Driving License Help
#1
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2017
Location: Canada
Posts: 13
Driving License Help
We moved back to the UK at the beginning of June 2017. I am now trying to renew my British license, that has expired, online and it is saying that I need to do the paper version of the application. Should I renew my UK one or exchange my Canadian license?
#2
Re: Driving License Help
Have you contacted the DVLA?
Some of our members had lost their UK licence...but the DVLA had been able to trace it and issue a new one.
Some of our members had lost their UK licence...but the DVLA had been able to trace it and issue a new one.
#3
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2017
Location: Canada
Posts: 13
Re: Driving License Help
I haven't lost it, but I don't know if I should be exchanging Canadian for GB it or renewing my old GB one that I but is expired.
#5
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jul 2003
Location: Finally moving!
Posts: 1,236
Re: Driving License Help
licence - noun, license - verb.
British driving licence does not expire until 70 years of age. What does expire is the photocard. Renew it at one of the main Post Offices that takes identification photos.
Branch Finder | Post Office
Enter your postcode, tick the box "DVLA photocard renewal" and click on search.
#6
Re: Driving License Help
A couple of things to unpack here. Since you still have your GB licence did you pass your Canadian driving test separately? Is it a UK photocard licence that you hold (and has expired?)
#7
Re: Driving License Help
You You are required to exchange your DL for a Canadian DL. In which case there is no test.
#9
Re: Driving License Help
I believe you are legally required to hand over all previous DL's...in exchange for a Canadian DL. Of course you could hand over the pink photo card (which many think is a DL)...and keep the actual paper DL.
#10
Re: Driving License Help
Depends when the OP moved to Canada, & possibly which province they moved to.... when I moved in 2001 (to Ontario), UK licences were not accepted for "exchange", & I had to sit both a written & practical test. The rules have since changed. Guess different provinces may have their own rules...
#11
Re: Driving License Help
We are in the process of planning a move back to the UK, & I recently called DVLA with this question about my expired UK licence. I gave the person who answered my driving licence#, & she said that I should just apply to renew it, & also pass a medical for my LGV entitlement, & it'd be good to go. While waiting for the new licence to arrive I'd be good to drive cars only. I was given form #s to use.... not sure of an online service, that wasn't presented as an option for me.
#12
Re: Driving License Help
Depends when the OP moved to Canada, & possibly which province they moved to.... when I moved in 2001 (to Ontario), UK licences were not accepted for "exchange", & I had to sit both a written & practical test. The rules have since changed. Guess different provinces may have their own rules...
#13
Re: Driving License Help
Right. Seem to remember when I was getting my ON licence, there was a short list of countries that were accepted for exchange, IIRC USA, Germany, Switzerland, S Korea & Japan? maybe more. US licences were fully transferable with all classes of vehicles, but the other countries could only exchange car entitlement. UK was added to the list shortly afterwards.
They did want to see my UK licence, as previous driving experience meant that I only had to sit the final test, instead of starting as a beginner & going through the whole multi-year graduated process.
Similarly, when my wife & I were in the UK she was able to exchange her ON licence for a UK one, including for vehicles with manual shifting. This has now changed, & it is only possible to exchange a Canadian licence for UK licence for automatic transmission vehicles, unless evidence can be shown that the test was passed in an automatic.
They did want to see my UK licence, as previous driving experience meant that I only had to sit the final test, instead of starting as a beginner & going through the whole multi-year graduated process.
Similarly, when my wife & I were in the UK she was able to exchange her ON licence for a UK one, including for vehicles with manual shifting. This has now changed, & it is only possible to exchange a Canadian licence for UK licence for automatic transmission vehicles, unless evidence can be shown that the test was passed in an automatic.
#14
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2013
Location: Chicago
Posts: 470
Re: Driving License Help
Also similar here. Back in 2006 we exchanged our Illinois licenses for Ontario. However as we found out, it's not seamless for every state. Illinois is one of the few states that does not have an electronic agreement with Ontario for verifying motor vehicle violations. That meant we had to print the official Illinois violation report for each of us and submit that in person at the Ontario service centre office.
Otherwise no exchange possible. So something to check before going in.
Otherwise no exchange possible. So something to check before going in.
Last edited by Richard8655; Jul 28th 2017 at 6:56 pm.
#15
Re: Driving License Help
Also similar here. Back in 2006 we exchanged our Illinois licenses for Ontario. However as we found out, it's not seamless for every state. Illinois is one of the few states that does not have an electronic agreement with Ontario for verifying motor vehicle violations. That meant we had to print the official Illinois violation report for each of us and submit that in person at the Ontario service centre office.
Otherwise no exchange possible. So something to check before going in.
Otherwise no exchange possible. So something to check before going in.
Apologies to the OP...I seem to have taken the thread off topic.