vash2009

I know many a thread has been posted on this topic,but I have a simple enquiry which I cannot find the answer to.
We are moving to Toronto fully in the next two weeks, I know i can excahnge my UK Licence for a Canadian one, but when I return to the Uk for Holidays etc.
How can I drive without a UK licence? wouldn't the DVLA have a record that I surrendered my Uk Licence?
Thanks

Siouxie

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showt...+car+insurance http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=758167 you should be aware that if you go to swap your Canadian licence for a UK one you will be issued an automatic licence unless you are able to prove that you have passed a test for a manual.. so keep your UK paper licence! Short answer is you can drive an automatic on your Ontario licence in the UK.

JB0591

Hey Siouxie, I don't think that is the answer to the question the OP asked.

To OP, when your return to UK the hire car companies will recognize your Canadian licence and you can drive on that. If you want to drive a friend or family's car then they will have to inform their insurance company, some allow it at a cost and some don't. There is basically a reciprocal agreement which allows visitors to drive on their foreign licence for a set duration.

Dashie

Also, not related to the original question, but to the response - we had to surrender our paper licenses with the photocard to get our Canadian ones - keep photocopies and if you then return to the UK for any reason to live, they will reissue your license with all of the entitlements you had when you left. As per our own DVLA inquiry (DH lost his motorcycle entitlement when we moved to Canada, and I was also concerned about the automatic thing so we emailed and asked them).

As for driving on visits, yes rental car companies will accept a Canadian license, although might insist on a higher excess, and many insurers also do to drive family/friends cars.

Siouxie

Actually, I think I did.

JB0591

Your answer was more to do with swapping a Canadian licence to a UK one, not what was asked.

To clarify with a hirecar company (in my experience) they wont limit you to an automatic when you present a Canadian license.

vash2009

thank you all for the responses, no matter how varied,I took each one into account.Dashie did answer what I needed to know, as I was concerned about driving here without my UK licence, I ddn't know the canadian licence was recognised.
Someone had suggested that I request a replacement UK licence and swap one for the canadian licence and keep one for my return, but I figured, DVLA would have all their records anyway.
Thanks all

Saberek

Wht about swap from UK to Canadian licence. How to prove my clean driving history in UK if they NOT accept NCB, are they accept clean Counter Part as a proof or I need some special letter/certificate from DVLA to get some Canadian Insurance discount ????

julescg

Someone suggested to me that I ask the DVLA for a duplicate (I moved house so updated my license and 'forgot' to send my old one back). I arrived in NS a couple of weeks ago and took my old license and swapped it for a NS license! When I return to the UK I'll still have a UK license!

jericho

But a) you dont need it, and b) you're technically breaking the law.

Sorry, I just dont *get* this weird compulsion that some seem to have to keep their UK license.

SivoxII

I think some see driver's licences like citizenship .... where you don't really give up your British Citizenship when you come to Canada, simply that you become dual.

At some point I will return to Scotland for a period of time, so wonder how this situation works for me, as I left in 2002 with the old paper licence format ... so although carrying a valid Canadian Driver's Licence, would I have to apply for the new card/photo licence, or would my old paper licence still remain valid (to some degree as a visitor back in Scotland)

Clear as mud eh?

All the best.

JB0591

For Canadian insurances, you generally need two things. One is driver abstract, cost £5 from DVLA and secondly a specially worded letter from UK insurance company.

Dont be surprised if not all Canadian insurance companies accept UK NCB.

rivingtonpike

My BC licence doesn't differentiate between manual and automatic transmission anywhere on it. I learnt in a manual car in the UK and so had a full manual licence. I am still entitled to drive a manual car in the UK if I return.

julie2

I exchanged my uk license for canadian one yesterday. The lady who processed my paperwork said they retain my uk license there and anytime I plan to go back to uk I can just pop in and exchange it back.

Is it legal to drive on a uk license in uk if you are not a resident there? other forums on this website are suggesting it isn't and if you get into an accident then your insurance may not cover you. Does anyone know?

christmasoompa

There is also a fine of £1000 if you are caught with a licence with an out of date address on as well. But you can drive on your Canadian licence in the UK no problems.