BritInParis

Just pick up a paper application from the Post Office when you return. If you can order one online for free.

https://www.gov.uk/dvlaforms

fezzy1980

I just posted a similar enquiry, can I ask if when you returned to the uk did you declare your foreign addresses as your last 3 years of addresses? And this was accepted no problem? I've been away for 3 years so not sure whether to put the UK for last 3 years where my UK account was held or give my last 3 years addresses abroad?! Thx!

mentalist

Went through the on-line DVLA change of address process once more and AGAIN they have stated " Please tell us about all the addresses where you have lived in the last three years." How do I get around that as they only seem to accept UK addresses?

Shirtback

Do it by post?

BritInParis

Order Form D1 online or pick it up from the Post Office, complete and post to the DVLA. Problem solved.

LewPort

Hi guys, sorry to drag this post back up from the dead again, but I just wanted to sum things up in simple language as there was a lot of talk of 'change of address' forms etc, which doesn't make sense to me.

• If you have exchanged your full UK licence for a foreign one (Canada in my case), this means that the DVLA are currently in possession of your pink UK photocard licence.
• To get this UK licence back, you need to order a D1 form online (or pick it up from a post office) and fill it out with your current details, then send it off along with your foreign licence and some fee.
• It should take about a week for them to send you your good ol' pink UK licence back to you. Meanwhile you can drive using your UK paper-counterpart licence.

This is correct, right?

BritInParis

Not quite. The photocard is (supposedly) returned to the DVLA but it's destroyed so you'll be issued with a new photocard.

Counterparts are no longer valid so you can't drive on it (you should include it with your foreign licence when you send off your application form so the DVLA can dispose of it securely) but you can drive without your photocard licence if it's been sent to the DVLA.

The important bit is to include your GB driving licence number on your application form to ensure you are issued a new photocard using your UK driving records rather than your Canadian licence which would usually limit you to an automatic.

LewPort

Perfect, thanks for clearing that up. I was always given the impression your UK photocard licence was stored and they'd send it back to you. Liars!

And this all takes (give or take a few days) a week, yeah?

BritInParis

The DVLA are pretty prompt providing you've completed the form correctly and (unlike me last time around) included the fee! There are differing postcodes to use depending on the application type so double check that you're using the right one as there's a separate one for foreign licence exchange.

Chris N Lora

Just to clarify, the licence does expire however the category does not.

the licence has a 10 year validation on it however, as normal people do not care to look at the covering paperwork when they get a nice shiny new licence....

if you flip over to the back of the licence it clearly shows that Cat B will expire on the 70th birthday of the licence holder.

why do people make it so complicated when you get back go to the local PO and say you have changed your address fill out the relevant form and bob is your uncle new licence comes to the new address.

Chapponick

How long does it take to get your UK licence back?
What about any points put on your licence here in Canada do they go to your UK licence?

BritInParis

Probably count on a week to two weeks to be on the safe side although it's usually quicker than that providing your application has been completed correctly.

AFAIK your foreign driving record isn't transferable so any points you may have accrued in Canada won't appear on your UK driving record.

Millsyisland

Did you manage to sort out this issue with the online system? I'm in the same situation.

I could put the address that was on the old card that expired a few years ago, but haven't lived there for years.

Shirtback

The dvla advises that you should apply by post when the online system doesn't accept your addresses.

spouse of scouse

Just an aside that may (or may not!) be of interest to people returning from Australia to the UK.

My Australian licence had 2 conditions on it, as a health condition I have is reportable under WA legislation. I had to get a letter from my GP saying I was ok to drive, then when I received my licence written on it was 'take prescribed medication'. Thank you very much for the reminder, you pen pushing jobsworth. I also couldn't renew my licence for 5 years, only 2, and had to go back to my GP after the 2 years and get another letter.

When I sent my Oz licence off to be exchanged for a UK one, my health condition was not listed as reportable. I still worried that once my licence conditions were noted, I'd have to go through all the bullshit again to deem me fit to drive.

There was no problem at all, got my UK licence with no conditions attached and valid for 10 years.

My health condition that WA panicked about? Mild rheumatoid arthritis which only gives me a few aches and pains, and an anti-inflammatory medication that does bugger all to my mental state or reflexes.

I love my home country, but I'm afraid the 'nanny state' label is well deserved.