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renew the UK driving licence

renew the UK driving licence

Old Oct 25th 2017, 11:29 am
  #31  
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Default Re: renew the UK driving licence

Originally Posted by kimjhuk
I just want to renew the licence in order to keep it validate so I can use it when I return back home. I do not want to go through the all the test if it's expired. I do not intend to rent a car using the uk licence.
Well live a little dangerously, just give your parents address on the forms (or a mates house), they never check!!!
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Old Oct 25th 2017, 2:05 pm
  #32  
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Default Re: renew the UK driving licence

Originally Posted by Dubaiexile
Well live a little dangerously, just give your parents address on the forms (or a mates house), they never check!!!
Whats the point though? A foreign licence works just the same, in fact is actually easier as they don't need to confirm your address via the electoral roll and you may (unconfirmed) manage to swerve some speeding fines.

So for me I don't know why you would want to risk potentially getting stung for the replacement of a car and liable for legal bills if you end up being the one they do decide to use for the landmark case.
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Old Oct 26th 2017, 4:31 am
  #33  
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Default Re: renew the UK driving licence

Originally Posted by jam25mack
Whats the point though? A foreign licence works just the same, in fact is actually easier as they don't need to confirm your address via the electoral roll and you may (unconfirmed) manage to swerve some speeding fines.

So for me I don't know why you would want to risk potentially getting stung for the replacement of a car and liable for legal bills if you end up being the one they do decide to use for the landmark case.
my comment was a tongue in cheek one, an you are right there is no point whatsoever, for the reasons stated!
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Old Oct 26th 2017, 5:04 am
  #34  
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Default Re: renew the UK driving licence

Originally Posted by Dubaiexile
my comment was a tongue in cheek one, an you are right there is no point whatsoever, for the reasons stated!
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Old Oct 26th 2017, 8:26 am
  #35  
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Default Re: renew the UK driving licence

Originally Posted by Dubaiexile
my comment was a tongue in cheek one, an you are right there is no point whatsoever, for the reasons stated!
it's actually handy for providing proof of address in the UK if you didn't keep accounts open and such like. Most banks require a proof of identity and proof of address.

but other than that, yes it's pretty pointless.
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Old Jan 24th 2018, 2:32 pm
  #36  
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Default Re: renew the UK driving licence

so... Avis took three months to reply, but they did reply about what license non-resident Brits need when renting from them in the UK:

If you have been living outside the UK for longer than a year, you will need to use the license from Saudi with an international driving permit.

The reason for this is because by law, when you live outside the country for over 12 months you have to change your license or the branch will not release the car.
I've asked for clarification as to which law they are talking about. I've never heard of it.

Expect a reply in April...
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Old Jan 29th 2018, 11:26 am
  #37  
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Default Re: renew the UK driving licence

As I mentioned above, and to give further detail, if you are non-resident DO NOT renew your UK driving license as you have to tick a box stating that you are UK resident. This feeds through into the HMRC "Connect" computer system and there is a significant chance it will be spotted and viewed as a (very expensive) proof of having resumed UK tax residency. I am aware of a high profile tax case where something similar has actually happened (although there were other factors) so it is not just a theoretical possibility.

This is not to mention the risk of criminal proceedings being commenced for making a false declaration on your driving license application form if you say you are living in the UK, but are not. The risk of this is very, very low, but the consequences could be highly catastrophic.

Note that the 10 year license validity period relates only to the photocard (and not the license itself). In principle, an expired photocard remains valid in respect of the underlying driving license until the date shown on the back of the card for the relevant specific category. Therefore, you can in theory continue driving with the license, even after expiry of the photocard, but you will generally be unable to rent cars (unless you use a specialist car hire firm that can properly understand this point, normally at extra expense). You could also face problems with law enforcement in other countries if called upon to explain this technical point. You could also face a fine if found driving in the UK for not renewing the photo card, and there are examples where the UK police don't understand the rule properly and arrest and/or tow cars in this situation for driving on an expired license (in which case, you might have a claim against the police for acting outside their powers, but that would be of cold comfort). To add to your woes, the DVLA website has a checking facility that will inaccurately say an expired photo card license has "expired" (without clarifying that only the photocard has expired, and the underlying license itself remains valid).

