Hotscot

US to UK after 20 years.

1. My UK drivers license is valid until I'm 70. According to the information on the back.

2. I cannot renew my UK license photocard when abroad, even if the photocard is expired.

So when I return to the UK, before I'm 70, at what point do I renew my photocard. After residency is established I think. (6 months?)

But what happens within 6 months if you get stopped by police? Just use my US license?

I was worried I'd need to retake the test at an elderly age but, unless disqualified, I don't think that's the case.

Pistolpete2

As soon as you get back and have an address you renew it online. It takes just a few days to arrive. There is no establishing necessary. I had an old paper license and it presented no problems.

You are allowed to drive in the UK for a year on a foreign license anyway.

See this:

https://www.gov.uk/driving-nongb-licence

Establishing residency only really refers to income tax, the NHS and claiming benefits. For income tax you will automatically be tax resident after six months but usually become tax resident much earlier. For the NHS you are normally eligible immediately for full coverage but after six months no matter what. For benefits you have to show that you are habitually resident and this could be after six months, at the maximum. Best not to get into any big debate on these items.

Sally Redux

You renew immediately. DVLC has a medical section which would get a report from your doctor if that is a concern as you get older.

Hotscot

So I don't need to take the test again...that's a relief..

Pistolpete2

This is the over 70 renewal section:

https://www.gov.uk/renew-driving-licence-at-70

busybee2

if you have a previous uk driving licence as soon as you become resident you can fill out the form detailing that you have been abroad temporarily and so need to update it... residents get fined 1k if they do not keep dvla upto date with any changes but as your photocard expired when you were out of the country you will be fine...

if you have a foreign licence you can actually use that for 12 months then you would need to do a uk test.

Hotscot

Even if temporarily is 20 years?

Sally Redux

You'll be fine, least of your worries.

Hotscot

Thanks Sally...

Tr1boy

How did you get a photo licence if you were overseas for 20yrs?

I moved to 0z in the 80s and only got my UK photo licence a couple years ago (been here 5yrs and luckily my parents never moved).

I find it strange that the law says if you've never had the photo part of the UK licence your paper licence is valid but if you have had a photo part and don't renew then you are breaking the law. It seems to be the wrong way around.

I think they are scrapping the paper part altogether this year and photo licence for everyone will be compulsory in 2017 or something?

themajor

This info will help re the regulations on paperless UK driving licence coming into force.

[url]http://www.theguardian.com/money/2015/

Sally Redux

I got a photo licence in 2001.

Tr1boy

Photo licences were introduced in the late 90s IIRC but my question is if the OP has been away for 20yrs then they must have applied for a UK photo licence after they had been away, just wondered how they did that?

Sally Redux

From memory he has been here less than 20 years but is projecting ahead to when he goes back (I think).

Tr1boy

Ah I see. That'll teach me to attempt reading before 1st coffee