HI all I am wondering if anyone can help....
I held (well still hold a UK licence the photo part is up for renewal soon) for 10 years which was originally converted from an AUtrslian licence.
I recently tried to convert it to Italian licence.
I was issued the licence however after 1 week the licence was revoked, as the Italian authorities stated that because the licence was originally from Australia before conversion it was not recognised, there are some codes under section 12 on back of licence which identifies this to be the case (that is was originally australian).
I am able to renew my licence in UK as I travel there a lot for work and still have an address. I hold an Italian passport so am entitled to live in any country in the EEU..I just find it strange that UK issues me a licence but italy wont renew a UK licence because it was converted from an australian licence??
If I renew for another 10 years (the UK licence) I do not know where I stand legally.
If I get an Italian licence I am under such heavy restrictions for the first 3 years of driving I will not be able to drive my company vehicle??
Anyone have any ideas or where I could go for help.
Thanks Greg
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I guess the problem is the conversion, as some EU countries will allow conversions from certain non-eu countries, whereas others won't. Sweden, for instance will allow a straight conversion from a japanese licence, and everyone else has to retake the test here.
As far as I was aware, once the conversion had taken place, you were in the 'club'. It's a bit rich considering the standard of driving seen in Italy, but there you go. They are also supposed to respect the groups you already have. I guess you can take on the Italian system, or just renew the english one. I know which option I'd take.
Out of interest, a friend came here (to Sweden) some years ago, and swapped his UK licence. But here, they have no C1 (trucks to 7.5t) or D1 (buses to 16 seats) group, only full C and D. So as not to remove his entitlement to small trucks and buses, they had to give him full C and D.
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>>If I get an Italian licence I am under such heavy restrictions for the first 3 years of driving I will not be able to drive my company vehicle??
Is that a question or a statement? Unless I've missed it, you don't say what the problem is with driving on a UK licence in Italy? A colleague of mine did this for three years while he was resident there. The main bureaucratic problem was registering his car there wh.ich was a real Catch 22
I'd certainly renew the UK photocard regardless, it only costs £20 IIRC.
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It was a statement..I have a station wagon whiche exceeds the horsepower entitlement for a driver.....I think I will renew my UK licence and keep quiet.....its very frustrating to say the least...and to think people in the UK complain about the DVLA !! It is great hassle free and compared to the Italian system is perfect.
I believe my UK licence will be valid in Italy for another 10 years, OK if they wont covert it they must recognise the validitity of my UK licence, I am sure there as an EU dirctive about that...ANy I appreciate your answers...it has been a stressful time...
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HI Manatee for this question below
Unless I've missed it, you don't say what the problem is with driving on a UK licence in Italy
can I drive with a UK licence even though I am a resident....I need to find some leagl stuff I think ....confusing times.
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Do you have, or can you get, an Australian licence to swap for an Italian one?
When I returned to the UK with an Australian licence I had to pass a UK test, (a long time ago). Sometimes the difficult option is the only one.
Last edited by: Old Navy on Sat 15 Oct 11 at 12:35
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Greg, when you send your photocard licence off to the DVLA, photocopy both sides of it and keep it safe.
They have been known to miss details of the new one and it will save any complications afterwards.
Pat
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OK will do so thanks for the tip.....do you thibk if I went ahead and applied for my italian licence and kept my ul one there was anyonway they could cross reference this between the 2 countries ??
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It occurred to me that I could ask my pal for you, but I'm not sure that would help because of the marker on your UK licence indicating it is converted from an Australian one.
Have you seen this?
ukinitaly.fco.gov.uk/en/help-for-british-nationals/living-in-italy/driving-in-italy
"If you intend to reside in Italy for some time it is no longer necessary to convert a valid UK driving licence. However the UK licence must be legally recognised by the Italian authorities. Please see the information on the Motorizzazione website: (in Italian only).
You may need to produce a 'Certificate of Entitlement' for this process, which you can apply for through the DVLA.
In Italy official residence must be taken out by the owner at the 'Anagrafe' (Town Hall) to be able to register a vehicle with Italian number plates. Non-residents should be aware that vehicles circulating in Italy with foreign number plates must adhere to all the vehicle regulations (including MOT) of the country where they are registered.
A good clear description, in English, of the procedure and necessary documents for registration of a foreign vehicle in Italy can be found on the AngloINFO website.
For further information on vehicles and driving licences please contact your local 'Motorizzazione Civile' office and consult the following Italian Ministry of Transport website (in Italian only)."
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>> can I drive with a UK licence even though I am a resident....I need to
>> find some leagl stuff I think ....confusing times.
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Back when I was working as a recruitment consultant, I had a chap apply for HGV1 work; he was a New Zealander who had run his own trucking business back home, had all the relevant qualifications.
It turned out that his HGV licence was not valid in the UK; you'd think it would not be a problem, Commonwealth country and they drive on the left like we do. But no; a consequence of us being in the EU is that "grandfather rights" no longer apply to Commonwealth citizens with vocational licences. At the time our offices were in the same building as the local MP, Bob Laxton,who went to the trouble of asking all the questions for me, but unfortunately to no avail.
Reason I mention this is that the OP migt find that whilst he does have the right to drive in the UK, if he were to exchange his licence for the EU version he could well find that he receives only the most basic of entitlements.
DVLA should have all the answers.
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EEU licence conversion - Dave
