Exchange UK drivers license - original sent back to DLVA?
Oct 24th 2012 | 4:21 am
#16
.
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 868
From: Cochrane, Alberta
Re: Exchange UK drivers license - original sent back to DLVA?
Some years back (2004) I swapped my EU style UK licence for an EU Portuguese licence. They look the same but Portugal, like the rest of the EU, does not have a paper counterpart. As far as I am aware it's only the UK that insist on this archaic practice.
We were advised by the Portuguese authorities that they send the UK ones (paper counterpart and all) back to DVLA. Our UK licences were registered to my mothers address. Out of the blue, last year, I received a request from DVLA the same as TheThornes (above). 10 year photo renewal.
BC do not recognise the Portuguese EU licence for exchange but they do the UK EU licence.
So I was buggered for a while, until I realised that by simply declaring on the DVLA renewal form that my UK licence was destroyed (I had no idea where it was anyway and clearly DVLA do not have it) and sending in a new photo I could obtain a brand new UK licence. Pretty handy, as I have HGV 1, Car, Motorcycle and Tracks entitlement. That should at least allow me to obtain Car and Motorcycle entitlement in BC when we arrive. Result 
We were advised by the Portuguese authorities that they send the UK ones (paper counterpart and all) back to DVLA. Our UK licences were registered to my mothers address. Out of the blue, last year, I received a request from DVLA the same as TheThornes (above). 10 year photo renewal.
BC do not recognise the Portuguese EU licence for exchange but they do the UK EU licence.
So I was buggered for a while, until I realised that by simply declaring on the DVLA renewal form that my UK licence was destroyed (I had no idea where it was anyway and clearly DVLA do not have it) and sending in a new photo I could obtain a brand new UK licence. Pretty handy, as I have HGV 1, Car, Motorcycle and Tracks entitlement. That should at least allow me to obtain Car and Motorcycle entitlement in BC when we arrive. Result 
Oct 24th 2012 | 4:45 am
#17
All Sooked up!
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,895
From: Sooke, BC.
Re: Exchange UK drivers license - original sent back to DLVA?
The below information applies to BC for people with licences issued by:
For BC
More at: Getting a B.C. driver's licence when moving from certain countries
Need more information?
Visit any driver licensing office in B.C., or call:
Greater Victoria: 250-978-8300
Elsewhere in B.C. Canada and the U.S.: 1-800-950-1498
Other countries: 250-978-8300 (We accept collect calls.)
Austria
Australia
France
Germany
Guernsey, Jersey, Isle of Man
Japan
Netherlands *
New Zealand
South Korea
Switzerland
United Kingdom**
* Does not include former territories in Antilles: Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, St. Eustatius, and St. Maarten.
** Includes England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Australia
France
Germany
Guernsey, Jersey, Isle of Man
Japan
Netherlands *
New Zealand
South Korea
Switzerland
United Kingdom**
* Does not include former territories in Antilles: Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, St. Eustatius, and St. Maarten.
** Includes England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
As of January 7, 2013, please note than when you qualify for your new B.C. licence, you’ll need to surrender your previous licence to ICBC.
B.C. law requires that you only have one driver's licence.
To apply for a B.C. licence to drive a passenger vehicle or motorcycle, go in person to any driver licensing office in B.C.
When you come in, be sure to bring:
Required ID
Your current driver's licence
$31 for a licence fee. (In some cases, additional fees may apply.)
If you meet our licensing requirements, you can usually get a B.C. driver's licence right away.
B.C. law requires that you only have one driver's licence.
To apply for a B.C. licence to drive a passenger vehicle or motorcycle, go in person to any driver licensing office in B.C.
When you come in, be sure to bring:
Required ID
Your current driver's licence
$31 for a licence fee. (In some cases, additional fees may apply.)
If you meet our licensing requirements, you can usually get a B.C. driver's licence right away.
More at: Getting a B.C. driver's licence when moving from certain countries
Need more information?
Visit any driver licensing office in B.C., or call:
Greater Victoria: 250-978-8300
Elsewhere in B.C. Canada and the U.S.: 1-800-950-1498
Other countries: 250-978-8300 (We accept collect calls.)
Last edited by james.mc; Oct 24th 2012 at 4:49 am.
Oct 24th 2012 | 5:02 am
#18
All Sooked up!
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,895
From: Sooke, BC.
Re: Exchange UK drivers license - original sent back to DLVA?
I'll not be taking my 2003 Honda Varadero XL1000V over with me. It won't be old enough
But I may buy another bike at some point after we set up. Not in a rush to do that too quickly as we'll have plenty of other things to sort out with a greater priority.. like an F350 Super Duty 
Last edited by james.mc; Oct 24th 2012 at 5:11 am.
Oct 24th 2012 | 6:44 am
#19
half a century
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 10,222
From: Sarf Lundun to East Van :)
Re: Exchange UK drivers license - original sent back to DLVA?
My wife exchanged her UK lisence for a BC one easy as pie, but they took her UK one. No idea what happened to it. I tried to do the same some 4 weeks later, and encountered nothing but enornous problems - they couldn't do the exchange without me having a 'valid' Canadian photo ID (driving lisence for example - go figure!), I showed them all my landing documents passport etc but no-go !!!! So I gave up and still have my UK one.
Oct 24th 2012 | 11:10 am
#20
"In cruce vincam"
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 3,233
From: Mill Bay, Vancouver Island
Re: Exchange UK drivers license - original sent back to DLVA?
