Car rental refused for having an EU license

Car_54

Grey_Critic said:

DanDare999 said:

Grey_Critic said:

The website tells you how to exchange an EU licence for a UK licence. As we are no longer in the EU then there is a time limit if I recall for driving on licence issued in another country of the EU The same applies to other countries usually 6 to 12 months. When my son went to work in the USA he had to take a driving test that was linked to his Visa.

The website also says it's valid until your 70th birthday if you passed in an EU country. 

You are also required to renew a UK Licence every 10 years - something many fail to do and I believe you can be prosecuted for driving without a current licence - No doubt someone will correct that bit if I am wrong.

Yes, you're wrong. Only the photocard expires every 10 years, your entitlement to drive does not. [Road Traffic Act 1988, s.99] So you can't be prosecuted for driving without a licence.

You could be charged with having an expired photocard, but that's much less serious and I've never heard of it happening.

Grey_Critic

[Deleted User] said:

Grey_Critic said:

DanDare999 said:

Grey_Critic said:

The website tells you how to exchange an EU licence for a UK licence. As we are no longer in the EU then there is a time limit if I recall for driving on licence issued in another country of the EU The same applies to other countries usually 6 to 12 months. When my son went to work in the USA he had to take a driving test that was linked to his Visa.

The website also says it's valid until your 70th birthday if you passed in an EU country. 

You are also required to renew a UK Licence every 10 years - something many fail to do and I believe you can be prosecuted for driving without a current licence - No doubt someone will correct that bit if I am wrong.

Yes, you're wrong. Only the photocard expires every 10 years, your entitlement to drive does not. [Road Traffic Act 1988, s.99] So you can't be prosecuted for driving without a licence.

You could be charged with having an expired photocard, but that's much less serious and I've never heard of it happening.

Knew someone would correct me but doing a little checking came across this

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/driving-in-the-eu-uk-licence-holders-living-in-the-eu#uk-and-european-driving-licences

Which details the requirements for various countries and requirements to exchange licences which I believe also applies to the UK.

I suspect that the Hire Company is working with something similar to what is listed there bearing in my mind they are International. I do not think the OP is being discriminated against - the company has rules that apply across the board.

When youngest visited the UK back in 2017 the hire company rules stated that anyone from the USA hiring could only have an automatic. The fact he had a UK licence made no differance.

sheramber

before Brexit my car insurer had no problem insuring  my son's partner, who had EU licence, to drive my car.

This year they would not insure her because she had an EU licence.

Being legal to drive does not mean they have to rent a car to you. 

IT is legal to drive , if you have passed your test, when you are 18 but try renting a car when you are 18.

DanDare999

[Deleted User] said:

Grey_Critic said:

DanDare999 said:

Grey_Critic said:

The website tells you how to exchange an EU licence for a UK licence. As we are no longer in the EU then there is a time limit if I recall for driving on licence issued in another country of the EU The same applies to other countries usually 6 to 12 months. When my son went to work in the USA he had to take a driving test that was linked to his Visa.

The website also says it's valid until your 70th birthday if you passed in an EU country. 

You are also required to renew a UK Licence every 10 years - something many fail to do and I believe you can be prosecuted for driving without a current licence - No doubt someone will correct that bit if I am wrong.

Yes, you're wrong. Only the photocard expires every 10 years, your entitlement to drive does not. [Road Traffic Act 1988, s.99] So you can't be prosecuted for driving without a licence.

You could be charged with having an expired photocard, but that's much less serious and I've never heard of it happening.

You can be prosecuted for driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence, if you've never held a licence or don't renew after disqualification it's the same offence. The only difference being if your photo expires you don't get points. 

DanDare999

Grey_Critic said:

[Deleted User] said:

Grey_Critic said:

DanDare999 said:

Grey_Critic said:

The website tells you how to exchange an EU licence for a UK licence. As we are no longer in the EU then there is a time limit if I recall for driving on licence issued in another country of the EU The same applies to other countries usually 6 to 12 months. When my son went to work in the USA he had to take a driving test that was linked to his Visa.

The website also says it's valid until your 70th birthday if you passed in an EU country. 

You are also required to renew a UK Licence every 10 years - something many fail to do and I believe you can be prosecuted for driving without a current licence - No doubt someone will correct that bit if I am wrong.

Yes, you're wrong. Only the photocard expires every 10 years, your entitlement to drive does not. [Road Traffic Act 1988, s.99] So you can't be prosecuted for driving without a licence.

You could be charged with having an expired photocard, but that's much less serious and I've never heard of it happening.

Knew someone would correct me but doing a little checking came across this

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/driving-in-the-eu-uk-licence-holders-living-in-the-eu#uk-and-european-driving-licences

Which details the requirements for various countries and requirements to exchange licences which I believe also applies to the UK.

I suspect that the Hire Company is working with something similar to what is listed there bearing in my mind they are International. I do not think the OP is being discriminated against - the company has rules that apply across the board.

When youngest visited the UK back in 2017 the hire company rules stated that anyone from the USA hiring could only have an automatic. The fact he had a UK licence made no differance.

