Hi All,

A long time since I was last here and thanks Camilla for your reply.
I managed to get through the red tape of Belgium with only a few problems and married my wife on the 16th of December.

Now has anyone had the pleasure of gaining a Belgian Driving licence as this is going to be the next little challenge.
Please share your latest experiences.

Camilla congrats on your engagement.

Happy New Year

Hi Kookaburra,
Thanks for your good wishes! Congratulations on your marriage <img src="../images/emoticons/ybigrin.gif">

I haven't tried to get a licence either in Belgium or NL (which is where I'm living now). All I know is that it's supposed to be pretty expensive.

Maybe someone else on here has gone that route and can advise?

Camilla
<img src="../images/emoticons/ysmile.gif">

Camilla, Kookaburra:

According to DVLA (the licencing people in England) Australia is a 'designated country' and holders of Australian driving licences can exchange them for a UK driving licence with no additional training/testing requirement. (You do need a UK address, but they're easy enough to 'borrow' <img src="../images/emoticons/ywink.gif">)

The UK driving licence is an EU driving licence, so you can exchange that for a Belgian/Dutch driving licence.

See: <a href="http://www.dvla.gov.uk/local/lo_main.htm" Target="_BLANK">http://www.dvla.gov.uk/local/lo_main.htm</a> under 'Information.'

Here's another way, which appears to be legal (though you would be advised to take professional advice or to get some sort of guarantee from the firm.)

Look at <a href="http://www.euro-papers.com" Target="_BLANK">http://www.euro-papers.com</a>/ They claim they can get you a legal licence from any EU state for €450.

Read their FAQ at <a href="http://www.euro-papers.com/faq.htm" Target="_BLANK">http://www.euro-papers.com/faq.htm</a>

Quote:

Camilla, Kookaburra:

According to DVLA (the licencing people in England) Australia is a 'designated country' and holders of Australian driving licences can exchange them for a UK driving licence with no additional training/testing requirement. (You do need a UK address, but they're easy enough to 'borrow' )

The UK driving licence is an EU driving licence, so you can exchange that for a Belgian/Dutch driving licence.

See: <a href="http://www.dvla.gov.uk/local/lo_main.htm" Target="_BLANK">http://www.dvla.gov.uk/local/lo_main.htm</a> under 'Information.'


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Thanks for the tip! Has anyone actually tried this and has it been successful? Will they question why you have a UK licence if you are an Australian?

The rules are so subjective. 3 yrs ago SA and QLD licences were not recognized for conversion to Belgian. No idea if this still applies.

Go inquire in person at the:
Association of roadworthiness inspections and driving licences companies in Brussels

Kolonel Bourgstraat 118 Rue Colonel Bourg
Tel.: (02) 726 91 52
Fax: (02) 702 93 60
<a href="http://www.goca.be" Target="_BLANK">www.goca.be</a>

In my instance, I had to sit for the theory and practical exams(both done with interprators) without the rigamarole of compulsory lessons etc to get a full Belgian licence.

However, it is advisable to contact the local driving school for a couple of lessons to familiarise yourself with the test routes and how they would like you to park, 3 point turn and reverse down a narrow tunnel.

Costs:
Theory exam is 15 Euro
Practical is 155 Euro
Interprator per session is 50 Euro
Refresher lessons 95 Euro for 2 hrs

Hope this helps

Quote:

Will they question why you have a UK licence if you are an Australian?

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More than half of the residents of Earl's Court (London) are Australian. I suppose some of them must have UK driving licences.

Quote:

The rules are so subjective. 3 yrs ago SA and QLD licences were not recognized for conversion to Belgian. No idea if this still applies.

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I think there's a lot of confusion because the rules for obtaining driving licences in the EU mamber states have changed, (another attempt at 'harmonisation') but they're still not quite the same in all member states.

In Germany, only licences issued by certain American states are exchangeable. The website doesn't explain why, but I suspect that the reason is that in some (but not all) American States there is a 'written test' as one of the requirements - which makes the licence exchangeable under German law. (It's not much of a written test; the NM test has to cater for people who can't read and write, but it's still called a 'written' test <img src="../images/emoticons/ywink.gif">)

EU law now requires all EU states to have similar licencing qualifications, including both a practical test and a theory (written) test. The tests are far from standard, however.

