparable with those in Britain.

All driving licences issued by an EU state allow that driver to drive in any part of the EU and there is no need for them to exchange their licences. This does not apply to drivers outside Europe but arrangements are in place within 15 countries that allow drivers to exchange their licences for a Great Britain one.

They do not need to take any additional driving tests as DVLA recognise that the licence they hold proves that they have already met the appropriate standards to drive in this country.

This change in the law came into force on 11th January 2013.

About time too, I'm fed up with the standard of Pakistani, Indian and others from middle/far east. Another country that needs to be added is Poland, they are the worst drivers in europe.

I'd like to see it made compulsory for all foreigners to take the test here.

Do you train for it Gio or does it come naturally?

T.C. wrote:The law on driving licence exchange tightened to improve road safety

Foreign drivers must prove they have passed an appropriate driving test before getting a British licence under tough new rules announced by the DfT.

This change in the law came into force on 11th January 2013.

Good

Gio wrote:About time too, I'm fed up with the standard of Pakistani, Indian and others from middle/far east. Another country that needs to be added is Poland, they are the worst drivers in europe.

I'd like to see it made compulsory for all foreigners to take the test here.

.... and as a reciprocal arrangement, I can only assume that you would be happy to take a test in every country you wanted to drive in before you could drive there?

That could make European holidays "fun" if you want to drive or ride through several countries (e.g. a tour through France to Italy then back through Austria, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium would require 6 driving tests before you go according to your plan).

Somehow I don't think you've thought this through.

Not a bad thing really, although driving standards in some of the EU contries leaves a little to be desired. I've encountered a lot of piss poor drivers on my daily commute into London in the past too.

Sounds good to me.

That's no bad thing. What would be better still is harmonising an EU test standard.
We have several Eastern European drivers at work ( Im not generalising ) the standard of driving exhibited would not pass a UK HGV test