UK citizen repatriated to UK with expired UK driving license

Murphy_The_Cat

An 80 year old relative of mine has repatriated back to the UK after living for a long period abroad.

He has an old style UK driving license which expired on his 70th birthday and wasn't renewed.

He's got a current US driving license and an International driving permit.

He is now back in the UK to stay and a) wants to drive in the UK and b) wants to buy his own car and insure it in his own name.

What is his best way to proceed ?

Currently, I'm thinking that his best option is to renew his UK driving license (but i don't know how he'd do this) and wait until he has a new style DL in his posession before buying a car, insuring it under his name and driving again.

How do you go about renewing a lapsed UK driving license that lapsed 10 years ago, or is there another option that staring me in the face that I'm missing ?

Kattekwaad

Since the DVLA aren't dealing with paper applications you will probably have to wait until this mess is all over.  In the meantime read up on the DVLA website.  He will also need a medical.

Car_54

AFAIK he can drive in the UK on his US licence for a year, so there is no immediate panic. He can buy a car and insure it. I imagine insurance will be hideously expensive at his age whatever he does.

BTW International Driving Permit is totally irrelevant - it's simply a translation of his US licencec.

Murphy_The_Cat

Kattekwaad said:

Since the DVLA aren't dealing with paper applications you will probably have to wait until this mess is all over.  In the meantime read up on the DVLA website.  He will also need a medical.

You're right that waiting for the mess is all over will make things a lot easier for going down the paper route (even easier again if he has his old, expired DL to hand). Looking on the DVLA website I can't seem to find if he needs a medical to drive past 70 - can you point me to a link where it says that he does ?

Car_54 said:

AFAIK he can drive in the UK on his US licence for a year, so there is no immediate panic. He can buy a car and insure it. I imagine insurance will be hideously expensive at his age whatever he does.

BTW International Driving Permit is totally irrelevant - it's simply a translation of his US licencec.

Insuring a car with a US DL looks blistereringly expensive. If he can cool his heels until he can get hold of a UK license, it'll be a lot more wallet friendly for him !

marlot

In the short-term, it may be easier to simply rent a car - the rental companies are used to dealing with overseas licences, and providing insurance.  Though age 80 may be a slight issue.
When I worked abroad, the expat newspapers always had great deals for 1-month+ rental prices.

unforeseen

Over 70s do not need a medical but they must make a medical declaration as part of the application.

Kattekwaad

Thanks unforeseen

Kattekwaad

Might be worth trying to get a letter from his previous (US) insurer about his driving record.  (Might make no difference but won't do any harm unless he had a recent prang)

AdrianC

Murphy_The_Cat said:

An 80 year old relative of mine has repatriated back to the UK after living for a long period abroad.

He has an old style UK driving license which expired on his 70th birthday and wasn't renewed.

He's got a current US driving license and an International driving permit.

He is now back in the UK to stay and a) wants to drive in the UK and b) wants to buy his own car and insure it in his own name.

What is his best way to proceed ?

Currently, I'm thinking that his best option is to renew his UK driving license (but i don't know how he'd do this) and wait until he has a new style DL in his posession before buying a car, insuring it under his name and driving again.

How do you go about renewing a lapsed UK driving license that lapsed 10 years ago, or is there another option that staring me in the face that I'm missing ?

It's exactly the same as renewing any other age-lapsed driving licence.
https://www.gov.uk/renew-driving-licence-at-70

Obviously, he can't continue to drive on it - but he can drive on his US licence for a year from his arrival here.
https://www.gov.uk/driving-nongb-licence

Yes, driving on a US licence will be expensive to insure.
Yes, at the moment it'll take a while for DVLA to renew.
No, it isn't currently an issue because he shouldn't be driving anywhere anyway.

AdrianC

Kattekwaad said:

Might be worth trying to get a letter from his previous (US) insurer about his driving record.  (Might make no difference but won't do any harm unless he had a recent prang)

In terms of mirroring his US NCB? Not a hope that you'll find a UK insurer willing to take that chance, unless they're very VERY specialist. It's hard enough getting European equivalents recognised.

Exemplar

IIRC it's the same in reverse. I had to spend longish stints in the US and I bought and drove a car there on both occasions with no hinderance as I had a 'permanent' US address. He should be fine for a few months as long as he has a permanent UK address.