All EU licences can be used in all EU member states as long as they remain valid and the holder of any EU licence can exchange it for a licence issued by any other EU member state (if he she becomes resident in that other EU member state) without any requirement for re-qualification or any additional testing.

Different EU member states appear to accept different foreign licences, so the system is far from standardised and there are loopholes big enough to drive a bus through (provided you have a bus-drivers' licence <img src="../images/emoticons/ywink.gif">)

Should you obtain an EU licence, then before you exchange it for an EU licence issued by the state in which you're resident (the licence you wanted in the first place), make sure it has all the categories you need. If you don't then once you've got an EU licence if you want to add driving categories to it, you must do so under the laws of the issuing country.

Quote:
PLEASE PLEASE KEEP WELL AWAY FROM EURO-PAPERS .COM THEY OFFER TO GET YOU A LICENCE BUT THEY INSIST YOU PAY UP FRONT,THEN YOU HEAR FROM THEM NO MORE THEY ARE A SCAM DO NOT GET INVOLVED,YOU WILL LOSE YOUR MONEY...I DID.






Here's another way, which appears to be legal (though you would be advised to take professional advice or to get some sort of guarantee from the firm.)

Look at <a href="http://www.euro-papers.com" Target="_BLANK">http://www.euro-papers.com</a>/ They claim they can get you a legal licence from any EU state for €450.

Read their FAQ at <a href="http://www.euro-papers.com/faq.htm" Target="_BLANK">http://www.euro-papers.com/faq.htm</a>

**
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Quote:

PLEASE TELL EVERYONE TO STEAR CLEAR OF
EURO-PAPERS.COM,IT IS A SCAM!!!!!!!
THEY SEEM PLAUSIBLE BUT AS SOON AS THEY HAVE YOUR MONEY YOU WILL NOT HEAR FROM THEM AGAIN,YOU ARE REQUESTED TO SEND THEM THE MONEY UPFRONT VIA A HUNGARIAN BANK ACCOUNT,THEN THEY AND YOUR MONEY DISAPEAR,BELIEVE ME I KNOW I'VE BEEN RIPPED OFF.STAY CLEAR,YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!








Hi All,

A long time since I was last here and thanks Camilla for your reply.
I managed to get through the red tape of Belgium with only a few problems and married my wife on the 16th of December.

Now has anyone had the pleasure of gaining a Belgian Driving licence as this is going to be the next little challenge.
Please share your latest experiences.

Camilla congrats on your engagement.

Happy New Year

************************************

Quote:
According to DVLA (the licencing people in England) Australia is a 'designated country' and holders of Australian driving licences can exchange them for a UK driving licence with no additional training/testing requirement. (You do need a UK address, but they're easy enough to 'borrow' )

The UK driving licence is an EU driving licence, so you can exchange that for a Belgian/Dutch driving licence.

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Has anyone actually tried this? Do they actually check this 'borrowed' address?

An Australian, NZ and Canadian licence might be exchangeable soonish. Look at the reply from Renaat Landuyt: (in flemish though) <a href="http://www.dekamer.be/doc/CCRI/pdf/51/ic860.pdf" Target="_BLANK">http://www.dekamer.be/doc/CCRI/pdf/51/ic860.pdf</a>

Please keep away from this ...Its a SCAM...They offer you to get a license and as soon as you pay them the money which is £299 ..THEY DISSAPEAR...Please dont pay them ..you will loose your money ..I DID <img src="../images/emoticons/bbutbut.gif">

Hi Fatima, I wasn't referring to euro-papers but to do the exchange of a NZ/Australian to UK licence and then to a Belgian licence approach.

Quote:

Has anyone actually tried this? Do they actually check this 'borrowed' address?

