Slalomdude

Later this month, I am heading back to the Uk to fly my wife and dogs over before I move back permanently in Jan. My mum offered to put me on her car insurance to let me drive it for the week. She called her insurance company today and they asked if I had a full Uk license which I do, it was issued in 1986. She then went on to tell my mum that it is illegal to have both a UK and US license and they would not put me on the policy for this fact. Any one heard of such an issue? I cannot find anything on UK GOV website .
Thanks

cyrian

When you moved to the USA, you had two possibilities depending which state you moved to.
1. You could exchange your drivers license for a US license for that state.
2. You would need to sit a US drivers test to get a license.
You should have given up your UK license.
In that case, when you return to the UK you simply apply for the re-issue of your UK license.
You will need your US license when you return to the US.
Perhaps you could just rent a car for the week on your UK license and apply for a replacement UK license in January.

Slalomdude

You mean rent a car on my US license? That is an option, albeit way more expensive than being added to her policy.
When I moved to the US, I simply applied and took a test for the license there. I guess it never occurred to me to give up my Uk license. I figured you could just have both like I have two passports.

Jerseygirl

To hold a valid UK DL you must be a UK resident and have a UK address. Yes you may hang onto your UK DL, perhaps using a relative or friend’s address, and use it to rent or use a car in the UK. Problem is if you are involved in any type of accident. The insurance company will search for any excuse not to pay up. That excuse would be that you are driving on an invalid UK DL and you are also breaking the law.

durham_lad

This is exactly the problem. I held onto my UK Licence for 29 years while living in the USA but it wasn't valid until I had returned and had the address updated to the place we were renting as our home.

In 2010 my wife's father was seriously ill, and subsequently died, and we came back for a 10 week stay. He put me on his insurance so I could drive his car and we used my US licence, no problem. It was similar this past year when our daughter moved back from the USA and did not have a UK licence at all so I added her to my car insurance so she could get about in our second car. (We had bought a new car and she was buying our existing car rather than have us trade it in or sell it). Again, no problem in adding her with her US licence (California, but I don't think it mattered).

OldEastEnder

Just a quick tangent to this discussion.

My wife (a US citizen) lived with me in the UK from 2002-2005 and passed her UK driving test. She also has her US licence. We are moving back to the UK next year and I was wondering if her UK licence will still be valid or will she have to take her UK driving test again? Or can she exchange her US licence for a UK one?

durham_lad

There will be an expiration date on the UK licence. Even if it is beyond the expiration date I would first try and renew it. If she only admits to having a US then a new UK test is guaranteed but renewing an expired UK licence won’t necessarily require a repeat test.

https://news.jardinemotors.co.uk/how...ce-has-expired

OldEastEnder

Thanks for that, lad. Yes, her licence has expired. So has mine (in 2014). Does that mean I could have to take my test again? I'm a UK citizen and passed my test in the UK in 1984.

Pulaski

You only need to take a UK driving test once. If your license has expired while you were resident outside the UK, you just need to apply for a new licence to be issued to you.

RICH

I cannot believe this question continues
You can not have a valid UK Drivers License if you do not have a valid UK address

Pulaski

I don't think anyone said otherwise, did they? And you didn't quote anyone saying otherwise.

The OP is moving back to the UK next January, so will be resident in the UK and eligible for a UK licence at that time, consistent with your observation.

mikelincs

You will be expected to surrender your US license when exchanging.

RICH

It is in the Thread Title.

Pulaski

You are right.

RICH

As usual