Problem..Exchanging UK license
 

Hi...I have let my Australian license expire just over 5 years, and am returning to Australia, i called the license folks in OZ and they said i would have to go back on learners and go though all the Provisional stuff again...i mentioned that i got my OZ license via my UK license....she then said OK that's fine just bring it, the UK one in, and they can exchange it again..GREAT...However its the old pink paper license...hers the problem she said they will only exchange from a UK photo license....but, to to that i would have to go back to the UK, as they wont exchange on an overseas address...Im in Asia, and don't want to go all the way back to the UK just to get a photo license...I called the DVLC in the UK and they said, the paper license is still a valid document????..so im not sure who is correct...ive tried calling Australia again but the wait time is costing me heaps....be great if anyone has some ideas without me returning to the UK to to get a photo license...cheers

Re: Problem..Exchanging UK license
 

Do you have a UK address that you can use? if so complete all paperwork (download in Asia) send complete with photo, payment etc and the license will be delivered to the UK address. Get the person at the UK address to then forward to you, so you can present in Australia.

I also think it would be worth risking just showing them (in Australia) your old UK license and expired Australian license, that will have your photo on. The reason being having dealt with these people recently you will get 5 different answers from 5 different people !! and all were adamant that they were correct. I went with the choice that suited me best and hey presto, everything was fine.

You are obviously not a learner driver, I think they just want to check for points etc.. that you may have collected over the past 5 years. They just assume that you will always have had a valid license to drive somewhere.

Hope this helps, good luck

Re: Problem..Exchanging UK license
 

Surely you can just reactivate your old Australian Licence? You don't have to go back to scratch if you happen to let it expire? That's crazy!

In NSW they ask if you have ever held a previous NSW licence, and what the number was. Those records must endure somewhere surely?


S

Re: Problem..Exchanging UK license
 

Which State did you talk to? Might help as then we can check the rules for that State :) And remember call centre staff are not usually well-informed on unusual situations.......

Re: Problem..Exchanging UK license
 

Sounds like it would be easier to take your test again.

Re: Problem..Exchanging UK license
 

Queensland looks like a 5 year limit after the Aus one expires, but not sure what ghe position is with UK paper licences ....

https://www.qld.gov.au/transport/lic...son/index.html

Re: Problem..Exchanging UK license
 

I don't think they will transfer them - I know a friend of mine couldn't get an NSW licence from a UK A3 paper based one.

Though, DVLA are of course correct - It does remain a full and proper driving licence...


S

Re: Problem..Exchanging UK license
 

Actually, it looks like that has changed for NSW:

Looks like you can get away with a letter from DVLA. You should check that with QLD too...


S

Re: Problem..Exchanging UK license
 

I had a Oz (NSW) license from 25 years ago, then had a UK one for many years, then when I came to Oz 4 years ago I remember I went into the RTA and them telling me I needed to do a test because my Oz one had expired. I was on their system. I seem to remember jumping up and down about it and I was able to get an Oz one again, but they were going to make me do a test at one point.

Re: Problem..Exchanging UK license
 

Thx for all the replys...the 5 year thing is right , most states wont let the OZ license expire past the 5 year period...ill be SA...the DVLC letter thing sounds like a goer, if i can organise that and get in contact with them...the person that suggested taking the test again, that would be like taking O level maths again, not sure how id go!!!.;).anyway the P plate stuff would be a hasstle and not something im not prepared to go though, having driven cars and bikes for 30 years now.

I hope common sense prevails and can provide the OZ license folks with as much as possible

Re: Problem..Exchanging UK license
 

Please do not mention common sense + anything to do with driving in Australia in the same sentence. As far as officialdom is concerned, you get into the car, put on the seatbelt and leave the common sense behind!:rofl:

Re: Problem..Exchanging UK license
 

:lol::goodpost:


:scarper:

Re: Problem..Exchanging UK license
 

Pink? Mine's green......

We're off to SA as well next month. I'm already a bit concerned about this comment from the SA website - "Once you are issued with a South Australian learner's permit or driver's licence, your overseas licence is invalid and you may be required to surrender it".

There's no way I am either giving up my UK license (of course it does not become invalid in the UK), nor am I applying for a photocard licence which has ten year validity instead of to age 70. Might have to get a letter as Swervo suggested.

Re: Problem..Exchanging UK license
 

I had a paper UK license for many years and a couple of years ago I fancied converting it to the plastic one. I managed to do this online through the DVLC. They even used my passport photograph as the departments are interconnected so I didn't even have to send a new one in.

I used my sisters address in Sussex and they sent my new license there. Piece of cake.