An Australian, NZ and Canadian licence might be exchangeable soonish. Look at the reply from Renaat Landuyt: (in flemish though) <a href="http://www.dekamer.be/doc/CCRI/pdf/51/ic860.pdf" Target="_BLANK">http://www.dekamer.be/doc/CCRI/pdf/51/ic860.pdf</a>

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Belgianaussie, send an e-mail to <a href="mailto:mdevol.w@ukonline.co.uk" Target="_BLANK">mdevol.w@ukonline.co.uk</a>

Euro-papers.com were (are)taking peoples money then running. Unluckily for them I tracked the main scammer to his home address in Coventy UK. Because of my contact with him at his home address he closed the site. However, he has now set up <a href="http://www.dlswap.com" Target="_BLANK">www.dlswap.com</a> running exactly the same scam.
If anyone who lost money via euro-papers would like his name and address please email me at <a href="mailto:caz.jarvie@yahoo.co.uk" Target="_BLANK">caz.jarvie@yahoo.co.uk</a>
If I have anything to do with it this new site will not stay up long.
I have contacted him through this site informing him that I intend setting up a site telling everyone exactly who he is and where he lives.
Yes, I was ripped off by him and no I have not yet been refunded.

Why not simply report these guys to the police?

Quote:

Why not simply report these guys to the police?

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Better still, report it to DVLA. Find a contact eml address at:

<a href="http://www.dvla.gov.uk/contact/dvla_contact.htm" Target="_BLANK">http://www.dvla.gov.uk/contact/dvla_contact.htm</a>

I have tried the UK option to swap a licence, and it didn't work. They required an extended Visa stamp in my passport, before they would process it. The PDF link below from the Belgian minister does sound promising though, it is the first time I have seen it documented that they are trying to do anything, despite the Australian embassy claiming this has been ongoing for 9 years. DFAT in Canberra told me 4 months ago, that the exchange of licence rights were not an ongoing negotiation point.


Quote:

Quote:

Has anyone actually tried this? Do they actually check this 'borrowed' address?

An Australian, NZ and Canadian licence might be exchangeable soonish. Look at the reply from Renaat Landuyt: (in flemish though) <a href="http://www.dekamer.be/doc/CCRI/pdf/51/ic860.pdf" Target="_BLANK">http://www.dekamer.be/doc/CCRI/pdf/51/ic860.pdf</a>

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Belgianaussie, send an e-mail to <a href="mailto:mdevol.w@ukonline.co.uk" Target="_BLANK">mdevol.w@ukonline.co.uk</a>

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By the way, just discovered the agreement for the missing Provinces in Canada was signed March 10th, 2006, so they can all swap licences in Belgium now....(or so I am told). Has anyone tried talking to the Australian Embassy in Brussels to see if the Australian end of this is coming through?


Quote:

I have tried the UK option to swap a licence, and it didn't work. They required an extended Visa stamp in my passport, before they would process it. The PDF link below from the Belgian minister does sound promising though, it is the first time I have seen it documented that they are trying to do anything, despite the Australian embassy claiming this has been ongoing for 9 years. DFAT in Canberra told me 4 months ago, that the exchange of licence rights were not an ongoing negotiation point.


Quote:

Quote:

Has anyone actually tried this? Do they actually check this 'borrowed' address?

An Australian, NZ and Canadian licence might be exchangeable soonish. Look at the reply from Renaat Landuyt: (in flemish though) <a href="http://www.dekamer.be/doc/CCRI/pdf/51/ic860.pdf" Target="_BLANK">http://www.dekamer.be/doc/CCRI/pdf/51/ic860.pdf</a>

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Belgianaussie, send an e-mail to <a href="mailto:mdevol.w@ukonline.co.uk" Target="_BLANK">mdevol.w@ukonline.co.uk</a>

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Guys and Gals,
Its a nightmare! The day you register as a citizen you are supposed to get a drivers license and the international one is no longer valid inside belgium. They give you no grace period at all! You have to wait ages for your test, pay a fortune, get treated rudely by a lady who cannot even smile and refuses to speak to you in english.....so in effect you cant drive! But you cant apply until you get your residents visa, so the whole system is designed to defeat us. I almost lost my job because of this and then I would have had to leave!! So only Bree in Limburg and Deurne are able to do english tests and you must do both practical and theory. I am right in the middle of this nightmare right now, and its a very alien experience. BTW my belgian friends who emigrated to Oz, were able to walk in and just swap their Belgian license over the counter! Oh and I forgot, they wont even let you make an appointment in Deurne by phone you have to drive there to make the appointment!! All in all not a welcoming experience for civilised drivers.

It is currently illegal to drive in Belgium on an Australian driving licence once you have been legally registered as resident in Belgium for three months. You also should not think that an international driving permit gets you off the hook. Once you have registered with the commune, and three months have passed, you must have a Belgian licence to drive in Belgium. Without it, if you have an accident, it's very likely that your insurance won't cover you.

I had to do the theory and the full practical tests in Belgium (about 10 years ago) to get a Belgian licence.

The Australian Embassy is currently trying to negotiate an arrangement with the Belgian government whereby Australian licences would be either recognised (and you could swap your Australian and get a Belgian), or it would become easier for Australians to get Belgian licences.

If you lived in the UK before moving to live in Belgium, and while you were properly resident in the UK you swapped your Australian licence for a UK licence, you can use your UK licence in Belgium, or (probably) get it swapped at the commune for a Belgian licence. But if you are not legally resident in the UK, you can't swap your Australian licence for a UK licence, and any attempts to get a UK licence while you are resident in Belgium are in fact not legal.

The Southern Cross Group has made representations to Government on behalf of Australian expats, in Australia about this whole area. Similar problems are faced by Australians in a number of other continental European countries too.

Although the rules are unfair at the moment, I can't stress enough that it is very very foolish to drive in Belgium without a Belgian licence if you are legally resident in Belgium. Just imagine if you are in a car accident and you or someone else is badly injured, let alone property damage. If you insurance company finds that you were driving without a valid licence, it would be a perfect excuse for them not to pay out. Just imagine the mess you'd be in then.

Anne
<a href="http://www.southern-cross-group-org" Target="_BLANK">www.southern-cross-group-org</a>

Belgium is finally recognising Australian Drivers' Licences. See the Australian Embassy site to Belgium <a href="http://www.austemb.be" Target="_BLANK">www.austemb.be</a>

Finally, the wait is over, now it's off to queue at the local commune....

Quote:

Belgium is finally recognising Australian Drivers' Licences. See the Australian Embassy site to Belgium <a href="http://www.austemb.be" Target="_BLANK">www.austemb.be</a>

Finally, the wait is over, now it's off to queue at the local commune....

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Great news! If you are from Victoria, VicRoads are geared up for this request, go to: <a href="http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/vrne/vrne5nav.nsf/FirstChild/-4F265136E86C92C1CA2571D200201C11" Target="_BLANK">http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/vrne/vrne5n...00201C11</a>

Look for the section:
Getting a licence overseas
Obtaining the first issue date of your Victorian Licence

VicRoads can provide you with this information. The fee for obtaining the first issue date is dependent on when your Victorian licence was first issued:
if your first issue date is on or after 1 November 1984 a search fee of $7.50 applies
if your first issue date is before 1 November 1984 a history search fee of $14.20 applies

Call VicRoads on 0011 61 3 9854 2666 during business hours to order a letter with your licence first issue date. You can pay by credit card (Mastercard, Visa or Bankcard).

With the new licencing system providing those living Belgium with a great, easy solution, has anyone read that the Netherlands may follow the lead and make Australian licences exchangeable?

Has anyone managed to do this successfully yet? A mate of mine here has tried twice at Uccle Commune, with his Vic Roads letter, only to be rejected by them. The Commune is demanding that he produce a letter from the Australian Department of Immigration, stating that he was living in Australia, at the time the licence was issued..... I am not sure how that can be done. Anyone else having any luck?
KC

Hi all,

I managed to exchange my Aussie driver's licence for a Belgian one with a minimum of fuss. I surrendered my Aussie licence to the town hall, it was a wait of about 3 weeks for Brussels to approve it. Then I had to bring 2 passport photos and 16 euro for the licence. I didn't have a Vic Roads letter though. I have a DL from NSW which does not have the first issue date. They asked me at the town hall when I got my first licence and it seemed to satisfy them. However, I live in Hasselt.

gday people!

so,is it true,can you exchange you Oz licence directly for a B one?

im in NL and have a fantastic time going thru the process of re-doing everything.

if its true,then there maybe some hope that NL will follow suit with B...i can only dream... :roll:

People,

It's all on the Australian Embassy in Belgium's website:

http://www.eu.mission.gov.au/bsls/ConSerDriLic.html

That's the definitive word on the matter.

You must be legally resident in Belgium, i.e. registered with your local commune, to be able to swap.

Anne

anne@southern-cross-group.org