(edit title) Transferring a drivers license How difficult is it? Options

[ewok71]

I am a Canadian with British citizenship and I am trying to find a cheaper way to get my license in Sweden than starting everything over. Does Sweden have an agreement with the UK or Germany (as I have contacts also in Germany) to just transfer a license over?

[Somebody]

if you have a British passport I do not think you have to transfer it at all.
as long as this is a British or EU licence.

However, you can obviously tranfer it if you want to.

[HannahSwain]

As far as I know, Swedish law officially says that EU drivers licenses should be transferred 6 months after arrival in the country. However, I haven't seen this enforced and I can't see it being an issue.

[Snood]

Just wait until your current license (providing it's a EU photo card type license) is nearing expiration and apply for a renewal through the Swedish system, it should be as simple as renewing in the UK but will take a bit longer as I believe they send your license to the DVLA for verification.

[fogelfeifer]

I exchanged my British Drivers Licence after 4/5 years here...never stopped or checked admittedly...only when it was due for renewal. Leave at least six weeks margin before expiry date and keep a photocopy while exchange is under way.

[Mo]

As far as I know, Swedish law officially says that EU drivers licenses should be transferred 6 months after arrival in the country. However, I haven't seen this enforced a ... (show full quote)

As far as I know, Swedish law officially says that EU drivers licenses should be transferred 6 months after arrival in the country. However, I haven't seen this enforced and I can't see it being an issue. ... (hide full quote)

this used to be the case but the law has changed - you are OK with a UK licence as long as it is valid

[Mb 65]

It's what country the licence was issued that counts. as long as it was issued in an EU country you have no problems.

[gplusa]

Do you not have to be residing in that country in order to get a licence from that country ? (if I read correctly, the OP is a Canadian resident) I wouldn't have thought that merely being a British passport holder would be sufficient to gain a UK driving licence. You would surely have to show that you're living in the UK at the time you apply for your UK licence.

[Puffin]

It is the country where the licence is issued that is important - for example you need to be a long term UK resident to get a UK licence

The only licences that can be swapped are EU licences plus Swiss and Japanese licences - if your licence comes from another country then you need to take a Swedish test

[oddsock]

I've been driving around with a foreign EU license for 3.5 years with no problems.

To get a Swedish one would cost me 150 SEK for the Swedish license, plus a 650 SEK "inspection fee" where they determine if your EU license can be exchanged or not. Which it can, of course, because it is an EU license. The 650 SEK is a racket. Strange huh, the Police never charge me 650 SEK when they check my driver's license at road controls.

[Puffin]

If you have an EU licence in Sweden it is perfectly legal to drive on it until it expires - some people choose to do so in order to get a valid ID card

[Scuba]

Any recent experience on how long it takes to exchange a licence? Will I get my old one back or do they keep it?

[William Sachsen-Coburg-Go...]

Your old licence is returned to the issuing authority. I recently exchanged mine. It took them nearly 8 months to process.