Re: Problem..Exchanging UK license
 

Whoa, so with a UK license you can just convert it with no test and continue driving with a newly-issued Aussie one (makes sense), but if the Aussie one expires then after X years you cannot renew it without a test... even though you still have a UK licence that would allow for an instant conversion... if you never switched to an Aussie one previously?

Wow...:)

Re: Problem..Exchanging UK license
 

Yeah you want to hang on to the UK plastic one. You need it for getting into RSL and other type of clubs if you live within a 5 km radius otherwise they make you become a member - well they do in NSW anyway

Re: Problem..Exchanging UK license
 

They certainly do! Always useful to have the second licence for that alone.


S

Re: Problem..Exchanging UK license
 

If you have just returned to to OZ, and your OZ licence has expired, then you can swap your current UK one back to an Australian again.

It is only if your Australian licence has expired over 5 years, and you have no other current licence from the recognised country list. ie: you have not been driving for some years, that they will need a test again.

Re: Problem..Exchanging UK license
 

Problem is that they have a UK paper licence and whichever transport dept they spoke to refuses to accept paper, only plastjc.

Re: Problem..Exchanging UK license
 

Haven't plastic licenses in the UK been around for a very long time?

Re: Problem..Exchanging UK license
 

They have - I was in the original trial group for them - but there is no obligation for you to change to one.

The A3 paper licence remains perfectly valid as a driving licence.


S

Re: Problem..Exchanging UK license
 

The Australian Motor Registries may be confused as to what is a valid UK licence.
For example; a UK Newspaper Article in 2013 stated: "The ten-year photocard licences will become mandatory in 2015 when the paper licences are officially phased out. A quarter of drivers are still using the old-style paper licences."

A more recent article states: "The paper element of the driving licence, which accompanies the credit card size photo-card, is also due to be axed on 8th June 2015."

Re: Problem..Exchanging UK license
 

Herein lies the problem. They should have phased these out like everyone else in Europe when the EU adopted a common format for these documents.

Similarly, in a day and age where identity theft and people smuggling are rife, a proper ID card system would be useful.

Anyway, my license has already been converted to a NSW one, now I need to wait until I have been in QLD for 3 months to switch to a local one here...

Makes me wonder what residents of Coolangatta do if they move house every so often and happen to hop across the state line each time... :)

Re: Problem..Exchanging UK license
 

Whereas in NSW I was able to get a licence printed on the spot, here in Queensland I have to wait to receive it in the post.

Anyone know how long it roughly takes to receive it? Also, do all QLD centres work this way or do some produce licences on the spot?

Re: Problem..Exchanging UK license
 

It's gone that way in NSW now - The Service NSW centres don't have the capability to generate the new licence card on the spot, so they give you a piece of paper and then send the card through the post.

Some of the old registries can still generate an on the spot card - Marrickville being one - though I believe these are being phased out over time.


S

Re: Problem..Exchanging UK license
 

How long does it usually take to get the licence by post? A week, two perhaps?

Re: Problem..Exchanging UK license
 

NSW was about 4 days. No idea about QLD. Do you have a temporary cover note so you can drive?


S

Re: Problem..Exchanging UK license
 

Yes, I have a temporary print-out so no worries there. It's just that for some stuff I would like to have my licence already (buying a SIM pack, etc.).

It's been about a week already so hopefully the wait won't be too much longer...

Re: Problem..Exchanging UK license
 

I 'think' both paragraphs are correct, the bit they have left out is about being mandatory for new licence applications. I believe I read that the 'mandatory for all no what, kicks off in 2017. In other words, the two part licence is going this year but paper only holders have until 2017.



Maybe:lol:

Re: Problem..Exchanging UK license
 

I hope you are right. We came to the UK in 2010, both having NSW gold licences. Mrs TB renewed her Oz licence from the UK at the end of 2010 but in 2012 swapped it for UK photo one (she didn't have a UK licence prior). That NSW licence expires the end of this year ( Oct I think) so if we return to Oz in the next couple of years she'll still be ok just to swap back?

My own NSW licence expired end of 2013 and I am renewing soon ( I think you have two years to do this fron O/S). There was no such thing as licence exchanges when I moved to Oz so I've always had completely separate ones ( my UK one is photo now).


So sounds like we will both be ok?

Re: Problem..Exchanging UK license
 

It'll be alright on the night (she says, with no confidence whatsoever).

My DL expired 2 and a half years ago, I didn't want to get back behind the wheel after my accident. Prior to that, I'd been driving for 35 years, without so much as a demerit point.

Went to get a new license on Wednesday, filled in the requisite paperwork, and was told that because I'd ticked 'yes' to one of a myriad of medical condition questions, I had to get a full medical from my doctor. What a load of bloody twosh.

And the medical! Height, weight, eye test, blood pressure, pee in a jar. FFS. Got the ok from the doc, but what a f'n hassle :mad: