Stuck Between Driving licenses
Sep 3rd 2018, 8:08 pm
#16
Banned
Joined: Apr 2009
Location: SW Ontario
Posts: 19,879
Re: Stuck Between Driving licenses
Pretty much. The only legal way to do it would be to go back to the UK, apply to renew at the licence at an address where the OP was resident and then go travelling afterwards. Unless he's going somewhere where a rental car is essential then relying on public transport shouldn't be a problem.
THIS.
https://www.gov.uk/apply-online-to-r...riving-licence
To replace your licence you’ll need to:
- be a resident of Great Britain (there’s a different service in Northern Ireland)
- not be disqualified from driving for any reason
- pay £20 by MasterCard, Visa, Electron, Maestro or Delta debit or credit card
- provide addresses where you’ve lived for the last 3 years
Last edited by Siouxie; Sep 3rd 2018 at 8:17 pm.
Sep 3rd 2018, 11:46 pm
#17
Joined: Feb 2012
Location: Not in Paris
Posts: 18,186
Re: Stuck Between Driving licenses
Because it’s not his current residential address. Once he leaves Canada then he won’t be resident anywhere until he decides to stay put.
Sep 4th 2018, 12:45 am
#18
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 12,830
Re: Stuck Between Driving licenses
If he activates a new TWP, which I believe he mentioned he can maintain continuity of residence and get a BC licence renewed for the term of the TWP.
If one is not permanently resident anywhere, there is nowhere to get a license from.
Sep 10th 2018, 11:31 am
#19
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Joined: Jan 2018
Location: priced out of Waterloo
Posts: 105
Re: Stuck Between Driving licenses
UK Driving licences have a photo and a signature...when I renewed mine I had to use the booth at the post office. If you are not resident how are you going to get your photo and signature recorded?
Sep 10th 2018, 12:48 pm
#20
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Joined: Jul 2013
Location: Merida Mexico and Calgary Canada
Posts: 1,050
Re: Stuck Between Driving licenses
https://www.gov.uk/renew-driving-licence
Sep 10th 2018, 1:39 pm
#21
Joined: Feb 2012
Location: Not in Paris
Posts: 18,186
Re: Stuck Between Driving licenses
You can do it by post or online. They can pull your photo off your passport.
Sep 14th 2018, 7:53 pm
#24
Forum Regular
Joined: Jan 2008
Location: Calgary, Canada
Posts: 75
Re: Stuck Between Driving licenses
If you know anyone living in another province you could briefly move to that province and exchange your temporary BC licence for one there, for example, Manitoba issue photocards regardless of how long you have left on your work permit. So you have a friend in MB, move there before you leave on your travels and get a MB driving licence valid for the last 6 months then leave with that. The only time it might not work is if your work permit is province specific.
I also disagree that it's illegal to reapply for your UK driving license without visiting the UK to re-establish residence, this is residence for a licence not for tax purposes. If he has left Canada and intends to return to the UK the amount of time or the fact he has a work permit still is irrelevant, if he left Canada with the intention of travelling then returning to the UK he would not be a Canadian resident by defintion to obtain a Canadian licence either. There is no deception going on or attempt to gain something by dishonesty or to gain an advantage or commit fraud, he has a genuine intention to reside in UK after he leaves Canada so is entitled to get his UK licence back and physically landing, collecting the licence then leaving again is not a requirement for that intention to become 'fact'. Take when you move to Canada, you are immediately resident in Canada but you can still legally use your UK licence until Canadian law requires you change it, or when you land would you immediately throw away your UK licence and get the bus because you're not longer a UK resident so aren't entitled to it? Same with all your UK bank cards. I'd say either option is perfectly valid.
I also disagree that it's illegal to reapply for your UK driving license without visiting the UK to re-establish residence, this is residence for a licence not for tax purposes. If he has left Canada and intends to return to the UK the amount of time or the fact he has a work permit still is irrelevant, if he left Canada with the intention of travelling then returning to the UK he would not be a Canadian resident by defintion to obtain a Canadian licence either. There is no deception going on or attempt to gain something by dishonesty or to gain an advantage or commit fraud, he has a genuine intention to reside in UK after he leaves Canada so is entitled to get his UK licence back and physically landing, collecting the licence then leaving again is not a requirement for that intention to become 'fact'. Take when you move to Canada, you are immediately resident in Canada but you can still legally use your UK licence until Canadian law requires you change it, or when you land would you immediately throw away your UK licence and get the bus because you're not longer a UK resident so aren't entitled to it? Same with all your UK bank cards. I'd say either option is perfectly valid.
