When is time to hang up the driving gloves for the final time - metaphorically speaking?

[curtis]

I think the problem is that many people don't know how bad they are or won't accept it. It takes an accident to bring it home and by then it's too late. For myself, I made a decision about five years ago to stop certain rallyes where night stages were involved. It came home to me when I was at the end of five hard days on the Rally de Portugal Historico and at about one o'clock in the morning (we started at 08.00) I made a mistake through failing eyesight. It is not something I would like to happen again. Two wheels over the edge of the road and a view of the lights of the town a long way down. For me it was a warning bell which I heeded; I am still competing but in the daylight!

[exile]

Bizarre - my last UK paper one was green as are all the raggedy UK licences I translate.
Anyway, I don't think the old French one expires until you snuff it.
And even then....

Have just checked my 1993 French licence, there is no expiry date on any of the categories I need. Ditto on Fixit's very tatty pink paper/card licence

And that is the point Liz. Friends of ours while on holiday with a group of us in France, had their car broken into while doing some outdoor activity. Lots of lost things like passports etc. Naturally the Gendarmerie were informed and a gendarme came to the camp site to get as many details as possible. Any proof of who you are? Well all we have is a driving licence (UK) that we left in the tent. He looked in astonishment at it and said, "They know when you are going to die?" - expiry date on the licence - and something he had never come across before.

[Spectrum]

Are you not resident in France then??

Yes for sixteen years, and the the boys in blue have seen it and didn't make any comment.

[hughnique]

I checked my French card this morning and yes there is an expiry date of 2034, so fifteen years after issue, I had not noticed it before and I thought it was for life, evidently it's quite easy to renew on line, if we are all still here. The subject of renewing your UK licence at 70, there is a right slimeball brit in our village who purposely goes out of his way to contradict normal procedure. He is in his late 70's and has renewed his uk licence, probably 3 times, giving his son's address in the UK, It is blatantly obvious that the various departments in the UK do not speak with each other, last time I conversed with him he was going on about the life certificate for his pension, so DWP know he is permanently resident in France, and have done for several years. Pre Brexit he was never registered in the medical system, went back to the UK for operations if required, but then is proud to tell all and sundry that he has been to the impots to declare his income on his gite, probably to give him some sort of credibility. WFA he claims at his son's address, he really is up to every trick in the book, he came on to me after Brexit about the procedure for a CDS, so whether something has caught up with him, I hope it has

[Hotrodder]

I wouldn't be all that concerned about fiddling the system while living in the UK. After all the government is so corrupt what's the point of being squeaky clean, but living here being made welcome as a guest in France I do my best to play it all by the book. My worst nightmare would be to be sent back to Plague Island for being naughty.

[suein56]

.. living here being made welcome as a guest in France I do my best to play it all by the book. My worst nightmare would be to be sent back to Plague Island for being naughty.

+1 Totally agree

[Spectrum]

While we are on the subject when I get to 70 who do I tell The Brits or the French? as said if it a French/EU licence I need I don't want to lose any of the category's ie 7.5 Tonne, full Motorbike as well, might have a mid-life crisis and buy a Fat Tail Harley

[rsm]

Just for information
https://www.service-public.fr/particuli ... 20ou%20vol.

[DaveW]

Ah getting old.

It has come as a great shock to many over 70’s that they can’t rent a hire car anymore.

Bummer.

[Polly]

Living in the UK we’ve rented cars in France aged 70+.