scrubbedexpat141

Thanks Oracle.

busybee2

no problemo.... i dont know if they charge you when you return, but normally when you have a photocard i think they charge 20 quid so if you have a uae licence which i have used everywhere around the world there is absolutely no need to renew your photocard anyways even if its illegal, as it will just sit then and run out again! uk people who are resident have to change it when you change address (but thats free i believe) as its illegal not to have the correct permanent address on it.

gottheTshirt

My understanding is that you must inform the DVlA whenever you change your address and you cannot have an overseas address, hence you cannot have a UK licence if you are not UK resident.

busybee2

yep thats right.

Eeyore

Thing is, you haven't provided hard evidence yourself. As BB says, different people at the DVLA will tell you different things. The DVLA has told *me* over the phone that you absolutely cannot use your UK licence to drive in the UK while you are not a permanent UK resident. The fact that most UK car hire companies will accept UK licences proffered by expats is irrelevant.

Obviously you can choose to believe what you want to believe. About the best you can say is that it's a grey area, and that means that eventually there will be a legal test case - and that's not something I want to run the risk of being part of. Since there are absolutely no downsides to using my UAE licence in the UK, and you get the incidental benefit of the UK police not being able to put points on it, that's what I do.

You think? I've never had any issues hiring cars with it. I get a new international driving licence each year (it's only 150 AED) but I've never actually had to show it to support my UAE licence.

As for renewing your licence when you're not a UK resident, you can risk it if you like. Just don't be surprised if you get caught (and some people do). If memory serves, part of the application process involves agreeing to searches being done and you are warned about the penalties for making untrue statements, so it's not as if the risks aren't advertised upfront.

shiva

as i dont yet have the reminder in hand etc i haven't seen any of that yet. i shall have a look and see what the penalties are etc before i decide. at this stage is still a moot point as i have not yet run out and haven't seen the forms.

I only ask as I have had issues at glasgow airport with people insisting on seeing a uk license. wrong i know but after 10 odd hours of travelling with a toddler it was assault someone or just say **** it.

mentalist

So if you have an accident, the Third Party will presumably send the repair bill to your old address where the current resident will get a nasty surprise.

mikewot

Why would you get sent a bill, insurance takes care of all that.

mentalist

No, your Insurers wouldn't pay a Third Party claim if your UK licence was not valid. OK if you use your UAE licence though.

Meow

Until the DVLA is offering motor insurance it doesn't really matter that they say. If you want to be properly insured when driving in the UK - and you'd be crazy not to be - you need the insurance company, not the hire car company, to confirm that you are fully insured as a non-resident.

You can 'get away' with a lot - until you have an accident. Imagine you, or your family, are hit by a driver without proper insurance. You wouldn't like it that way round.

shiva

its difficult though as ive had insurance companies say everything from we dont know to no and yes to being insured as an expat on either a uk or uae license.

its a crap shoot as ive had the same company say each thing at least once in 10 years. they say on the phone yes youre covered, you pay the premium but who knows whether they'd cover it or not

hong_konger

So what happens when a foreigner comes to UK and hires a car using say their US driving license ? are they fully insured.

shiva

Knowing the UK I'd say that's not an issue and you'd be covered

It seems they only get thrown when they forget about the few million UK expats that go home from time to time.

Meow

No matter what they say over the phone, you have to get confirmation of their answer is writing as that's all that will stand up legally if there is ever a problem.

shiva

exactly, so a quick trip home one call and three days in the post and you may find out you have been driving uninsured despite paying for insurance!