C1 right removed.

@PMWills

Hi, I exchanged mine in Targovshite too. Have you brought a translator with you to the KAT for application? They should have told you that to keep your C1 category, you would be needed a psychology test. You wouldn’t need a solicitor to reverse it I reckon, visit the KAT again and tell them the situation and see if you can sort it by just doing a psychology test…

@tutisservis

Sincere thanks for your update. Did you keep your C1 when exchanging? is this Psychology test in English or does a Dr or official need to carry out?

Hope it seems at the end of an awful and stressful period.

Cannot thank you enough for this encouraging information.

I'll update if all goes well.

Kind regards,

Paul W...

@PMWills

Quick question, did you do all the medical tests required (hearing, eyesight, balance etc?)

I was cruising until we got to the optician, who whipped out the colourblind numbers test.

I failed, but had to see a specialist optician to get a certificate to "prove" I was colourblind!!

The reason I mention this, is that you cannot drive any category >3.5 tonnes if you are colourblind (In Bulgaria).

I lost all my categories except for bikes, cars and vans to 3.5 tonnes, but for me that isn't a constraint

@Erm1ntrude Hello, thanks for the query.

I went to Kat waited in queue as usual then handed over my Uk D/licence.

Nothing said just return in a week.

5 days later sent to Inspector as I had speeding ticket unpaid and unknown.

Handed over my payment and B.G. licence issued, funny as the inspector was the official who in 2018 caused real upset in the registration department as he insisted correctly NO Eco tax on our Motorhome as classed "Special Vehicle"

Certainly isn't special now though, technically unuesable.

AggH!!!!

@Erm1ntrude

My GP did all the eyesight etc tests when I exchanged my licence and again when I renewed it. For the eyesight test he asked me if I could read the eye chart on the wall, I replied that I could indeed; he ticked the eyesight box without asking me to actually prove it.....

    @PMWills
Hi, I exchanged mine in Targovshite too. Have you brought a translator with you to the KAT for application? They should have told you that to keep your C1 category, you would be needed a psychology test. You wouldn’t need a solicitor to reverse it I reckon, visit the KAT again and tell them the situation and see if you can sort it by just doing a psychology test…
   

    -@tutisservis

Wow, in Austria, you need a psychology test, just a full medical and eye test. 

Sincere thanks to those replying to my query. There has to be a Judicial body here, maybe Sofia?  On further close inspection I notice class/categories C1, C1E, D1, D1E have been removed from my Driving licence with no explanation.

I am taking a Google translated document outlining this problem to the Traffic Police Inspector, Kat Targovishte. Will be posting result after visit.

Thanks again.

P.M.W.

@PMWills

The "explanation" is that you need to specifically request Categories C1, C, D1, D and T be retained AND supply:

• "a copy of a certificate for psychological fitness - for the issuance of driving licenses of categories C1, C, D1, D and T. Not required from applicants presenting a driving license issued by an EU Member State, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and the Swiss Confederation.
• a physical fitness assessment card of a driver/ diving license candidate for categories C1, C, D1, D and Ttm, with compulsory examinations by doctors with the corresponding medical specialty to establish the state of the visual system, hearing system, nervous system, internal organs, surgical and orthopedic-traumatic status."

If you don't request the Categories be retained then by default you're agreeing that you no longer wish to retain them; it's not the system's fault if people don't know that they need to do this: "Ignorantia legis neminem excusat" (Ignorance of the law excuses no one).

@PMWills

My KAT took me aside and carefully explained that my UK license had many classes not included in a Bulgarian standard license... and that if I wanted to keep all of them, I'd need to go get the required documents for each class that I wanted to keep. I'm very surprised your KAT didn't do the same, but perhaps they did, and it got lost in translation.

It's a pretty official process swapping a license in another country with multiple classes to a Bulgarian license with the same (or fewer) classes. I find it hard to believe it's easily reversible. Essentially, you've told them you only want Class X and Class Y, and that's what they gave you... leaving you in a bit of a pickle. I suppose you could try putting an attorney on the case, or coming up with some sob story to tug on KAT's heartstrings. If you don't ask, you don't get, so can't hurt to try. :-)

As a guess, you might end up having to take a local test for the class that you want to add... or going through the rigmarole of cancelling your Bulgarian license, in order to get your UK license re-issued... so that you can come back with that, and do a new exchange. Neither sound much fun.

@gwynj I thank you so much for your time and update. My confidence on the exchange was positive as I had many dealings with both Traffic and Licensing Inspectors. Registering first the old Daihatsu 4x4 which bought our furniture and some effects over towing a huge horse box. I fudged my way through with his assistance. Then My Beach Buggy which gleaned massive attention not only from the Poloce officers but half of the staff inside. A Converted fudged B.T. pick up back to trailer, Then our Motor Home which again bought out all the registration staff plus a Chief Inspector as the Inspector stated correctly Zero Eco tax. I then took my Harley Davidson which took 20 minutes to transfer plus many photographs of staff sitting on it. I had problems with My Z21 GMC Sierra pick up, fist visit examined by 4 Police officers, then returned 2 days later for a VW T5 with 6 officials who ripped it to bits and still couldn't register on day. They did a week later however it is now a Chevrolet? I didn't complain. All done without translator. Although now they do have an English speaking employee who will assist in difficult queries.

I'm going to Kat this week to try with my proof of copies of old D/licence UK and if no go will have to cancel BG licence, then have all documentation translated to English to be sent onec again to Dvla.

Oh! Brexit what a mess.

Will update results toward end of week.

Happy Holiday's..

Paul 'W'

As a retired HGV old school..had everything you could get..but. When I retired..gave them all up...of course they're still there if I win the lotto..I will need a class 1 re.instated.😂

My grandfather rights were there IE 7.5 ton..but lost that at age 70..as you will need a medical to retain it..in GB anyway

So keep your eye on that ..I won't exchange my UK for a BG one..if I bring my car over. That's good enough for a 3 month stay ..I tend to fly nowadays..a lot easier..as I have everything here I need.

Good luck though.