British driving licence
Apr 27th 2014, 10:52 pm
#166
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Nov 2011
Location: Somewhere between Vancouver & St Johns
Posts: 19,847
Re: British driving licence
No exceptions? Really?
So firstly, the U.K. would be in breach of its European agreements since a valid member state licence is supposed to be used by the holder in a new country of residence unless and until it is exchanged for a new one from that Member State. There is usually a 6 month waiting period.
Secondly, a person who moves (for example) from Great Britain to Ontario would be unable to use their GB licence in the 60 days that ON sets to get a local licence. A person who moves with a work permit to NSW, Australia, may not be able to get a local licence for some time (if at all), so would they become effectively banned from driving? NSW allows temporary residents to use foreign licences indefinitely as long as they remain valid.
Parliament could change the law to anything it likes, however I don't know of any jurisidiction that automatically revokes otherwise valid drivers licences upon cessation of residence.
So firstly, the U.K. would be in breach of its European agreements since a valid member state licence is supposed to be used by the holder in a new country of residence unless and until it is exchanged for a new one from that Member State. There is usually a 6 month waiting period.
Secondly, a person who moves (for example) from Great Britain to Ontario would be unable to use their GB licence in the 60 days that ON sets to get a local licence. A person who moves with a work permit to NSW, Australia, may not be able to get a local licence for some time (if at all), so would they become effectively banned from driving? NSW allows temporary residents to use foreign licences indefinitely as long as they remain valid.
Parliament could change the law to anything it likes, however I don't know of any jurisidiction that automatically revokes otherwise valid drivers licences upon cessation of residence.
As you can see just from this thread the legislation is open to interpretation to the average lay person and they don't fully understand this. Look at the language in the legislation and you don't need to be a genius to figure out it was written by lawyers to keep them in a job
Doesn't the same confusion appear on the Do I need a PR card to travel back to Canada threads?Keep the legislation simple is all Im saying.
I passed my driving test in 1976 and I emigrated in 1988 so do I still have a valid driving licence Yes. Did I change my address when I moved to Canada NO. Did I swap over my licence No as it wasn't mandatory. I still have the old green one piece no photo ID licence which was issued to people and usually expired on their 65th birthday.
I have no intention of driving in Canada or the UK on it but if I did move back its proof I held one and could be used as supplemental ID if necessary.
Sounds like an excellent idea to me! Done 
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