Need to obtain my UK liscense

sliver

Just picking up on the info in this thread; does anyone knwo hat happens to your old foreign licence whne you exchange for a UK one? I know the site says that it gets sent back to the issuer, but what if I want to keep my foreign licence AND have a UK one? Can I simply sit a UK test and end up with both?

Keeping an Australian licence will be handy for me when returning to Aus (even as a handy proof of ID) and has the potential to save ££ (or even $$) on not having to convert the licence back again in a few years (we intend travelling back to Aus for a year and UK licence is only valid for 6 months in Aus)

Any thoughts on the dual licence fronty would be very welcome

PS I kinda hijacked the thread, but its on topic and builds on the previous posts so I wonlt feel toooooo guilty

eamon

You can have as many different national driving licences as your hearts desire. What you cannot do is use this method to avoid any endorsements that you may incur.

yours

Eamon

view

I can speak from experience, I am an Aussie who has lived here for 6.5 years. To gain a UK licence, I simply filled in the form from the Post office, took a blank cheque (no, unsigned of course!!) to the DVLA with my passport and my Australian drivers's licence. Waited in line, gave my details over; staff viewed my details, sent them off and voila, UK licence in less than 3 weeks.

Sliver: no, you can't keep your other licence if you intend on staying in that country for 6 months or more (and driving). They will not let you keep it. When you get back to Oz, it depends on which state you're from, how long you've been driving and how long you've been in the UK as to whether they'll reinstate your licence or ask you to re-sit.

CaptainBlackadder

Slightly different, hope someone could advise. I swapped my UK Lic for a Jersey one on moving over. Stupidly lost it, got banned. Job here looking a bit shaky, recession etc. Prob move back to the UK. DVLA say they will re-issue my UK Licence, they are a different jurisdiction etc etc. Just require a note from DVS Jersey detailing cats held. Was told no prob by DVS also. Then they changed their minds! Stated all EEC members have reciprocal agreement. Jersey not part of EEC! Got a few snotty e-mails telling me to go away. DVLA still say they will re-issue. Asked if details of my UK Lic was enough to re-issue, got e-mail saying fill in D1 form. No worries. Question is, will DVLA contact DVS in Jersey? What info do separate authorities swap / share. Dont want to cook my goose, but need to drive in UK for contracting. Any thoughts?!?!?

HO87

Hi CB
AFAIK there is no reciprocal arrangement between the DVS and DVLA for the exchange of driving convictions as there is between the DVLA and the DVA in N. Ireland and the DoT on the Isle of Man. However, I believe (perhaps wrongly), that in order to be able to exchange your Jersey D/Lic for a UK one (albeit that it is a reverse swap, so to speak) that you had to surrender a current Jersey licence that the DVLA then send back to the DVS.

Treadway1

sliver wrote: »

Just picking up on the info in this thread; does anyone knwo hat happens to your old foreign licence whne you exchange for a UK one? I know the site says that it gets sent back to the issuer, but what if I want to keep my foreign licence AND have a UK one? Can I simply sit a UK test and end up with both?

Keeping an Australian licence will be handy for me when returning to Aus (even as a handy proof of ID) and has the potential to save ££ (or even $$) on not having to convert the licence back again in a few years (we intend travelling back to Aus for a year and UK licence is only valid for 6 months in Aus)

Any thoughts on the dual licence fronty would be very welcome

PS I kinda hijacked the thread, but its on topic and builds on the previous posts so I wonlt feel toooooo guilty

If you dont wish to give up your own licence then yes you may just apply for a UK provisional, take a test and obtain a seperate UK licence. However, it should be noted that if you are currently driving over here on your Aussie licence, that as soon as you receive your UK prov. that are no longer allowed to drive under the entitlements of your Aussie one. No matter where you come from, if you apply for a UK licence, this will supercede any other licence/permit you were previously using to drive in his country. So you would then have to drive with L plates/Suitably qualified driver etc..

Just as a bit of extra info... if you were to apply for a UK licence but continue to drive without L plates/qualified driver, you would be committing the offence of Driving Not in Accordance with a Licence, which could see you losing it.

I hope that makes sense.