Paper driving licence in France
With apologies for Yet Another Question...
The C&MC Guide to touring in France arrived this morning. I see it advises that some authorities there dislike the old green paper driving licence and that we should change to the photo-ID one.
Just wondering how long this takes.... meanwhile has anyone experienced problems with carrying the old sort, given that we'll also have the passport? I'm rather fond of mine!
... and no promises of not asking more, since you're all so helpful 
It's cheering up this cold spell no end, making preparations for our trip over there, hopefully in warmer weather.
Thanks.
Comments
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I'm surprised the paper license hasn't been scrapped before now. I changed mine in 2009 when we went to Canada and toured. I thought of the hassle that may arise if stopped so decided it was time to change.
For what it costs to change it may be worth thinking about.
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There was the original all green paper licence replaced by the green & pink licence. As I understand it, the later one is perfectly valid, whether its liked or not . The all green one is not valid. Bear in mind that the plastic photo card licence needs replacing every 10 years at a cost .... the paper licence lasts till you croak it 😉 or you change your name or address.
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I don't think it lasts until you croak it as at 70 you have to renew your licence and I don't think I got a choice as to paper or not but was issued with the photo ID one. It didn't cost me anything if I remember rightly.
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The OP mentioned that he had read the 'Authorities' weren't too keen on the paper licence.
Presuming you are in France then the most likely 'authorities' you'll meet will be the Gendarmes if you fail to adhere to the rules of the road or come upon one of their road checks.
Producing a green paper licence to a French police officer and expecting him to read it would be like you having to decipher the Dead Sea Scrolls - and he wouldn't be happy.
Proof of who you are and proof of which vehicles you are allowed to drive is considerably improved by producing a Card with your picture and licence details.
Do not upset a pistol carrying member of the French Police, who probably dislikes anyone from the UK, and has the power to relieve you of vast sums of cash if he finds any minor or major reason to do so.
If you do go abroad I would suggest your better option is to take a Driving Licence Card than an old battered paper equivalent.
Your choice.
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To Keith&Margaret ..... I'm sure French Gendarmes see many other 'foreign' licences. I'm not about to change mine to appease someone I'm likely to never meet. 😊
...... and what's the relevance of your picture? I'm impressed you can post one though, I gave up even trying years ago.
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Hi Hedgehurst, I got my photo licence many years ago and it was updated a couple of years ago. I dont recall ever being asked to produce it by a person in 'authority' but use it very regularly to prove my identity-from catching an internal UK flight to picking up a parcel-and would not want to be without it.
I still have my old paper counterpart in a folder in the car, for trips abroad, but so far as being able to identify yourself it is very unlikley to be accepted due to the lack of a photo.
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Hello HH, Do as the Club advises - if you are going overseas spend the money and get a modern plastic driving licence - for the reasons the Club has said.
And if you have an accident, or get stopped for a breath test, or need to hire a car after an accident, or simply need photo ID with your address on it to show at a campsite (your passport has no address) then the modern plastic licence is useful. Ignore those who are living in the past.
Have a good holiday.
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I was stopped in Austria coming from Italy for towing along the '182' road parallel to the Brennar motorway. Perfectly legal whilst in Italy but missed the non trailer sign when crossing into Austria, the police only asked for my driving licence before nicely relieving me of €30 and only a quick glance sufficed, but what he would have done with a bit of pink and green paper I don't know. Perhaps added another €30 to the ticket
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From the DVLA
What to do with your paper counterpart
The paper counterpart to a driving licence has had no legal status since 8 June 2015. You should destroy yours if you have one, but keep your photocard driving licence.If you have a paper driving licence
Paper driving licences issued before 1998 are still valid. Do not destroy your licence.When you update your name or address, or renew your licence, you’ll only get a photocard licence.
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Very sensible advice and looking a little beyond the obvious. The photo licence is surely the de facto form of driving licence in the EU and I would have thought that if you want trouble free motoring it would be the one that is carried rather than a piece of paper that many continental policemen have never seen. If your language skills are good enough by all means be prepared to explain?
David
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MollysMummy – the relevance of the picture is that road side checks are getting more frequent and they do check your 'documentation'.
We've were stopped a couple of times last year (near Etaples and in the Dordogne) in checks and they do have the power to fine you, cash only, for even minor offences.
Hand held speed traps are very common and with the reduction of speed limits in France this year it makes even more sense than usual to make sure you are within the limits.
As for not going to France ….........
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Years ago we all used to get international driving licences when going over the water. This gave a translation for the local authorities if you were stopped. If I remember rightly you got the IDL from the AA or RAC.
The photo card is much more convenient.
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OK, I'm a convert.
I'l brave the joys of the online application and see how quickly it works.
Meanwhile, completely off topic, our little (French) caravan was serviced this morning, and declared very fit for another lot of travelling, so there's a very good reason for going to France - as well as lots of other places!Thanks all for the useful advice, as ever.
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Good luck with the online application!!! Margaret has recently had to renew her medical condition/age licence. You seem to have to validate your identity now via a third party, the Post Office is one of them. All was going well until we had to take a photo of the current passport with a mobile phone which the system refused to recognise, after about dozen tries we gave up and went back to snailmail!!!
David
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Having encountered a weight check at a peage, I was required to show my then paper licence. After a minute he simply gave up with shrug about English licences. Needless to say I changed to a photocard on return. We also applied on line recently for one for my wife, which was a straightforward process and the card arrived quite promptly, as id is verified against your passport details, from which the photo is also used.
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DavidK, I moved from green/pink paper to photocard a couple of months ago, as I reached 70 in January. I did it online, and the system used the photo from my existing passport (which was 9.5 years old and B/W).I didn't need to offer a new photo?
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