One further point of interest, I believe that anyone who lives outside the UK and who is therefore unable to renew their license is technically committing a criminal offence with a fine of up to £1,000 (even if you don't drive or use the license) after the photocard has expired. There is no exemption in the legislation for having left the UK of which I am aware, so the only 100% safe solution would be to cancel your license completely. Note however, that the DVLA (in their generosity) don't generally at present look to impose fines for this specific issue, so in practice cancellation is not required (although it could be in future).

You can, however, continue to drive using your UK license even after leaving the UK while the photocard remains valid (subject to local laws permitting this) and this is not a breach of UK law.

Caveat emptor!

Last edited by FriendlyExpat; Jan 29th 2018 at 11:46 am.
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Old Jan 29th 2018, 12:24 pm
  #38  
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Default Re: renew the UK driving licence

Originally Posted by FriendlyExpat
One further point of interest, I believe that anyone who lives outside the UK and who is therefore unable to renew their license is technically committing a criminal offence with a fine of up to £1,000 (even if you don't drive or use the license) after the photocard has expired. There is no exemption in the legislation for having left the UK of which I am aware, so the only 100% safe solution would be to cancel your license completely. Note however, that the DVLA (in their generosity) don't generally at present look to impose fines for this specific issue, so in practice cancellation is not required (although it could be in future).
They'd never be able to enforce this law if you could prove you were a resident elsewhere and so would be committing an offence by renewing it. Any judge in the land would chuck that out in seconds.
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Old Jan 30th 2018, 7:52 am
  #39  
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Default Re: renew the UK driving licence

I never got a photocard when they were introduced and continue to drive on the paper license I was issued and which is valid until my 70th birthday and still has the same, valid, UK address on it.

This has never ever prevented me from renting in the UK the many times I've done it in the last 20 years even when paying via a Saudi credit card with Hertz and Avis. They don't even bat an eyelid; no one's ever questioned it.

... although, from FE's post above, I'm sure the license police will be at my door and I'll be in the dock one day...
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Old Jan 30th 2018, 12:35 pm
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Default Re: renew the UK driving licence

Originally Posted by sicklyman
I never got a photocard when they were introduced and continue to drive on the paper license I was issued and which is valid until my 70th birthday and still has the same, valid, UK address on it.

This has never ever prevented me from renting in the UK the many times I've done it in the last 20 years even when paying via a Saudi credit card with Hertz and Avis. They don't even bat an eyelid; no one's ever questioned it.

... although, from FE's post above, I'm sure the license police will be at my door and I'll be in the dock one day...
You can continue to use your GB driving licence overseas with your last UK address so long as the licence remains valid. Since yours is a paper licence it won't expire until you turn 70 as you point out. A photocard on the other hand will expire every ten years and you cannot renew it legally as a non-UK resident.

FriendlyExpat is incorrect by saying that you are committing an offence if you don't renew your licence as a non-UK resident. There's no need to renew it even if you are a UK resident if you don't drive.

Last edited by BritInParis; Jan 30th 2018 at 12:38 pm.
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Old Jan 30th 2018, 12:55 pm
  #41  
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Default Re: renew the UK driving licence

Originally Posted by FriendlyExpat
As I mentioned above, and to give further detail, if you are non-resident DO NOT renew your UK driving license as you have to tick a box stating that you are UK resident. This feeds through into the HMRC "Connect" computer system and there is a significant chance it will be spotted and viewed as a (very expensive) proof of having resumed UK tax residency. I am aware of a high profile tax case where something similar has actually happened (although there were other factors) so it is not just a theoretical possibility.

This is not to mention the risk of criminal proceedings being commenced for making a false declaration on your driving license application form if you say you are living in the UK, but are not. The risk of this is very, very low, but the consequences could be highly catastrophic.

Note that the 10 year license validity period relates only to the photocard (and not the license itself). In principle, an expired photocard remains valid in respect of the underlying driving license until the date shown on the back of the card for the relevant specific category. Therefore, you can in theory continue driving with the license, even after expiry of the photocard, but you will generally be unable to rent cars (unless you use a specialist car hire firm that can properly understand this point, normally at extra expense). You could also face problems with law enforcement in other countries if called upon to explain this technical point. You could also face a fine if found driving in the UK for not renewing the photo card, and there are examples where the UK police don't understand the rule properly and arrest and/or tow cars in this situation for driving on an expired license (in which case, you might have a claim against the police for acting outside their powers, but that would be of cold comfort). To add to your woes, the DVLA website has a checking facility that will inaccurately say an expired photo card license has "expired" (without clarifying that only the photocard has expired, and the underlying license itself remains valid).

