Exchange Foreign Licence to UK w/o Losing Experience Entitlement?

lhwjud

My foreign driving licence (non-EU) was issued 5 years ago and now I'm thinking to exchange it to a UK licence. I'm aware that exchanging the licence doesn't automatically carry forward all the previous experience explicitly in the UK licence (is that right???) and therefore will be hit hard by the insurance - suddenly I become a new driver with 0 year experience.

Is my understanding regarding licence exchange correct? What is my best bet in relation to car insurance?

Thanks.

lhwjud

uktyler wrote: »

Talk to a couple of insurance companies and see what they say.
I had the same experience going the other way, exchanging my UK license for one abroad, and my insurance company over here recognise my driving experience, and my UK no claims bonus.

The foreign licence is to be surrendered to DVLA for an exchange. How to prove previous experience then?

JonBoy_SCFC

uktyler wrote: »

I've never been asked to prove how much driving experience I have.

if you make a claim then they'll ask for a copy of your license. but don't know how they'd check if you were from say Poland and said you'd passed your Polish test 15 years ago when actually it was only say 4. As with convictions (i detailed in another thread) this seems like another loophole that foreign people can quite easily take advantage of, so it's no wonder they're a higher risk because there'll be more false data

zkw29

JonBoy_SCFC wrote: »

this seems like another loophole that foreign people can quite easily take advantage of

Surely in the event of a claim the insurance company could demand to see proof, in which case the policyholder would need to get that proof from the relevant licence issuing body in their home country.

dacouch

Speak to a broker and take a photocopy of your foreign licence before you send it off as it could be helpful to the broker in finding you a good deal

PolishBigSpender

If you're EU, then there's absolutely no benefit in transferring your licence. I even use my UK licence in Poland (I was obliged to swap it, as I came to the UK before 2004) to this day, simply because they can't issue points to a non-Polish licence.

N79

PolishBigSpender wrote: »

If you're EU, then there's absolutely no benefit in transferring your licence. I even use my UK licence in Poland (I was obliged to swap it, as I came to the UK before 2004) to this day, simply because they can't issue points to a non-Polish licence.

Except that ever EU country has a maximum period of time that you are allowed to be resident before you must exchange your licence. In the UK this period is 2 years. Of course some EU countries may have an infinite time period.

As for experience, exchanging one EU licence for another does not change anything - you have still held a full EU licence for the same length of time. All that has changed is the issuing authority. You have still held a full EU licence for X years - which is the question that insurers tend to be interested in.

lisyloo

If you send your licecnce off then get copies (certified preferably).
Some people have lost their bike entitlement (I believe it's been on TV recently) and no responsibility is acceepted.
So if it's your livelihood affect or yout have 20 polie officers will say you've ridden a police bike for 20 years, it makes not difference.
Without written proof you have to re-take the test at your own expense.

My hubby recently sent off his licence and got certified copies from a solicitor.
Paranoid perhaps but time off costs us hundreds of pounds.

dacouch

As a UK resident he can drive a car indefinately (Upto age 70) here on his EU licence.

dacouch

Lisyloo it was on Watchdog last night about the problems the DVLA are having. You can watch it on iPlayer.

N79

dacouch wrote: »

As a UK resident he can drive a car indefinately (Upto age 70) here on his EU licence.

Turns out we were both wrong!

"If you have a valid community licence, this will allow you to drive in GB for the period set out below.Alternatively, you can exchange your licence for a British licence.
Provided your licence remains valid you may drive in GB:
Car, motorcycle driving licence holders (ordinary driving licence):

• until aged 70 or for three years after becoming resident, whichever is the longer period"

Taken from http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensing/DrivingInGbOnAForeignLicence/DG_4022556