Problem..Exchanging UK license
#16
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 14,040
Re: Problem..Exchanging UK license
Pink? Mine's green......
We're off to SA as well next month. I'm already a bit concerned about this comment from the SA website - "Once you are issued with a South Australian learner's permit or driver's licence, your overseas licence is invalid and you may be required to surrender it".
There's no way I am either giving up my UK license (of course it does not become invalid in the UK), nor am I applying for a photocard licence which has ten year validity instead of to age 70. Might have to get a letter as Swervo suggested.
We're off to SA as well next month. I'm already a bit concerned about this comment from the SA website - "Once you are issued with a South Australian learner's permit or driver's licence, your overseas licence is invalid and you may be required to surrender it".
There's no way I am either giving up my UK license (of course it does not become invalid in the UK), nor am I applying for a photocard licence which has ten year validity instead of to age 70. Might have to get a letter as Swervo suggested.
#17
Re: Problem..Exchanging UK license
They certainly do! Always useful to have the second licence for that alone.
S
#18
Re: Problem..Exchanging UK license
Whoa, so with a UK license you can just convert it with no test and continue driving with a newly-issued Aussie one (makes sense), but if the Aussie one expires then after X years you cannot renew it without a test... even though you still have a UK licence that would allow for an instant conversion... if you never switched to an Aussie one previously?
Wow...
Wow...
It is only if your Australian licence has expired over 5 years, and you have no other current licence from the recognised country list. ie: you have not been driving for some years, that they will need a test again.
#19
Home and Happy
Joined: Dec 2002
Location: Keep true friends and puppets close, trust no-one else...
Posts: 93,813
Re: Problem..Exchanging UK license
If you have just returned to to OZ, and your OZ licence has expired, then you can swap your current UK one back to an Australian again.
It is only if your Australian licence has expired over 5 years, and you have no other current licence from the recognised country list. ie: you have not been driving for some years, that they will need a test again.
It is only if your Australian licence has expired over 5 years, and you have no other current licence from the recognised country list. ie: you have not been driving for some years, that they will need a test again.
#20
Last resort... format c:/
Joined: Mar 2012
Location: Singapore to Surfers Paradise to... Tenerife... to Gran Canaria!
Posts: 1,626
Re: Problem..Exchanging UK license
Haven't plastic licenses in the UK been around for a very long time?
#21
Re: Problem..Exchanging UK license
They have - I was in the original trial group for them - but there is no obligation for you to change to one.
The A3 paper licence remains perfectly valid as a driving licence.
S
The A3 paper licence remains perfectly valid as a driving licence.
S
#22
Re: Problem..Exchanging UK license
The Australian Motor Registries may be confused as to what is a valid UK licence.
For example; a UK Newspaper Article in 2013 stated: "The ten-year photocard licences will become mandatory in 2015 when the paper licences are officially phased out. A quarter of drivers are still using the old-style paper licences."
A more recent article states: "The paper element of the driving licence, which accompanies the credit card size photo-card, is also due to be axed on 8th June 2015."
For example; a UK Newspaper Article in 2013 stated: "The ten-year photocard licences will become mandatory in 2015 when the paper licences are officially phased out. A quarter of drivers are still using the old-style paper licences."
A more recent article states: "The paper element of the driving licence, which accompanies the credit card size photo-card, is also due to be axed on 8th June 2015."
#23
Last resort... format c:/
Joined: Mar 2012
Location: Singapore to Surfers Paradise to... Tenerife... to Gran Canaria!
Posts: 1,626
Re: Problem..Exchanging UK license
Similarly, in a day and age where identity theft and people smuggling are rife, a proper ID card system would be useful.
Anyway, my license has already been converted to a NSW one, now I need to wait until I have been in QLD for 3 months to switch to a local one here...
Makes me wonder what residents of Coolangatta do if they move house every so often and happen to hop across the state line each time...
#24
Last resort... format c:/
Joined: Mar 2012
Location: Singapore to Surfers Paradise to... Tenerife... to Gran Canaria!
Posts: 1,626
Re: Problem..Exchanging UK license
Anyone know how long it roughly takes to receive it? Also, do all QLD centres work this way or do some produce licences on the spot?
#25
Re: Problem..Exchanging UK license
It's gone that way in NSW now - The Service NSW centres don't have the capability to generate the new licence card on the spot, so they give you a piece of paper and then send the card through the post.
Some of the old registries can still generate an on the spot card - Marrickville being one - though I believe these are being phased out over time.
S
#26
Last resort... format c:/
Joined: Mar 2012
Location: Singapore to Surfers Paradise to... Tenerife... to Gran Canaria!
Posts: 1,626
Re: Problem..Exchanging UK license
How long does it usually take to get the licence by post? A week, two perhaps?
#28
Last resort... format c:/
Joined: Mar 2012
Location: Singapore to Surfers Paradise to... Tenerife... to Gran Canaria!
Posts: 1,626
Re: Problem..Exchanging UK license
It's been about a week already so hopefully the wait won't be too much longer...
#29
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jul 2008
Location: My happy place
Posts: 3,043
Re: Problem..Exchanging UK license
The Australian Motor Registries may be confused as to what is a valid UK licence.
For example; a UK Newspaper Article in 2013 stated: "The ten-year photocard licences will become mandatory in 2015 when the paper licences are officially phased out. A quarter of drivers are still using the old-style paper licences."
A more recent article states: "The paper element of the driving licence, which accompanies the credit card size photo-card, is also due to be axed on 8th June 2015."
For example; a UK Newspaper Article in 2013 stated: "The ten-year photocard licences will become mandatory in 2015 when the paper licences are officially phased out. A quarter of drivers are still using the old-style paper licences."
A more recent article states: "The paper element of the driving licence, which accompanies the credit card size photo-card, is also due to be axed on 8th June 2015."
Maybe
#30
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Joined: Jul 2008
Location: My happy place
Posts: 3,043
Re: Problem..Exchanging UK license
If you have just returned to to OZ, and your OZ licence has expired, then you can swap your current UK one back to an Australian again.
It is only if your Australian licence has expired over 5 years, and you have no other current licence from the recognised country list. ie: you have not been driving for some years, that they will need a test again.
It is only if your Australian licence has expired over 5 years, and you have no other current licence from the recognised country list. ie: you have not been driving for some years, that they will need a test again.
My own NSW licence expired end of 2013 and I am renewing soon ( I think you have two years to do this fron O/S). There was no such thing as licence exchanges when I moved to Oz so I've always had completely separate ones ( my UK one is photo now).
So sounds like we will both be ok?