UK law applies in the UK so you're barking up the wrong tree. Nothing has changed post brexit. EU entitlement remains until you're 70, if the photo expires pop back and renew, return and continue to drive. 

jake_jones99

However, all rules about changing your licence after X months in UK seem to just travel verbally, or through unofficial websites. The website that was shared has rules for people with UK licences living abroad, so it says nothing about my issue. My point is how can I know the regulation if I can't find an official source citing it, or the official source I find is not "complete"? Clearly I will change it from now on to avoid such situations, but for tomorrow I can't do anything but watch the bad consequences of accepting what's on the government website as a given.

Car_54

DanDare999 said:

Grey_Critic said:

[Deleted User] said:

Grey_Critic said:

DanDare999 said:

Grey_Critic said:

The website tells you how to exchange an EU licence for a UK licence. As we are no longer in the EU then there is a time limit if I recall for driving on licence issued in another country of the EU The same applies to other countries usually 6 to 12 months. When my son went to work in the USA he had to take a driving test that was linked to his Visa.

The website also says it's valid until your 70th birthday if you passed in an EU country. 

You are also required to renew a UK Licence every 10 years - something many fail to do and I believe you can be prosecuted for driving without a current licence - No doubt someone will correct that bit if I am wrong.

Yes, you're wrong. Only the photocard expires every 10 years, your entitlement to drive does not. [Road Traffic Act 1988, s.99] So you can't be prosecuted for driving without a licence.

You could be charged with having an expired photocard, but that's much less serious and I've never heard of it happening.

Knew someone would correct me but doing a little checking came across this

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/driving-in-the-eu-uk-licence-holders-living-in-the-eu#uk-and-european-driving-licences

Which details the requirements for various countries and requirements to exchange licences which I believe also applies to the UK.

I suspect that the Hire Company is working with something similar to what is listed there bearing in my mind they are International. I do not think the OP is being discriminated against - the company has rules that apply across the board.

When youngest visited the UK back in 2017 the hire company rules stated that anyone from the USA hiring could only have an automatic. The fact he had a UK licence made no differance.

UK law applies in the UK so you're barking up the wrong tree. Nothing has changed post brexit. EU entitlement remains until you're 70, if the photo expires pop back and renew, return and continue to drive. 

Exactly. 
See https://www.gov.uk/driving-nongb-licence/y/a-resident-of-great-britain/full-car-and-motorcycle/european-union-or-european-economic-area

TooManyPoints

You can be prosecuted for driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence,...it's the same offence

No it isn't.

If your photocard has expired you still have a licence. Your entitlement to drive (and any conditions you must comply with to drive) do not alter. Failing to renew your photocard at ten years is a separate offence and it does not invalidate your licence. The offence is contrary to RTA s99(5).

On the back of your DL you will find the actual expiry date (usually one's 70th birthday). Confusingly, the licence also contains a "licence valid until" date (which is the date the photocard expires). The two things are different and carry different penalties. The other big difference is that police officers are empowered to seize a vehicle being driven by someone with an expired licence. They are not empowered to do so when it is being driven by someone with an expired photocard. Explained properly here:

Legislation: Expired photos do not invalidate driving licences, Fleet News Blog | Opinion

DanDare999

TooManyPoints said:

You can be prosecuted for driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence,...it's the same offence

No it isn't.

If your photocard has expired you still have a licence. Your entitlement to drive (and any conditions you must comply with to drive) do not alter. Failing to renew your photocard at ten years is a separate offence and it does not invalidate your licence. The offence is contrary to RTA s99(5).

On the back of your DL you will find the actual expiry date (usually one's 70th birthday). Confusingly, the licence also contains a "licence valid until" date (which is the date the photocard expires). The two things are different and carry different penalties. The other big difference is that police officers are empowered to seize a vehicle being driven by someone with an expired licence. They are not empowered to do so when it is being driven by someone with an expired photocard. Explained properly here:

Legislation: Expired photos do not invalidate driving licences, Fleet News Blog | Opinion

Yeah, driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence. 

Car_54

DanDare999 said:

TooManyPoints said:

You can be prosecuted for driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence,...it's the same offence

No it isn't.

If your photocard has expired you still have a licence. Your entitlement to drive (and any conditions you must comply with to drive) do not alter. Failing to renew your photocard at ten years is a separate offence and it does not invalidate your licence. The offence is contrary to RTA s99(5).

On the back of your DL you will find the actual expiry date (usually one's 70th birthday). Confusingly, the licence also contains a "licence valid until" date (which is the date the photocard expires). The two things are different and carry different penalties. The other big difference is that police officers are empowered to seize a vehicle being driven by someone with an expired licence. They are not empowered to do so when it is being driven by someone with an expired photocard. Explained properly here:

Legislation: Expired photos do not invalidate driving licences, Fleet News Blog | Opinion

Yeah, driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence. 

Quite the reverse.

As explained in that link, "The actual offence committed is failing to notify DVLA of up-to-date information, contrary to s.99.5 of the Road Traffic Act. Not, as has been suggested, ‘driving otherwise than in accordance with a driving licence’."