kcarter

Hi,
I am a British expat living in Port Elizabeth now for 8 years. Am married to an SA citizen and am here on an accompany spouse visa (haven't got round to PR yet... Always seemed so difficult but have paper work now and wish to proceed ASAP)
My problem is my UK driving license photocard has expired and because I do not have PR I can't swap it for an SA one. Anyone else in similar situation? Do I just carry my paper license with me whilst driving in SA? Can I take my test here again without an ID? Am unable to get new UK photocard as I am not resident and now worried how to work this all out.

Thanks.

ededed

Firstly, welcome to BE. Your first post in 6 years, that's some lurking...

You have legally got 5 years between getting residency and an ID book and doing the exchange for your SA licence, but you MUST have your UK photocard to do it. Also, unless your local exchange centre (and there will be only 1 in PE) is staffed by humans (unlikely) they won't know the 5 year rule is from getting PR and will probably tell you that you have 1 year since arriving to to do it.

Seriously, my advice would be to get your PR, get your ID, and take the test. Fastest and quickest by a distance. If you have been here that long and are married to a South African you get naturalized anyway and that's a cinch. Passing the K53 learners test is a doddle - it's a theory multiple choice and a 4 year old could do it. That gives you 18 months to do the full test and that's also 20 minutes of driving in circles.

You can get a renewed UK photocard - I can't remember how but I know I did mine a few years back. I either posted it with a form or uploaded online but if you dig around on the DVLA website it is possible.

kcarter

Thanks! Yep, one serious lurker here

Thanks for all your advice, I had heard it was a bit of a nightmare to exchange licenses so will take my test as soon as I have an ID (am assuming I have to have an ID to do the test)

It is possible to get UK photocard but it says you have to have been resident for however many years, it states quite clearly that you can be fined, etc if you have not been resident and I think I have been gone so long that it may be very difficult to sort out,

The only thing I can do really I guess is carry my paper license with me and then take test ASAP as I will now not be able to drive when .i visit UK on holiday.

Thanks again.

Alfresco

Six years!!!

Hey Ed I sent you a PM.

ededed

I know - I couldn't hold my tongue that long. It seems SA driving licences are my chosen specialised subject now...

I got it - just replied...!

MartynK

I agree with Ed. There are ways to renew your UK license but the best, legal, method to resolve this is to sort out your permanent residency/naturalisation, get an SA ID and take the test locally.

I'm not sure how you are going to deal with the problem of an expired UK license and no SA license in the interim. I'm not clear about the 'paper license' you're referring to, and perhaps you could clarify this, but the only alternatives I can think of are to carry the UK license and hope the cop doesn't notice that it's expired, or just try and talk your way out of it. One thing to bear in mind though, you don't appear to have any current license and this could have insurance impacts.

ededed

I hadn't thought if that - but the insurance issue is going to be a problem. Any claim WILL be rejected if you don't have a current, valid licence. Check with your insurance company.

The other thing you can do in the interim is get an IDP - but I think you can only do this from the UK.

MartynK

Hi Ed. I thought about this too, but I'm not sure it offers a solution. I think you require a current driving licence to validate the IDP, and have to carry both. It's not a substitute. Of course, the chances of a Metro cop knowing this are, well...............

kcarter

Thanks everyone.

I wrote an email to the DVLA in the UK and they said that I cannot get a new photocard but that I am completely legal to drive. Just not i. The UK! I have a driving license, it is just my photo that is expired. It states on the back of photocard that my license expire when I am 70 but photocard in 2013... However, what the average cop would say to that I have no idea. I have the 'paper' part that accompanies thethe photocard which I could carry around too but as I told the DVLA it seems to be a complete nightmare situation with no real solution in the short-term. I am considering just trying to get a new photocard and sending it to parent's house in UK. Chancing my luck...

PR is going to take a long time but I am pretty stumped as to what to do other than carry on as I am and hope all is fine. Thanks again for all your input. Much appretiated.

MartynK

Well, you wouldn't be the first one to resort to this! I do think you need to discuss this with your insurance broker or insurer though, make sure they understand the situation, and get written confirmation that this is acceptable to them and won't prejeudice any claim. I understand what you're saying about the DVLA, but it's important to confirm that they see it the same way. You don't want to face repudiation and all its implications, and a legal wrangle about your licence.

kcarter

Yes thank-you, I will do so. I hadn't thought of the insurance implications so will sort that out. The DVLA have emailed me to confirm this, so I have it in writing. It is purely my photo that has expired and not my license, it just seems so ludicrous that I cannot renew it. I feel like I am in a position where I really cannot do a thing to rectify it. So frustrating.

MartynK

This is all good, but the DVLA is a UK government department and I think you need to bring your local insurer on board. I suggest advising them of your current situation, giving them a copy of the mail to validate your license, and asking for written confirmation that this is acceptable and doesn't prejuedice your cover. It's better to do this now, rather than after a claim.

feldr

there was a change to Uk licences 2 years ago, they now have to be "upgraded" every 10years.

They now take the photo online from your passport, providing it's not older( the passport) than 5 years.

My passport/ driving licence are due for renewal next year, so I'll do the passport in Feb, so that when the licence needs doing, all I have to do is do the online form, pay and wait for it to arrive to my UK address