Last edited by Kiowan; Sep 14th 2018 at 7:55 pm.
Sep 14th 2018, 8:25 pm
#25
Banned
Joined: Apr 2009
Location: SW Ontario
Posts: 19,879
Re: Stuck Between Driving licenses
If you know anyone living in another province you could briefly move to that province and exchange your temporary BC licence for one there, for example, Manitoba issue photocards regardless of how long you have left on your work permit. So you have a friend in MB, move there before you leave on your travels and get a MB driving licence valid for the last 6 months then leave with that. The only time it might not work is if your work permit is province specific.
I also disagree that it's illegal to reapply for your UK driving license without visiting the UK to re-establish residence, this is residence for a licence not for tax purposes. If he has left Canada and intends to return to the UK the amount of time or the fact he has a work permit still is irrelevant, if he left Canada with the intention of travelling then returning to the UK he would not be a Canadian resident by defintion to obtain a Canadian licence either. There is no deception going on or attempt to gain something by dishonesty or to gain an advantage or commit fraud, he has a genuine intention to reside in UK after he leaves Canada so is entitled to get his UK licence back and physically landing, collecting the licence then leaving again is not a requirement for that intention to become 'fact'. Take when you move to Canada, you are immediately resident in Canada but you can still legally use your UK licence until Canadian law requires you change it, or when you land would you immediately throw away your UK licence and get the bus because you're not longer a UK resident so aren't entitled to it? Same with all your UK bank cards. I'd say either option is perfectly valid.
I also disagree that it's illegal to reapply for your UK driving license without visiting the UK to re-establish residence, this is residence for a licence not for tax purposes. If he has left Canada and intends to return to the UK the amount of time or the fact he has a work permit still is irrelevant, if he left Canada with the intention of travelling then returning to the UK he would not be a Canadian resident by defintion to obtain a Canadian licence either. There is no deception going on or attempt to gain something by dishonesty or to gain an advantage or commit fraud, he has a genuine intention to reside in UK after he leaves Canada so is entitled to get his UK licence back and physically landing, collecting the licence then leaving again is not a requirement for that intention to become 'fact'. Take when you move to Canada, you are immediately resident in Canada but you can still legally use your UK licence until Canadian law requires you change it, or when you land would you immediately throw away your UK licence and get the bus because you're not longer a UK resident so aren't entitled to it? Same with all your UK bank cards. I'd say either option is perfectly valid.
Then you would be wrong, sorry.
You can USE a UK license abroad (subject to that country's laws) if it has been issued WHILE you were a resident of the UK. You cannot renew it or replace it UNLESS and UNTIL you are resident in the UK. The OP could RETURN to the UK, apply for a replacement drivers license and then leave on their travels again... they just can't apply to replace it until then.
Last edited by Siouxie; Sep 14th 2018 at 8:29 pm.
Nov 2nd 2018, 5:42 am
#26
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 11
Re: Stuck Between Driving licenses
Thanks all for the lively debate. I will probably end up returning to Ireland over Christmas and applying for my license there from my Parents address.
I looked into extending my TWP in September but the processing time took it to the end of the year, anyhow.
I could return to Canada in January, get my TWP at the border, then apply for my License at the ICBC, and begin my travels in February from here.
But it's a toss up as to whether the extra expense of returning, paying rent, etc would be offset by a months wages.
It is going to end up costing me a few grand on flights to get a new license, which is unfortunate, but I haven't been able to find a way around it.
We are planning on travelling in the US and South America, and while I have nothing against public transport in Theory, I have tried it in the US before, and never again.
I looked into extending my TWP in September but the processing time took it to the end of the year, anyhow.
I could return to Canada in January, get my TWP at the border, then apply for my License at the ICBC, and begin my travels in February from here.
But it's a toss up as to whether the extra expense of returning, paying rent, etc would be offset by a months wages.
It is going to end up costing me a few grand on flights to get a new license, which is unfortunate, but I haven't been able to find a way around it.
We are planning on travelling in the US and South America, and while I have nothing against public transport in Theory, I have tried it in the US before, and never again.
