I am now resident in Australia ,have a clean Aus drivers licence and want to buy a car in UK rather than Rent. The UK insurance co's are gougers when it comes to premiums. To get a reasonable rate i need a UK licence . I have my expired licence which exp 1974 . Is it possible to get it renewed without all the rigmarole of a new test? After all, I can drive on my Australian Licence. I cant find any answer in DVLA nor email contact address Appreciate any advice. I travel Sept 1 2012

British tourists driving to France will have to remember to pack some extra kit this summer. A new law came into force yesterday requiring drivers and motorcyclists to carry two breathalysers in their vehicles - or risk being fined. The French government believes that the rule will reduce the number of drink-driving deaths on its roads by 500 each year by encouraging motorists to check their own alcohol levels before setting off. But critics of the move have cast doubts on the accuracy of the kits in being able to tell if a driver is over the limit. Others said it is simply another attempt to make money out of foreign drivers. Drivers and motorcyclists, including foreign visitors, will now face an on-the-spot fine of £9 unless they travel with two single-use breathalysers. Mopeds are excluded from the new regulations, which will be enforced from November 1 following a four-month grace period, partly due to a shortage of the tests. Tens of millions will be needed. French police have warned that they will be carrying out random checks on drivers bringing their cars across on ferries or through the Channel Tunnel. Tens of millions of breathalyser kits will be needed under the new rules, but caught without one and you will see an on the spot fine of £9 The French government has approved two breathalyser kits – a cheap blow-in-the-bag tester that costs £3 and digital versions that cost more than £100. They will be available at ferry and tunnel terminals for crossings to France, so that motorists can judge whether they are safe to drive after drinking. The French drink-driving limit is 50mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood - substantially less than the UK limit of 80mg. Police will continue to use their own breathalysers to carry out any roadside tests. Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2167476/Don-t-forget-breath-test-kit-British-drivers-French-roads-carry-equipment-risk-fined.html#ixzz1zmTMVGm5