common travel area and driving licences

[archimed90]

Hello all,

I recently applied to work for a bus company in Scotland. During the interview, they asked to see my driving licences which is a requirement of the post. On producing these, the company then said that in order to drive for the company, I would need to convert my driving licence to a GB driving licence.

I am an Irish citizen holding an Irish driving licence with full entitlements for the role that I am applying for. With being Irish comes the automatic right to live and work in UK with the same rights and entitlements as a UK citizen.

They are happy to proceed with the recruitment process but I will not be permitted to drive until such time as I have exchanged my licence for a UK/GB one.

On GOV.UK there is a tool to check if you need to exchange your licence. After answering the questions on the tool I am told the following:

Exchange a foreign driving licence
You can drive in Great Britain on your licence until you’re 45, or for 5 years after you become resident in Great Britain, whichever is longer.
You must register your details with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) within 12 months of becoming resident.
After this time you must exchange your licence - the fee is £43. You do not have to retake your test

My question:
Do I have to exchange my licence like the company is insisting?
Am I right in thinking that I can stand my ground and insist they respect my rights under the common travel area arrangements as an Irish citizen living in UK, and recognise the driving licence being the same as one earned in GB/UK? This would be after I register my licence with GB and not exchange it?.

Thank you in advance for any advice/help you have

[PallasAthena]

The CTA doesn't mention driving licences at all - https://www.gov.uk/government/public...-area-guidance - so you have no specific rights under it to drive on your Irish licence. Anyway the CTA doesn't directly apply to private employers. So if a private employer decides to make it a condition of employment that you exchange your Irish licence for a UK one nothing in the CTA or UK law prevents it doing that.

And indeed the licence exchange info you quote specifically says that you can't drive buses on your Irish licence indefinitely, only for a maximum of 5 years. I guess a bus company is likely to be picky about what licence is held so perhaps not surrprising they want it exchanged immediately.

If you want the job you'll need to exchange your licence.

[theberenger]

Do you really want to take a combative stance with a company who are yet to offer you a position? That seems like a really quick way to have an offer withdrawn, or no offer made at all.

It's one thing to query their position if you have information that suggests they're incorrect, but it's quite another to tell them you're not doing it and "standing your ground".