Shirtback

I'll confirm Blossom23's point of view. And add that I got "pulled over" last year driving in UK (North Circular closed by an accident late at night, & I got totally lost on a diversion through North London suburbs & was driving too slowly, while trying to find a spot to pull over & consult a map).

The police were initially suspicious (breathalised me), asked questions about my residency, checked both Qc & GB licences, had no problem with either, & led me through London maze to Camden High Street from where I made it "home".

I'm insured in the UK as a named driver on 2 family members' cars, and 2 different insurance companies don't have a problem with that. They know I live abroad.

DVLA don't seem to be bothered either.

Just to complicate the thread further (), I hold a third country driving licence too...

SB

burks

Until they need to pay out.. then they'll find issue with it!

Shirtback

Not according to the written riders I have from 'em. However, this, & other threads in a similar vein HAVE got me thinking & checking

SB

rivingtonpike

They may know you live abroad, but do they know you're effectively driving on an invalid UK licence? I'm sure the police would still have helped you if you'd only offered a Qc licence. What address do you give when renewing your UK licence? Do you actually live at that address? Are you resident in the UK? These are all requirements - from what I've read - for a licence to be valid and, therefore, legal.

christmasoompa

Yep. "Changes to British legislation resulting in the implementation of the Second EC Directive on Driving Licences (91/439/EEC) since 1 January 1997, have required that driving licences are granted only to drivers who are resident in this country."

Shirtback

This is turning into a serious thread swerve, far removed from the OP's original question

I hold a valid Qc license, as well as (AFAIK, but am checking) a valid GB one. Insurance companies have both on file. And have done for years.

I use my UK property address for DVLA. Maybe I' ve been lucky, and perhaps unknowingly illegal, regarding UK licence, for 30 yrs because of this; same address I lived at when I passed my driving test.

Insurance co's have my CDN address on file, & use it to communicate with me occasionally.

As I said, serious thread swerve.

SB

Shirtback

That's interesting, pertinent, & has me rechecking my credentials!

Thank you, Christmasoompa!!

SB

rivingtonpike

The OP was effectively asking at the start whether anyone had obtained a new UK licence by deception (the assumption being the original had been knowingly exchanged), but pretending it had been lost. It would seem all the DVLA information confirms that you cannot hold a valid UK licence unless you are resident there.

bats

It says clear as day on the govUk website that to hold a GB licence you must be resident in GB.

https://www.gov.uk/change-address-driving-licence

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

christmasoompa

I'm sorry, but I don't see any way that your licence (and therefore insurance too) is valid if you're not in fact resident at the address on it.

I'm sure you have to declare UK residency when renewing or obtaining a licence, and give your current address - which would be your Canadian one, as that's where you actually reside!

Shirtback

Christmasoompa,

I'm going to bow out of this thread, as all along I have mentioned that I have a valid license in my country of residence. UK car insurance are aware of this. I'm going to verify my GB license, thanks to the insistence here. The rest is serious thread swerve.

SB

Dashie

Not really a thread swerve surely? The OP was asking how to maintain a GB license from Canada, the posts have shown this isn't legally possible.

Blossom23

Many thanks to all of you who have pointed out the possible downfalls ... and I'm sorry if my comment has cause a major swerve to this post ... not my intention... honest

I did drive on the UK licence when I was back in the UK for 6 months in 2010 and my Dads insurance guy set up additional insurance on my Dad vehicle knowing full well that I was over for an extended period from Canada ...and using my UK licence.. In fact he preferred it, I had both of them with me ... But I wonder now just how secure that was when I read all your comments

I have to be honest, I haven't used when I've visited since. I use my Canadian license as I purchase insurance through my canadian Visa ... Certainly it's food for thought though and thanks once again to all of you for pointing it out ...

And just to add a little fuel to this little controversy ... When i went to the UK for those 6 months, I travelled to the UK on a UK passport and back to Canada on a Canadian one ... Lets see what you all make of that ...before I admit that they were both one-way tickets..

Novocastrian

Why do you think there might be comments on that? There's no issue there.

Although one unrelated question might be asked. Depending on your province, you might have violated rules concerning your health card.

Blossom23

[QUOTE=Novocastrian;11210675]

Why do you think there might be comments on that? There's no issue there.

There's no issue with lots of comments on the forum ... but it doesn't stop folks jumping all over them ...