| Guys n Gals
Since passing my bike and car tests in the 70's I have never had a problem with DVLC despite a number of address changes. But......
Since living in Switzerland (you know - the land where everything and everyone is so efficient) this happened to me:
When I arrived here in I lived in Kantone St. Gallen and so exchanged my UK licence for a swiss one at the local office (you do this locally in each kantone not centrally) and was issued with a swiss licence all present and correct for approx £60 and they return the UK licence to DVLC.
A couple of years later I moved house, but still lived in Kantone St. Gallen, nonetheless I need to change my licence to have the correct address on or face a fine of approx £150. Cost of changing address on licence approx £30.
Then a number of years later I moved to Kantone Zurich, and I needed to change my licence again. Simple enough process but at a cost of yes approx £60. Got my new licence.
A few years later I turned 50 and received a letter from the licencing authorities that I now needed to have a medical certificate to drive and that I need to have this medical done every 5 years from now on in. Now seeing a Doctor in this country is not cheap and you would not get away with anything less than a bill for £100 for such a simple examination so I consulted with a swiss friend of mine over this "new rule". He'd never heard of it so he asked to see my licence.
Now at the begining of this post I did say I passed my bike and car licence - well the folks at the Zurich licencing authorities added to my licence the fact that I was qualified to drive a swiss ambulance, fire engine and a tank (never been in anyone's army) and hence needed the medical.
So to avoid the costly medical every 5 years and not wishing to drive a tank, fire engine or ambulance I decided to point out their mistake. I went to the office personally and discussed the matter with them, even showing them copies of my licence from Kantone St. Gallen and my copy of my UK licence. Yes they said somehow it is different and we'll issue you with another one. They did and charged me an admin fee of approx £35!
Cost of having a swiss licence todate = £185
You may ask why change the UK licence into a Swiss one? Answer - you are allowed to keep and use your UK licence for 12mths only if you take up permanent residency in Switzerland, but, you must apply to change it into a swiss one within that period. Failure to do so means that you have to take a swiss driving test. The cost of this both practical and theoretical is currently approx £2,300 by the time you have a licence in your hand depending upon which Kantone you happen to be living in!
The DVLC ain't perfect - but it isn't as expensive as the Swiss who also ain't perfect. Safe Riding wherever you are.
[Edited on 25-11-2005 by Athelstan]  |