I know I've read on here previously (although I can't find the old threads) about people who have moved to Ontario and exchanged their old UK licence for a Ontario one.
But what they did before they exchanged licences was re-apply for a new UK photocard licence having "lost" their previous paper/photo licence and then use that "lost" licence to exchange it for the Ontario one. That way you have a new UK photo card licence for when you return to the UK and you have a G licence for Ontario driving.

I know that this is not LEGAL , but how many of you have done this (be honest!) and not come unstuck somewhere later down the line??

Apparantly Alberta Driving whatever have told my hubby that his uk licence will be sent back to UK. So even if you give one in and keep hold of another should think that it is invalid

Didn't do it as I couldn't see the benefit in doing so. You will have to pay for a new UK licence when you apply for your "lost" one so what have you actually gained ?

Some people mentioned car hire but you will need to hire a car if you returned to the UK so what have you gained there ?

I'm totally lost on this one - but no doubt you will point out the error of my ways to me

But when you hire a car in the UK for visits then wouldnt you be able to use your canadian licence or is that what your were getting at

Exactly - that was what I was getting out - what's the benefit in having the two particularly as it's illegal to do so ?

I have just exchanged my UK one for the Canadian one in Ontario, untill I see the full Ontario one (ment to be in 3 weeks) I can only guess, but I hope it would say that I had held a full manual or hold a manual licence, there for causing no problem in hiring a car in the UK.

The only problem I can see is if you are asked to prove that you hold a manual licence not an automatic one, the UK licence will state what one you hold but i`m not sure about the Ontario one.

You should check directly, but I don't believe there's any problem using a Canadian license to hire a manual car in the UK.

Only if you swap will it be endorsed "automatic only" and in your case (if you return), the DVLA should have evidence of your previous manual entitlement.

We photocopied our UK licences (both paper and photocard) to get over this. Also to ensure that we kept a record of our UK licence numbers just in case we ever needed to reapply for them

Ah forgot, they gave me the paper section back, hubby didn`t get his as he had the old style one that will teach him, but yes we have them on file too thanks Almost Canadian..

We've just been back to the UK for a visit and had no problems hiring a car using our Ontario licenses. We used AVIS at Heathrow. Prior to travelling we had similar concerns about whether or not our Ontario licences would be "enough" however the very nice lady from AVIS' Customer Services suggested we bring the "paper sections" of our UK Licences.

In the end the guy at the hire desk just looked at our Ontario licence, typed the number into his computer and away we went. There was no issue/concern/mention of "automatic only". Having said that I could have done with an automatic, I spent a few seconds wondering why the bloody thing wouldn't go into gear. I was pressing the brake instead of the clutch . Ah well, a few kangaroo hops later we were on our way

I have both a UK and an Ontario license. I do use the UK one in the UK but the advantage in having it isn't particularly for use there. I use the UK one in the US because many US states have a reciprocal points system with Ontario but not with the UK. If I use the UK license points incurred in the US disappear whereas, were I to use the Ontario license, they would result in increased insurance premiums.

On the UK Licence it has your 'current' UK address...what if that is no longer property you own because you've emigrated, sold up and moved abroad?

I don't think it's worth the aggro were something bad to happen under that licence...

No particular reason, I just remember some people had kept hold of their old licence (like dbd33 has) and I wanted to know to what benefit this has before I give up my paper licence.

Probably not worth applying as it'll cost £19 to do so and then, like you say it is invalid once it is exchanged. Best thing is to just photocopy my current one so I have my licence number filed in case i ever returned.

Many thanks

Why is it illegal to have two licences?

Can I confrim this and say that friends of ours recently moved back to the UK, sent away photocopies of UK licences they previously had; and received a new UK licence back within two weeks. They even returned the cheque that they sent for the replacement.

So don't worry about it - just ensure you take a photocopy of the UK licence before you swap it for an Ontario one.