Can You Replace an Old Driving License?
May 31st 2010, 7:00 am
#1
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Can You Replace an Old Driving License?
Both my OH and I had driving licenses in the UK but I have no idea where they are now and we've been gone 20 years. Does anyone know if you can get replacements for lost licenses after such a long time?
Being in the US, we can't just trade in our current licenses for a UK one, and I'd hate to have to take a test after all this time.
Being in the US, we can't just trade in our current licenses for a UK one, and I'd hate to have to take a test after all this time.
Jun 1st 2010, 12:57 am
#3
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Re: Can You Replace an Old Driving License?
If the DVLA have kept records, probably.
If not, you're out of luck.
And you probably can't do anything until you have a GB address.
If not, you're out of luck.
And you probably can't do anything until you have a GB address.
Jun 1st 2010, 1:23 am
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Re: Can You Replace an Old Driving License?
Thanks so much for the information. Much appreciated!
Jun 1st 2010, 1:40 am
#5
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Re: Can You Replace an Old Driving License?
Sally, I still have my old paper one, but it has my parents' old address on it. I will have to get a new updated one when I get back. Once I am settled I will have an actual address to give them. Does anyone know, do I have to take a driving test by any chance (would love to avoid that). Or, do I simply just exchange licences to the newer one
Jun 1st 2010, 2:36 am
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Re: Can You Replace an Old Driving License?
Apparently we have to take another test if we don't have a UK license. They let Canadians just exchange their license for a UK one, but not Americans for some reason. But if you have a UK license already, I don't see why you'd need to take a test again.
Jun 1st 2010, 4:19 am
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Re: Can You Replace an Old Driving License?
Jun 1st 2010, 6:22 am
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Re: Can You Replace an Old Driving License?
I guess they think Canadians are better drivers 
Jun 1st 2010, 7:06 am
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Jun 1st 2010, 8:42 am
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Re: Can You Replace an Old Driving License?
I used to work in the States for 12 months in Colorado. I got a Colorado License, which was piss easy - you had to crash before you fail. That was in 2001 though not sure if it is still like that. When I went back to the UK - Still had my UK paper license and just updated to photo one.
I don't think you have any problems. Contact the DLVA via email. Do you have the driving license number?
Depending on which province in Canada you settle you can do a full exchange on your UK license for a full Canada driving license. They send the UK one back to the DVLA. In Ontario you can do this without a written or driving test. You just need to do an eye test. In other provinces you still need take a test but your experience is taken into account so you still get the full license after passing the driving test.
On returning to the UK just fill in the forms and include your forgien license and they will return your full UK license free of charge. This is the process I used when I return from Canada in 2008. But now I've gone back to Canada again as PR. But might come back to the UK again so I'll apply to get my old license back.
If you didn't do an exchange like the USA and have lost your UK license you can still drive for up to a year in the UK on an forgien license anyway.
If you have lost your UK license just apply for a duplicate license as you have lost the original. No need to take another test.
Hope that helps.
I don't think you have any problems. Contact the DLVA via email. Do you have the driving license number?
Depending on which province in Canada you settle you can do a full exchange on your UK license for a full Canada driving license. They send the UK one back to the DVLA. In Ontario you can do this without a written or driving test. You just need to do an eye test. In other provinces you still need take a test but your experience is taken into account so you still get the full license after passing the driving test.
On returning to the UK just fill in the forms and include your forgien license and they will return your full UK license free of charge. This is the process I used when I return from Canada in 2008. But now I've gone back to Canada again as PR. But might come back to the UK again so I'll apply to get my old license back.
If you didn't do an exchange like the USA and have lost your UK license you can still drive for up to a year in the UK on an forgien license anyway.
If you have lost your UK license just apply for a duplicate license as you have lost the original. No need to take another test.
Hope that helps.
Last edited by canadaimmigrant; Jun 1st 2010 at 8:53 am.
Jun 1st 2010, 9:34 am
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Re: Can You Replace an Old Driving License?
I used to work in the States for 12 months in Colorado. I got a Colorado License, which was piss easy - you had to crash before you fail. That was in 2001 though not sure if it is still like that. When I went back to the UK - Still had my UK paper license and just updated to photo one.
I don't think you have any problems. Contact the DLVA via email. Do you have the driving license number?
Depending on which province in Canada you settle you can do a full exchange on your UK license for a full Canada driving license. They send the UK one back to the DVLA. In Ontario you can do this without a written or driving test. You just need to do an eye test. In other provinces you still need take a test but your experience is taken into account so you still get the full license after passing the driving test.
On returning to the UK just fill in the forms and include your forgien license and they will return your full UK license free of charge. This is the process I used when I return from Canada in 2008. But now I've gone back to Canada again as PR. But might come back to the UK again so I'll apply to get my old license back.
If you didn't do an exchange like the USA and have lost your UK license you can still drive for up to a year in the UK on an forgien license anyway.
If you have lost your UK license just apply for a duplicate license as you have lost the original. No need to take another test.
Hope that helps.
I don't think you have any problems. Contact the DLVA via email. Do you have the driving license number?
Depending on which province in Canada you settle you can do a full exchange on your UK license for a full Canada driving license. They send the UK one back to the DVLA. In Ontario you can do this without a written or driving test. You just need to do an eye test. In other provinces you still need take a test but your experience is taken into account so you still get the full license after passing the driving test.
On returning to the UK just fill in the forms and include your forgien license and they will return your full UK license free of charge. This is the process I used when I return from Canada in 2008. But now I've gone back to Canada again as PR. But might come back to the UK again so I'll apply to get my old license back.
If you didn't do an exchange like the USA and have lost your UK license you can still drive for up to a year in the UK on an forgien license anyway.
If you have lost your UK license just apply for a duplicate license as you have lost the original. No need to take another test.
Hope that helps.
