Hi all i have just moved to kingston upon thames in surrey and have been looking for class 2 work for starters just gone to one agency but they tell me that my irish european licence is off no use in the uk and i will have to change it to a uk one is this true? or does it just apply to this agency?
Also if anyone knows of agencies or haulae companys i can go to near me in surrey to search for work i would be greatful if they could message me here or leave a post,
thanks in advance
vinny
vinnyl:
they tell me that my irish european licence is off no use in the uk and i will have to change it to a uk one is this true?
I cannot see that being correct as they are in the EU 
just called DVLA on 01792 782 341 -
irish european licence - can drive on it in UK for up to 12 months - after that it must be registered with DVLA who will exchange it for a UK one - or you can exchange it now if you wish.
A permanent UK address is required to exchange it.
ROG:
vinnyl:
they tell me that my irish european licence is off no use in the uk and i will have to change it to a uk one is this true?
I cannot see that being correct as they are in the EU
just called DVLA on 01792 782 341 -
irish european licence - can drive on it in UK for up to 12 months - after that it must be registered with DVLA who will exchange it for a UK one - or you can exchange it now if you wish.
you dont have to change your licence over to an uk one you are entitled to drive with it up till it expires what rog is quoted is the old law when i was a ops mgr about 3 years ago i made all my taliban drivers change there licence to irish ones(also a way to check wether they were real or fake licence).
i understand that you cannot do this any more as it impeds an eu law regarding free movement of workers between eu countries®onition of there licence issued by an eu country.
ra dar:
what rog is quoted is the old law
Quoted from what DVLA just told me perhaps someone else would like to call DVLA and see if they get a different answer 
AIUI an EU issued licence is valid in any EU country until it expires however if you take up permanent residency it needs to be exchanged within 12 months, as the DVLA state.
rog what the dvla is telling you could be correct in there eyes what im an about is the eu law the last place i worked in i was the only irish man the rest where taliban i said to the TM about getting there licence change over they looked into it and said there was some eu directive that made it ilegal for them to change there licence over.
i wish that law wasnt around as it was a way a good way to see who had legit licence&who hadnt
Thanks guys maybe i just unlucky that the first agency i picked requested it as long as they all dont need it but legally i dont need to change it but if i go back to this agency and say this prob just ■■■■ them off and they wont give me work then so best just keep searching so anybody know any good agencys or haulage companys up my way.
also sorry rog i didnt reply to my last posting in the newbies section reason was that i am returning to ireland next week to do my test for the class 1 licence so fingers crossed i get it
vinny
ROG:
vinnyl:
they tell me that my irish european licence is off no use in the uk and i will have to change it to a uk one is this true?I cannot see that being correct as they are in the EU
just called DVLA on 01792 782 341 -
irish european licence - can drive on it in UK for up to 12 months - after that it must be registered with DVLA who will exchange it for a UK one - or you can exchange it now if you wish.
A permanent UK address is required to exchange it.
Not quite right. Unless you are over 45 you don’t have to exchange it: just use form D9 (or D11, I am not sure) and apply for a British Counterpart License. Then you can use your Irish photocard and you can start to collect your points and penalties in UK, which will be written into the British paper part 
You will be issued with GB driver number, so you are from this moment considered as full UK holder - all they need is to have you registered and trackable to check your points etc.
I have this sorted like that and it’s work well for over three years. Never had any problems with that (exept muppets in DVLA, but they mess even with the simplest things).
ra dar:
you dont have to change your licence over to an uk one you are entitled to drive with it up till it expires what rog is quoted is the old law when i was a ops mgr about 3 years ago i made all my taliban drivers change there licence to irish ones(also a way to check wether they were real or fake licence).i understand that you cannot do this any more as it impeds an eu law regarding free movement of workers between eu countries®onition of there licence issued by an eu country.
You can drive for up to age 70 for your own use, and for up to age 45 if you want to be a proffesional driver.
direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/Dr … DG_4022556
Everything you need is here, if you need more information, PM me. This is a matter I dare to tell I know more than Rog, as I have hands-on experience and I also wrote an article for the Polish community mag, spending quite few hours on that subject.
mrpj:
AIUI an EU issued licence is valid in any EU country until it expires however if you take up permanent residency it needs to be exchanged within 12 months, as the DVLA state.
Myth.
