Expiring UK drivers licence
Jan 26th 2019, 3:29 pm
#1
Lost in BE Cyberspace
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Joined: Jun 2011
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 6,159
Expiring UK drivers licence
I could probably search on this and pull up a thousand posts..so apologies.
I'm in the U.S.
My U.K. driving licence expires in March 2019.
If I move back to the UK in, say, 2023 whatever, is it easy to renew? I don't need to resit a test or anything?
Just asking in case I should nip back and arrange renewal before March.
I'm in the U.S.
My U.K. driving licence expires in March 2019.
If I move back to the UK in, say, 2023 whatever, is it easy to renew? I don't need to resit a test or anything?
Just asking in case I should nip back and arrange renewal before March.
Last edited by Hotscot; Jan 26th 2019 at 3:37 pm.
Jan 26th 2019, 5:44 pm
#2
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 2013
Location: Eee Bah Gum
Posts: 4,131
Re: Expiring UK drivers licence
I could probably search on this and pull up a thousand posts..so apologies.
I'm in the U.S.
My U.K. driving licence expires in March 2019.
If I move back to the UK in, say, 2023 whatever, is it easy to renew? I don't need to resit a test or anything?
Just asking in case I should nip back and arrange renewal before March.
I'm in the U.S.
My U.K. driving licence expires in March 2019.
If I move back to the UK in, say, 2023 whatever, is it easy to renew? I don't need to resit a test or anything?
Just asking in case I should nip back and arrange renewal before March.
you can follow the links under expired licence on the DMV website
https://www.gov.uk/driving-licence-fees
Jan 26th 2019, 6:30 pm
#3
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2011
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 6,159
Re: Expiring UK drivers licence
Thanks!
Jan 27th 2019, 4:25 am
#4
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Joined: Jun 2015
Location: France
Posts: 862
Re: Expiring UK drivers licence
In order to renew a UK licence, you are required to be resident in the UK.
Exchange your UK licence for a US one (if you haven’t already done so) and then renew your UK licence when you move back permanently.
Exchange your UK licence for a US one (if you haven’t already done so) and then renew your UK licence when you move back permanently.
Jan 27th 2019, 5:17 am
#5
Joined: Dec 2001
Location: Dixie, ex UK
Posts: 52,446
Re: Expiring UK drivers licence
Er, Helen1964, this is the US, not France, nor anywhere else in the European Onion, and you cannot exchange a British licence for a state license issued anywhere in the US* (with the possible exception of NJ), nor can you swap a licence issued by any US state for a British one. And there is no such thing as a "US license", drivers licenses are issued by individual states. 
* Once resident in the US you have, legally only 10-90 days (depending on which state you move to) to obtain a local state license, and that means taking a road test (as above NJ may still be an exception), and a theory test, as if you were a new driver.
Jan 27th 2019, 8:46 am
#6
Joined: Feb 2012
Location: Not in Paris
Posts: 18,194
Re: Expiring UK drivers licence
Renewing your licence won’t be an issue whilst you’re under 70 and a UK resident. ‘Nipping back’ to renew isn’t a legal option.
Jan 27th 2019, 11:30 am
#7
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Joined: Jun 2015
Location: France
Posts: 862
Re: Expiring UK drivers licence
Thanks for that info. But whatever the arrangements are for obtaining a licence to drive in the US, the point I was trying to make is that, legally speaking, you can’t renew a UK licence if you’re not a UK resident.
Jan 27th 2019, 2:00 pm
#8
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Joined: Aug 2013
Location: Eee Bah Gum
Posts: 4,131
Re: Expiring UK drivers licence
It is also illegal to drive in the UK with a licence that has the wrong address on it. If stopped, or worse, in an accident and it is revealed that the address on your licence is not where you reside permanently then it is an instant fine, and the insurance on the car may also be invalid.
