Converting a foreign drivers license to a UK one

PolishBigSpender

rev_henry wrote: »

I know it may be a bit late for the OP but I've definitely heard that going back to wherever your from for a bit then coming straight back is a tried and tested loophole with motoring things. I think the usual thing is e.g. Polish people (I've heard they do it most often, but it doesn't really matter who) buying and insuring a car in Poland, driving it here, staying here then going back to poland for a day or 2 every 11 months or so, thus evading having to officially import their cars and get a UK licence.
Sorry if that's not actually very helpful to anyone here! :P

Within the EU, you don't have to exchange your licence. Indeed, if you're in the UK on a Polish licence, there are definite advantages to not having a UK licence - not being able to pick up penalty points for one!

As for cars - yes, that's quite normal. Many Brits do it here as well - as long as the car has the relevant insurance and car tests, I don't think anyone is particularly bothered within the EU - apart from the Irish, who are notoriously strict.

I must admit, given that Polish insurance allows anyone to drive your car (the car is insured, not the driver) and that the car test is only every 2 years, combined with zero road tax - why wouldn't any Pole keep their car registered here?

Nilrem

IIRC the law for cars in the UK requires them to be registered and insured here if they are to be kept/used here for more than 6 months out of any 12 to remain legal, with the amount of time spent in the country being cumulative over the 12 month period (so popping over to France for a couple of days wouldn't reset the counter, it just suspends it).

However it's very hard to keep track of, so unless they admit to the police they've been using it over here for more than 6 in the past 12 months it's not generally something that gets acted on.

Basically it's to allow for people who are visiting the country to bring their cars over, but avoid people shopping around for the best (cheapest) country to register and insure their cars in, when they are living here full time.

I beleive that as soon as the owner becomes a resident here, the car should be registered here...(presumably upon the assumption that a resident in the UK is going to be here with his/her car for more than that 6 months of the year).

But this is all at a tangent to the question about driving licences

Chippy_Minton_2

PolishBigSpender wrote: »

Within the EU, you don't have to exchange your licence. Indeed, if you're in the UK on a Polish licence, there are definite advantages to not having a UK licence - not being able to pick up penalty points for one!

Really?:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

You're not very upto date with the Road Traffic Act are you?

Nilrem

Aye, iirc if you don't have a UK licence the police can still give you points, it's just that they go on a "notional" licence created by the DVLA* for the driver (the same way people who have never had a licence can get points etc).

I beleive if you get enough on that notional licence or commit any offences that would get you banned from driving on a UK licence, you can get banned from driving here even if they can't touch your polish/french/german or whatever licence.

All that having a non UK licence means if that they can't do automatic enforcement easily (a loophole I beleive is being closed in the next few years), anything that has the police intervening in person to deal with it has ways of being dealt with regardless of where your licence is issued from (those ways nclude I beleive them being able to detain people until they've been in front of a magistrate).



*Basically an entry on the computer with a unique driving licence number for the driver in question.

Inactive

PolishBigSpender wrote: »

Within the EU, you don't have to exchange your licence. Indeed, if you're in the UK on a Polish licence, there are definite advantages to not having a UK licence - not being able to pick up penalty points for one!

" Driving Licences - Persons from E.U. resident in UK
If you have a valid European Community driving licence, this will authorise you to drive in the U.K. for the periods below.
Alternatively, you can exchange your licence for a British one at any time.
Provided your licence remains valid you may drive a car or motorcycle (ordinary licence) in the U.K. until the age of 70, or for three years after becoming resident, whichever is the longer period. "