ROG:
ra dar:
what rog is quoted is the old lawQuoted from what DVLA just told me
They don’t have a clue of their jobs if there is something more complicated that “I want to exchange my foreign license to British one”.
Trust me (and link I provided), this is the correct version.
vinnyl:
Thanks guys maybe i just unlucky that the first agency i picked requested it as long as they all dont need it but legally i dont need to change it but if i go back to this agency and say this prob just ■■■■ them off and they wont give me work then so best just keep searching so anybody know any good agencys or haulage companys up my way.also sorry rog i didnt reply to my last posting in the newbies section reason was that i am returning to ireland next week to do my test for the class 1 licence so fingers crossed i get it
vinny
Just use form D9, you will have this British counterpart, they will be able to look at this and see that you have no points on your license (Irish points will not be showed, if you have one). That will make them happy. And it cost you nothing, exept that you have to send your license to DVLA.
I just wanted to have six posts in the row 
And (now it’s serious post) good side of applying of GB counterpart license instead of exchanging your Irish one is that if you will top up your British points, you’ll be banned from driving in UK only, so you can take your Irish photocard and start a new Career in Germany, France or Romania from Scratch
orys:
This is a matter I dare to tell I know more than Rog, as I have hands-on experience and I also wrote an article for the Polish community mag, spending quite few hours on that subject
I would tend to go with orys on this as he has actually done it and the DVLA do tend to not get some things ‘quite right’ 
Thanks orys - if I had known that you had gone through this process then I would not have called DVLA - nothing like recent first hand experience 
ROG:
orys:
This is a matter I dare to tell I know more than Rog, as I have hands-on experience and I also wrote an article for the Polish community mag, spending quite few hours on that subjectI would tend to go with orys on this as he has actually done it and the DVLA do tend to not get some things ‘quite right’
Thanks orys - if I had known that you had gone through this process then I would not have called DVLA - nothing like recent first hand experience
No probs. I am trying to help if I know something. I am amazed that you are helping even if you don’t know something at the beginning, but you are always redy to commit your time to help the others. That’s really kind of you…
…or maybe you are one of these guys with moustaches?
Its well known for people to run Irish licences for the exact staement Orys made, if you lose your GHOST GB licence and are banned from the UK then you can go anywhere and still drive, effectively you could also still drive in the UK but if are stopped and caught more than likely end up in the clink. I know a few folk running Irish licences, they use them for the sheer fact its more of a fine than points that they get if stopped and something wrong is found.
scottishcruiser:
Its well known for people to run Irish licences for the exact staement Orys made, if you lose your GHOST GB licence and are banned from the UK then you can go anywhere and still drive, effectively you could also still drive in the UK but if are stopped and caught more than likely end up in the clink. I know a few folk running Irish licences, they use them for the sheer fact its more of a fine than points that they get if stopped and something wrong is found.
Altough I have to make it clear: I have no points at all, nor on Polish, nor on UK license, and I want to keep it like that. It was only theoretical example for me.
orys would u private msg me if u dont mind would like to ask u a ? off the forum
and guys and girls thanks for all your help its much appreciated as i found the police in both ireland and england didnt know what the situation was on a european licence most couldnt even read it so now next time i pulled over i know what to say
but now on the other note i need a job so the story is i have class 1 test over in ireland next week and hopfully i will pass it with a bit of luck having failed it the first time but for now i am looking for work in london preferably in south west but not a big deal if i have to move and would like to start as class 2 driving or else shunting class 1 and then move up to full time class 1 so anyone know any good places where i should start looking as have not a clue about agencys etc and how they work
again thanks in advance
vinny
Just to throw a spanner in here
Change the address on your driving licence: Apply online - GOV.UK
Telling DVLA your details have changed will ensure your record is up to date and all future driving licence reminders are sent to your correct address.
Remember, if you permanently move to another country, you can’t register your new address on your British driving licence. You’ll need to contact the driving licence authority in your country of residence.
or
Driving in Great Britain on a non-GB licence - GOV.UK
Northern Ireland (NI)
You can exchange a full NI driving licence for a full GB licence or you can use your licence here until it runs out. When your licence expires you may apply for a GB licence. A NI ordinary licence may be exchanged provided it was issued on or after 1 January 1976.A vocational licence may be exchanged if issued on or after 1 April 1986. You may take a driving test in GB using your NI provisional or full licence if this gives the appropriate entitlement. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) cannot register an address in England, Scotland or Wales on to a NI licence