Help! using US driving licence in UK?

1ipstick

I'm British but moved to the US a couple of years ago. I never drove in the UK but got my first driving licence in the US. Now I'm returning to the UK. I need to know if I can drive around with my US licence! I intend to get a UK licence asap but obviously would be a great help if I can use my US licence in the meantime.

The DVLA says "As a resident, provided your full licence remains valid, you may drive any category of small vehicle shown on your licence for up to 12 months from the time you become resident."

Now, my question is that the word 'resident' gets used all the time to mean different things. I've been resident in the UK for tax purposes the whole time (I let out my property). 'resident' also has various meanings with respect to immigration. I wanted to check that in this case it literally means when I go back to live in the UK. I asked the DVLA and their reply was:

"When determining your status as a resident or a visitor, you may like to bear in mind that legal precedents have determined that ‘temporarily visiting’ indicates presence in this country for casual purposes as opposed to the regular habits of life.
For example, a student who enrols in a 3-year course here and only returns home for short periods each year would be considered to be resident from the date he/she arrives.

Please note neither visitor or resident is defined in driver licensing legislation. It is for the individual to determine his/her status by seeking legal advice if necessary.

The ultimate decision is down to the individual concerned and he/she must be prepared to justify his/her status if challenged."


which is a little scary. I would love to know if anyone else has been in the same boat as I don't want to break the law! I will obviously still be a resident, as opposed to a visitor, but when did/does the 12 months "from the time you become resident" begin?

wealdroam

Put simply, the 12 months starts when you started living here most recently.

The intention is that during that 12 months you should be heading towards getting your UK licence.

maninthestreet

Once you have a provisional UK licence, you can no longer drive in the UK using your US licence, even if you have not been reisdent in the UK for more than 12 months.

1ipstick

But I already have a provisional licence from when I was 17! That seems to contradict what the DVLA say: "To ensure continuous driving entitlement a provisional British licence must have been obtained and the relevant driving test(s) passed before the 12-month period elapses. If you obtain a provisional licence during this period, you will not be subject to provisional licence conditions e.g. displaying L-plates or being supervised by a qualified driver or being precluded from motorways.
However, if you do not pass a test within the 12-month concessionary period you will not be allowed to drive as a full licence holder and provisional licence conditions will apply."


Can I ask where you got that information?

colino

If you had just came into the country you could use the US licence for up to 12 months, and should, if planning staying here beyond 12 months, get a provisional and prepare for a UK test. That route means you can keep on driving as before, without the normal "L" plates, being accompanied etc.
However, if you've overstayed that 12 month period, stop driving, you are back to square one and must behave exactly as a new learner in the UK.

1ipstick

Thanks all, that would seem to be the most sensible reading. It's the "when you become resident" bit I was potentially confused about, as I guess technically I became resident in UK about 30(cough cough) years ago!

vaio

it's silly.

You can exchange a US licence for a Canadian one then swap the Canadian one for a UK one but not US to UK

Similarly, if the US one was issued in Connecticut, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Florida, Kentucky or Texas then you can exchange it for a French licence and then swap the French licence for a UK one.

Think I might be tempted to have a little holiday in Canada or France on the way back to the UK

1ipstick

Didn't know that! Bizarre. I'm sure you'd have to have some proof of residency to get a Canadian/French licence though, otherwise that sounds like a good plan

scotsbob

Use your licence for 12 months then move to France for a day then move back to UK to take up a second period of residency.

vaio

1ipstick wrote: »

Didn't know that! Bizarre. I'm sure you'd have to have some proof of residency to get a Canadian/French licence though, otherwise that sounds like a good plan

Probably need an address at least, got any French or Canadian friends/relatives?

mark5

maninthestreet wrote: »

Once you have a provisional UK licence, you can no longer drive in the UK using your US licence, even if you have not been reisdent in the UK for more than 12 months.

I agree with this, there was a case like this on one of the police traffic shows a few years back.