One further point of interest, I believe that anyone who lives outside the UK and who is therefore unable to renew their license is technically committing a criminal offence with a fine of up to £1,000 (even if you don't drive or use the license) after the photocard has expired. There is no exemption in the legislation for having left the UK of which I am aware, so the only 100% safe solution would be to cancel your license completely. Note however, that the DVLA (in their generosity) don't generally at present look to impose fines for this specific issue, so in practice cancellation is not required (although it could be in future).

You can, however, continue to drive using your UK license even after leaving the UK while the photocard remains valid (subject to local laws permitting this) and this is not a breach of UK law.

Caveat emptor!
You are quoting lots of legislation .... are you a lawyer or a googler ?

In relation to your point about the HMRC and the DVLA link ..... the purpose of this sharing of data is to identify assets ie. expensive cars purchased for cash, or multiple cars owned by the same individual, in a similar fashion to Land Registry data. As far as I know it’s not to seek out overseas residents renewing a driving licence from a UK address ! that’s not from google it’s from professional experience.
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Old Jan 30th 2018, 1:02 pm
  #42  
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Default Re: renew the UK driving licence

Originally Posted by FriendlyExpat
As I mentioned above, and to give further detail, if you are non-resident DO NOT renew your UK driving license as you have to tick a box stating that you are UK resident. This feeds through into the HMRC "Connect" computer system and there is a significant chance it will be spotted and viewed as a (very expensive) proof of having resumed UK tax residency. I am aware of a high profile tax case where something similar has actually happened (although there were other factors) so it is not just a theoretical possibility.
I just clicked through the entire renewal process on the DVLA/UK.gov web site, which includes pulling the new photograph from my file at the Passport Office.

Nowhere did it say anything about being a UK resident, the only "declarations" I was forced to make were ones about not being disqualified.
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Old Jan 30th 2018, 1:05 pm
  #43  
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Default Re: renew the UK driving licence

By the way, does anybody how much 'grace' the DVLA give for renewing early?

Do they add on extra time, like the passport office do, so you get the full 10 years' after your renewal date?
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Old Jan 30th 2018, 1:13 pm
  #44  
 
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Default Re: renew the UK driving licence

Originally Posted by m00rse
I just clicked through the entire renewal process on the DVLA/UK.gov web site, which includes pulling the new photograph from my file at the Passport Office.

Nowhere did it say anything about being a UK resident, the only "declarations" I was forced to make were ones about not being disqualified.
It's on the front page. You can't put a foreign address on a UK driving licence so you'll need to be a UK resident unless you wish to make a false declaration.

Originally Posted by https://www.gov.uk/renew-driving-licence
To renew online, you need:

- a valid UK passport
- to be a resident of Great Britain - there’s a different service in Northern Ireland
- to pay £14 by MasterCard, Visa, Electron, Maestro or Delta debit or credit card (there’s no fee if you’re over 70 or have a medical short period licence) addresses of where you’ve lived over the last 3 years
- your current driving licence (if you don’t have your licence you must say why in your application)
- your National Insurance number (if you know it)
- to not be disqualified from driving
Originally Posted by m00rse
By the way, does anybody how much 'grace' the DVLA give for renewing early?

Do they add on extra time, like the passport office do, so you get the full 10 years' after your renewal date?
You get 10 years from whichever day your new licence is issued. You don't get any extra time added if you renew early.
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Old Jan 30th 2018, 1:37 pm
  #45  
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Default Re: renew the UK driving licence

Originally Posted by BritInParis
It's on the front page. You can't put a foreign address on a UK driving licence so you'll need to be a UK resident unless you wish to make a false declaration.
I've just looked again, and I'm sorry but I just can't see any declaration that I'm UK resident on the online form. Perhaps you're talking about the paper form, and the online form doesn't have it?

Under the "more information" tab on the UK.gov web site, it says to use the DVLA online service you need to be a GB resident viz. an NI resident, because the DVLNI operates a separate service.

But that doesn't form part of the form, nor does it appear in any declaration, nor is there any specific declaration that I'm a UK resident (whatever than means, by the way - residency status can differ depending on whether we're talking about income tax, NI, usage of the NHS, etc).

There's the implicit declaration that the information I provide is correct, including the address - which it is - because I'm not using an old address, but I happen to have more than one place that I live at.

So I'm not sure where this business about residency is coming from?
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