My wife exchanged her UK lisence for a BC one easy as pie, but they took her UK one. No idea what happened to it. I tried to do the same some 4 weeks later, and encountered nothing but enornous problems - they couldn't do the exchange without me having a 'valid' Canadian photo ID (driving lisence for example - go figure!), I showed them all my landing documents passport etc but no-go !!!! So I gave up and still have my UK one.
Oct 24th 2012 | 11:48 am
#21
No really, it doesn't
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,817
From: Rural Nova Scotia
Re: Exchange UK drivers license - original sent back to DLVA?
I was told by Access Nova Scotia when I exchanged mine that all the UK driving licences exchanged were filed in their head office in Halifax, NS and could be requested back if you ever became a UK resident again in the future.
Last edited by jimmydean; Oct 24th 2012 at 11:51 am.
Oct 24th 2012 | 6:57 pm
#22
All Sooked up!
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,895
From: Sooke, BC.
Re: Exchange UK drivers license - original sent back to DLVA?
I would suggest that if you have an in date UK licence it will be valid to drive with on UK roads no matter where you reside.
If the UK licence has been previously suspended or cancelled by DVLA that would be a different matter.
I agree that you would not be entitled to hold a UK licence if you reside out of the UK, but that is probably a different legal matter and would not automatically mean your current UK licence was deemed invalid when you became an overseas resident.
Oct 24th 2012 | 7:08 pm
#23
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 330
Re: Exchange UK drivers license - original sent back to DLVA?
Yep, BC will give your bike entitlement, you have to answer a difficult question first though... Why are you more at risk on a bike? 
Then eye test and you are issued with a temp paper licence, the real one arrives in the post, mine took a week to come. Your 1st one is valid for 2 years iirc.
Then eye test and you are issued with a temp paper licence, the real one arrives in the post, mine took a week to come. Your 1st one is valid for 2 years iirc.
Oct 24th 2012 | 8:42 pm
#24
Forum Regular
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 266
Re: Exchange UK drivers license - original sent back to DLVA?
This might sound daft but if you have to hand in your uk license what happens if you return to the uk on an annual basis and you want to drive whilst there? 
Oct 24th 2012 | 8:49 pm
#25
All Sooked up!
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,895
From: Sooke, BC.
Re: Exchange UK drivers license - original sent back to DLVA?
Yep, BC will give your bike entitlement, you have to answer a difficult question first though... Why are you more at risk on a bike?
Then eye test and you are issued with a temp paper licence, the real one arrives in the post, mine took a week to come. Your 1st one is valid for 2 years iirc.
Then eye test and you are issued with a temp paper licence, the real one arrives in the post, mine took a week to come. Your 1st one is valid for 2 years iirc.
Much appreciated.
First one is valid for 2 years? Then what?
regards
James Mc
Oct 24th 2012 | 8:49 pm
#26
All Sooked up!
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,895
From: Sooke, BC.
Re: Exchange UK drivers license - original sent back to DLVA?
You might still be a British citizen but, as a Canadian PR, you will be expected to drive on a licence issued in Canada no matter where you visit.
Last edited by james.mc; Oct 24th 2012 at 8:53 pm.
Oct 24th 2012 | 9:05 pm
#27
Forum Regular
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 266
Re: Exchange UK drivers license - original sent back to DLVA?
Ahh thanks not that ill be returning annually but when i do iwill want to drive
Oct 25th 2012 | 1:31 am
#28
All Sooked up!
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,895
From: Sooke, BC.
Re: Exchange UK drivers license - original sent back to DLVA?
Oct 25th 2012 | 2:07 am
#29
Forum Regular
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 157
From: Coventry england
Re: Exchange UK drivers license - original sent back to DLVA?
What would happen if you decided to return to the UK permanently after exchanging your UK license, in Alberta as will be in our case, would you still be entitled to drive a manual car and my OH was wondering if his HGV license would still be intact
Oct 25th 2012 | 2:22 am
#30
All Sooked up!
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,895
From: Sooke, BC.
Re: Exchange UK drivers license - original sent back to DLVA?
Your UK entitlement remains on file at DVLA no matter where you live in the world. If it shows you passed you test in a manual car then you'll get a full licence.
On return you can apply for a new/re issue licence through DVLA under your new UK address and one will be issued. It's unlikely they will ask for your licence from Canada as you will not be swapping one.
HGV does have some restrictions on age, medicals etc so your OH would likely need to meet those requirements before they re-issue but his entitlement will remain on file.
You can apply to DVLA for a printout (on DVLA headed paper) of your entitlement at any time. That's what we have done already to take to Canada with us when we move.
It's probably not a bad thing to do in case you do return to the UK as it will prove your entitlement even if DVLA have a glitch in their records.
On return you can apply for a new/re issue licence through DVLA under your new UK address and one will be issued. It's unlikely they will ask for your licence from Canada as you will not be swapping one.
HGV does have some restrictions on age, medicals etc so your OH would likely need to meet those requirements before they re-issue but his entitlement will remain on file.
You can apply to DVLA for a printout (on DVLA headed paper) of your entitlement at any time. That's what we have done already to take to Canada with us when we move.
It's probably not a bad thing to do in case you do return to the UK as it will prove your entitlement even if DVLA have a glitch in their records.
Last edited by james.mc; Oct 25th 2012 at 2:25 am.
