Speeding in a Hire Car in UK - No Longer Living In UK

anna_grant

The car hire company have my last UK address as I hired the car 7 days before I was due to leave the UK. My UK mail is being redirected to the US (hence why I got the letter and copy if NIP from the car hire company). I haven't got an NIP in my name yet.

DaveF327

You can legally stall for time now by replying to the NIP stating your new address in the US. They would have to resend the documents directly to you before they could request your licence. That is when the police may decide not to pursue further. If they do, then from that point, you still have a certain timeframe to do this (and pay any fine), during which time you exchange your licence for an Illinois one.

After that, you have three options: Send licence and pay fine, pay fine but send no licence (it will then be revoked in the UK automatically after a time), or stick two fingers up at the UK police providing you never intend to return to the UK.

iolanthe07

providing you never intend to return to the UK.

My son ignored his UK speeding ticket, and has returned to the UK many times since without any problems. I think you can safely ignore it, but up to you, of course.

cardinalbiggles

iolanthe07 wrote: »

providing you never intend to return to the UK.

My son ignored his UK speeding ticket, and has returned to the UK many times since without any problems. I think you can safely ignore it, but up to you, of course.

And I have seen someone do the same, get a court summons, not turn up then have an arrest warrant out for her. They had to phone up the authorities here to get it sorted out before travelling back.

And all because they were out of the country and thought they could ignore these things.

smashingyour...

cardinalbiggles wrote: »

And I have seen someone do the same, get a court summons, not turn up then have an arrest warrant out for her. They had to phone up the authorities here to get it sorted out before travelling back.

And all because they were out of the country and thought they could ignore these things.

It's unlikely they'll summons her via the US address. Your friend was foolish to ignore it.

iolanthe07

cardinalbiggles wrote: »

And I have seen someone do the same, get a court summons, not turn up then have an arrest warrant out for her. They had to phone up the authorities here to get it sorted out before travelling back.

And all because they were out of the country and thought they could ignore these things.

I guess it is all down to a matter of luck, then.

zappahey

I've never had an NIP, but do you need to send off your licence immediately? If not, then I would just reply to the NIP with your current address and let the police decide on whether or not to pursue it further.

Even if they do, it buys you more time to get to the point where you can exchange your licence.

cardinalbiggles

smashingyour... wrote: »

It's unlikely they'll summons her via the US address. Your friend was foolish to ignore it.

In their defense they did leave the country and it was all being sent to their rented accommodation, but your right and as I said earlier you would be silly to ignore these things.

anna_grant

I have now received the NIP in my name redirected from my last UK address. So I'll complete it with my US details (although I have got married since I left the UK and now have a different surname - not sure whether to complete the form with my maiden name as on the licence or my new name. Once you have left the UK, the DVLA say they don't want to know if address updates - I don't think they fit in their computer!).

I'll just send it if and see if they pursue it. I did wonder if I should include proof that I have genuinely left the UK for good - that I'm not just on a long holiday and trying to get out of a fine and penalty points.

I do intend to return to the UK for short breaks but will not return for good.

anna_grant

zappahey wrote: »

I've never had an NIP, but do you need to send off your licence immediately? If not, then I would just reply to the NIP with your current address and let the police decide on whether or not to pursue it further.

Even if they do, it buys you more time to get to the point where you can exchange your licence.

Good point. The date on the letter says 19/7. Post from the US takes around 5 days to get to the UK, so I'll sit on the NIP and post it in about 10 days time. I will be that much closer ti getting an Illinois license.