UK Driving licence

[KTAN 0]

I am going home for a vacation so intend to change the name on my driver's licence - It says an address outside the UK cannot be added so will they just change my name or will they refuse to issue it as I now live in the US. I have a US licence too but when i go home it's nice to be able to drive without an international driver's permit

[duluxdog 0]

I dont think that DVLA will issue you with an amended licence as you are no longer a resident of the UK.

And you no longer have a physical UK address

From their website as follows =

Visitors

You may drive vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes and with up to 8 passenger seats, provided your full licence or driving permit remains valid for up to 12 months from the date of entering the United Kingdom. However, you may only drive large vehicles which have been registered outside GB and which you have driven into the country.

This applies to visitirs from the USA. Then theres the issue with vehicle insurance, i guess thats gonna be another kettle of fish, unless you intend to hire a vehicle , and therein is another hassle , i remember trying to hire cars and vans when i lived there. lol

So i think you may just have to go for the international driving permit. Further to this heres an aticle from drivers.com on driving abroad,=

Why is the IDP so valuable? Well, local traffic police (whether it be Dnipropetrovsk or Ulan Bator) may not be able to understand the language on your normal driving license while chances are they may be familiar with at least one of the languages on the IDP. For driving in Europe, travel officials say the IDP is more necessary in some countries than others, but is advised for most. And in more than 40 countries worldwide you cannot rent a car at all unless you have an IDP.

Countries where English is the spoken language, such as the United Kingdom, Ireland, North America, Australia, and New Zealand, do not require an IDP. However, insurance companies in many other jurisdictions often require IDPs to cover drivers of vehicles driven there

I hope this helps .

[ladybird216 2]

I did read somewhere that you should surrender your UK license once you are a resident of the US!!!

[Boiler 43,631]

I did read somewhere that you should surrender your UK license once you are a resident of the US!!!

Nope

Use a friend or family member for the address.

You do not need an IDP, both countries us the same language, sort of.

[Jo1973 0]

All I did was amend my address on my DL, it is currently back at my mum's addy. If ever we go back and live in the UK then I will amend the name, but until that time it will always stay in my maiden name, plus in about a year and a half I can get my points wiped off lol.

[eab 0]

I did read somewhere that you should surrender your UK license once you are a resident of the US!!!

I know in NY your supposed to hand over your UK licence to NY DMV when you get your US one

I am going home for a vacation so intend to change the name on my driver's licence - It says an address outside the UK cannot be added so will they just change my name or will they refuse to issue it as I now live in the US. I have a US licence too but when i go home it's nice to be able to drive without an international driver's permit

If your renting a car at the airport I would just use the US licence, don't think you need IDP to do that, another plus is if you happen to get caught by one of the speed cameras your UK licence will not get penalty points added

Edited March 19, 2006 by eab

[Jo1973 0]

If your renting a car at the airport I would just use the US licence, don't think you need IDP to do that, another plus is if you happen to get caught by one of the speed cameras your UK licence will not get penalty points added

Just to clarify, you have to have held the US Licence for at least a year before you can rent a vehicle. I tried in November to use my USL but as I hadn't had it long it was not accepted and if it was it was for an extortionate amount. (Didn't bother renting a car in the end as my UKL with Points would of cost a fortune too lol. Lucky me I was chauffeured around for 2 weeks)

[Boiler 43,631]

I have heard of some States requesting your UK license, but that does not invalidate it.

The simplest option is not to offer/mention it.

You can get a duplicate anyway, I brought the form with me just in case but never needed it.

Driving with your UK license out of State and in the UK with a US license has obvious advantages.

[Gemma12nel 1]

I returned to the Uk a week ago, was forced to use my USA drivers licence, its illegal to drive on your british one if you are not resident in the UK. Voids your insurance so I was told.

also if you got pulled by the police and they ran a check you would be in the s***

[Boiler 43,631]

I returned to the Uk a week ago, was forced to use my USA drivers licence, its illegal to drive on your british one if you are not resident in the UK. Voids your insurance so I was told.

also if you got pulled by the police and they ran a check you would be in the s***

You obviously are residing somewhere in the UK if you are driving there.

Who told you that it would void your Insurance.

And why would the Police have an issue, what have you to hide that your UK DL would bring up?

Edited March 29, 2006 by Boiler

[Euro 3]

I dont see why you cant hold on to your UK License i have...just change the address to one you can trust , to be sure you get it back safely..............hey those things are hard enough to get why would anyone surrender it!!!

[Gemma12nel 1]

Just quoting what the car hire company told me!

Also on the drivers licence it says if you move address in the UK please advise them, as Im not residing in the UK, I can't change anything.

[ktun 0]

I fully intend to keep my UK driver's licence, it took me years to get as I kept running out of money for lessons, I'm not going to give it up. It has my parents address on, I dont see any problem with this as when I am in the UK I reside with them and although I dont have my own car and insurance policy there anymore, I'm still a named driver on their car insurance.

[louandmikek3 0]

I haven't got a US driving licence yet, so I use my UK drivers licence for ID (Im 27 but they keep on asking)... Its still in my maiden name. To rent a car in the UK I would just use my american licence (once I get it), but there is no way I will be handing over my UK licence to anyone... I am in NY state so I will make out that I'm a new driver once I pass my test.

Ps. Anyone with experience of getting a licence in NY? How was the test?

Louise

[arwensun1965 0]

I have a UKL too and there is no bloody way im giving that thing up.

Janice