foreign licence - replacement or additional?

Nebulous2

I've a relative coming to stay from New Zealand for a holiday.

UK citizen, went to New Zealand almost 5 years ago and got a NZ driving licence on the strength of his UK one, no test involved. 

Looking at the relative merits of hiring a car or putting him on my insurance, or possibly a bit of both. 

What do I tell my insurer / car hire companies? He still has the piece of plastic for his UK driving licence, but he doesn't think it is valid, and says as he resides overseas he can't hold a UK licence. We certainly don't want a scenario where he turns up at a car hire company and it becomes a drawn out process or he gets turned away. 

Did he replace his UK licence with the NZ one, or was it an addition?  

Car_54

Replaced.  

Car_54

But if in doubt he can check his uk licence status online.

DB1904

Car_54 said:

Replaced.  

Are you 100% with that?

They talk about converting and will accept an expired licence as long as it's within 12 months. The fact the relative still has the photo card that suggests that the licence was only used as proof of entitlement to drive, a NZ licence issued and it's not an exchange as it would be if coming to the UK.

Car_54

DB1904 said:

Car_54 said:

Replaced.  

Are you 100% with that?

They talk about converting and will accept an expired licence as long as it's within 12 months. The fact the relative still has the photo card that suggests that the licence was only used as proof of entitlement to drive, a NZ licence issued and it's not an exchange as it would be if coming to the UK.

No, that’s why I suggested he check online.

Emmia

He can drive for up to 12 months on his NZ licence, so there shouldn't be an issue with car hire or your insurer - how long is he staying for?

https://www.gov.uk/driving-nongb-licence

Grey_Critic

I don;t undetrstand the *Exchanged Licence* Surely when you pass your driving test in the UK then (apart from the requirement to renew every 10 years) you still have a UK driving licence. The fact you may live in another country does not matter.

The UK still recognises your licence - there are no conditions that say you have to use it or lose iot.

user1977

Grey_Critic said:

The UK still recognises your licence - there are no conditions that say you have to use it or lose iot.

And you can of course get your licence, stay in the UK, but never actually drive! You still have a valid licence.

Rover_Driver

If the GB licence was exchanged for a foreign licence, the GB licence would not be valid.
From the 'View your driving licence' website, the reply will be  "You do not hold a current GB driving licence, a licence has been issued by another licensing authority"

Car_54

Grey_Critic said:

I don;t undetrstand the *Exchanged Licence* Surely when you pass your driving test in the UK then (apart from the requirement to renew every 10 years) you still have a UK driving licence. The fact you may live in another country does not matter.

The UK still recognises your licence - there are no conditions that say you have to use it or lose iot.

If a New Zealander wants to obtain a UK licence, he must surrender his NZ licence in exchange. This is a reciprocal arrangement, so the same applies when a Brit obtains an NZ licence, i.e. he loses his UK licence.

Emmia

Car_54 said:

Grey_Critic said:

I don;t undetrstand the *Exchanged Licence* Surely when you pass your driving test in the UK then (apart from the requirement to renew every 10 years) you still have a UK driving licence. The fact you may live in another country does not matter.

The UK still recognises your licence - there are no conditions that say you have to use it or lose iot.

If a New Zealander wants to obtain a UK licence, he must surrender his NZ licence in exchange. This is a reciprocal arrangement, so the same applies when a Brit obtains an NZ licence, i.e. he loses his UK licence.

But whether he needs to surrender fundamentally depends on how long he's visiting for, as he can drive for up to 12 months on his NZ licence. No need to exchange or apply for a UK licence.

If he's here for a for a few weeks on holiday, then he should just use his NZ licence.