Amalgamation of foreign licences

DTDfanBoy

Here's a tricky one for you :eek:

Does anyone know if it's possible to add foreign licence classes to an existing UK licence obtained by exchanging another foreign licence ???

I originally obtained my drivers licence in New Zealand, since then I have obtained numerous other driving licences in other countries, including the UK, via various licence exchange programs.

My UK drivers licence was obtained by handing over a licence from Queensland Australia, my existing UK licence therefore has a licence valid from date which shows the date I obtained my Queensland licence, via exchange, some 15 years after I obtained my initial driving licence

I've always picked my insurance companies carefully and have always been able to use the initial date I obtained my driving licence, however due to the imminent changes which allow insurance companies to check licence details the initial date I obtained my licence will not be correctly displayed on my current UK licence, I'm therefore be keen to add my current NZ licence into the mix as it displays the correct date.

And just to further complicate matters I'd also like to add my motorbike licence, which I obtained in New South Wales Australia, licence no longer valid, but the motorcycle class was added to my Singaporean driving licence when I exchanged my NSW licence for a Singaporean licence which is still valid.

And just to be awkward I'd like to keep the BE class on my UK licence which was kindly given to me when I exchanged my QLD licence


So to summarise, I'd like a UK license which displays a correct License valid from date, as displayed on my current NZ licence, and which allows me the operate a motorbike, as displayed on my current Singaporean licence, and I'd like to keep the BE category displayed on my existing licence

Apologies for excessive use of the word 'licence' :rotfl:

Strider590

Don't know, but I read this thread title as "Armageddon of foreign licences" and thought "yeah that's pretty good way to describe driving around Birmingham". :rotfl:

BeenThroughItAll

DTDfanBoy wrote: »

Apologies for excessive use of the word 'licence' :rotfl:

Thank you very much, however, for being able to differentiate between licence the noun, and to license the verb.

Norman_Castle

So to summarise, I'd like a UK license which displays a correct License valid from date, as displayed on my current NZ licence, and which allows me the operate a motorbike, as displayed on my current Singaporean licence, and I'd like to keep the BE category displayed on my existing licence

This requires the DVLA to recognise qualifications gained in other countries as equal to uk qualifications. Presumably testing standards vary between countries.
Its up to insurers to choose what driving qualifications they recognise.

RS2000.

Norman_Castle wrote: »

This requires the DVLA to recognise qualifications gained in other countries as equal to uk qualifications. Presumably testing standards vary between countries.
Its up to insurers to choose what driving qualifications they recognise.

Is does, however all three countries are on the exchange list.

DTDfanBoy

Norman_Castle wrote: »

This requires the DVLA to recognise qualifications gained in other countries as equal to uk qualifications. Presumably testing standards vary between countries.
Its up to insurers to choose what driving qualifications they recognise.

The DVLA do recognise all of my drivers licences as they were issued in designated countries, so they are all eligible for exchange, I didn't even have to sit a test when I initially obtained my UK drivers licence :beer:

I'm not trying to get UK insurers to recognise my foreign motorcycle licence, as I've resided here for more than 12 months I'm unable to use it in the UK, I'm simply trying to get my UK licence to show the correct Valid From date, and get the motorcycle licence added to it.

RS2000.

DTDfanBoy wrote: »

The DVLA do recognise all of my drivers licences as they were issued in designated countries, so they are all eligible for exchange, I didn't even have to sit a test when I initially obtained my UK drivers licence :beer:

I'm not trying to get UK insurers to recognise my foreign motorcycle licence, as I've resided here for more than 12 months I'm unable to use it in the UK, I'm simply trying to get my UK licence to show the correct Valid From date, and get the motorcycle licence added to it.

Didn't the motorcycle entitlement appear on the same licence as one for cars?

Iceweasel

My UK licence shows the validity as from the date of my passing the UK driving test.

Your query is so unusual and specific to yourself the best bet is to email DVLA directly.

Surprisingly they are pretty good at replying quickly.

I normally get a response within the hour.

https://emaildvla.direct.gov.uk/emaildvla/cegemail/dvla/en/index.html

Good luck.

DTDfanBoy

RS2000. wrote: »

Didn't the motorcycle entitlement appear on the same licence as one for cars?

Yes it does, but I obtained it in New South Wales after getting a driving license there, that licence is no longer valid but I used that licence to obtain a Singaporean driving licence, which is still valid, and shows that I can operate cars and motorcycles.

I can see this is going to be complicated, I just rung the DVLA and the operator I spoke to couldn't get her head around the fact that I currently have four valid drivers licences, let alone offer any actual advice

RS2000.

DTDfanBoy wrote: »

Yes it does, but I obtained it in New South Wales after getting a driving license there, that licence is no longer valid but I used that licence to obtain a Singaporean driving licence, which is still valid, and shows that I can operate cars and motorcycles.

I can see this is going to be complicated, I just rung the DVLA and the operator I spoke to couldn't get her head around the fact that I currently have four valid drivers licences, let alone offer any actual advice

So which licence did you exchange for a UK one?

DTDfanBoy

RS2000. wrote: »

So which licence did you exchange for a UK one?

I exchanged my Queensland licence, which I still have and is still valid, I had a boat there for a number of years and the boating licence is included in your driving licence, I only used that licence as it was about to expire so as I was going to have to pay to renew it anyway it seemed like the most cost effective option.

Generally when you exchange a foreign licence they keep the licence you are exchanging, so you if you want to keep a physical copy of that licence you have to apply for a replacement licence, which costs, and can only be done in the country that issued the licence.