MuzD

Hi All,

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

Thanks

Paracletus

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.

MuzD

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

Bahtatboy

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.

Bob

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.

Millhouse

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.

Oyibopeppeh

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.

Jim Smith

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!

MuzD

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)

Brains1983

Abu Dhabi one shows a start date.

typical

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.

Oyibopeppeh

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

Paracletus

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

Bob

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