Automatic Driving License
 

Hi All,

I have an automatic driving license. When moving to the ME, how can it be converted to a local license.

Thanks

Re: Automatic Driving License
 

I didn't know there were separate ones. I took my license in the us and converted in the uk with no problem. Got an international license before I moved to the me..no problems. The us is obviously prone to automatic vehicles like.

Re: Automatic Driving License
 

Thanks Paracletus

We have a manual license and an automatic license.

Manual license holders can drive both manual and automatic vehicles. However, the latter can only drive automatic.

I am hoping it shouldn't be a problem but it is best to know for sure.

Thanks

Re: Automatic Driving License
 

Chances are they won't spot it. There was a recent anectdote of a young lady getting a full AD licence on the basis of her provisional UK licence. Besides, the vast majority of cars out here are auto anyway. Good luck.:D

Re: Automatic Driving License
 

How long ago was that? As they haven't done that for years now, because of the lack of a way to see if someone took their test in a manual or not.

Re: Automatic Driving License
 

Cool - I hope she then went to the UK and drove legally on her UAE license.

I couldn't find my UK one and hired a car quite OK with the UAE one.

Re: Automatic Driving License
 

You did the correct thing - as a non Uk resident, your UK license is not technically valid to present when hiring a car.

But also bear in mind that the UAE license doesn't show a start date and the hire car company might ask to see some proof of this, i.e. your UK license.

Re: Automatic Driving License
 

A number of licences are exchangeable when you get here. Depends upon which country drivers licence you have.

An Abu Dhabi licence might not show a start date, but for sure a Dubai one does..............mine says 01/07/85!

Re: Automatic Driving License
 

I have the pink british Photocard license.

The photo should expire next year, I am thinking of calling in and saying I have lost it and send in a new picture to make the new pink card last longer ;)
(We have to update our pics every 10 years, mine is due an update next October, they don't issue a new card unless you a resident, if I am not here next year, its better to get one done sooner)

Re: Automatic Driving License
 

Abu Dhabi one shows a start date.

Re: Automatic Driving License
 

The UAE licences show their issue date but not the date you gained entitlement - on the UK licences, the former is on the front and the latter (broken down by category) on the back.

Re: Automatic Driving License
 

That's what the guy at the Sixt desk wanted to see - the date of entitlement. Sorry I didn't make it clear before.

Re: Automatic Driving License
 

Got my license in 96 in automatic. But it had no 'automatic' or 'manual' license printed on it anywhere and was never asked. Simples.

Re: Automatic Driving License
 

Aye, the reciprocal thing with the US, they stopped that around 2000 or there abouts. Partly because they couldn't tell if you had gotten a test in a manual or not and partly because there's no standard of driving, and most of it is pretty low to get a license.

Got to take a full test now, no switching a US license for a UK one. Though you've got 12 months to do it