Default uk driving licence


I came to Canada 5 years ago and exchanged my uk driving licence for the Canadian one. Does anyone know if I return to live in the uk what steps I should take to get my uk licence back. Would appreciate comments from people who have done this. Thanks

Did you try the Search facility?

go on line directgov.co.uk make sure its the right site(theres some scam form filling ony sites that look like gov sites and charge a fortune with no licence at the end of it) and it'll direct you from there

thanks angelic applicant

I haven't done this, but when I returned from Alberta I just filled in the necessary forms and traded my Cdn Lic for a UK (auto only) lic. Having read some threads in the past that have dealt with your situation I think it is fairly straightforward for you to exchange your Ab lic for your UK licence. Before you leave get your driving abstract from the Ab gov and your claims history from your insurer. They might be handy when you are buying car insurance. Good luck with your move.

thank you If1

Thought I would re-post this as I don't know if you realised that I included a link from a search I ran to find the last thread that asked this question.

There are several links within the thread that you might find useful.

You don't exchange your licence when you get back to the UK, if you do that, they'll only give you an automatic only licence. You need to apply for a replacement of your previous licence, then you will get the same entitlements that you had before you left. There have been a lot of threads about this already, definitely worth clicking that search link

Exactly, the distinction is crucial.

As long as you have a copy or photocopy of your old UK licence, or just a record of the "Driver Number" on the old licence it is a totally easy process. You just file as a simple change of address (from ancient UK address to new UK address) as if you had never left.

If no record of driver number then you have to deal with Swansea to dig up your old driver number before applying, and that can be done but is not fun. The driver number is probably the first four letters of your surname followed by some digits.

That's exactly what I did - sent a copy, and switched address and switched from a paper-only to photo ID.

I asked DVLA about this issue, because my husband exchanged his UK license for a Canadian one eight years ago, and will need to get his UK license back in July. This is the reply I received:

"Thank you for your email received on 10/1/14. Your email reference number is ......

If a test has been passed in the UK in a manual vehicle previously, this will be honoured and granted on the UK licence once it is exchanged back from a Canadian one.

Full details on how to exchange are detailed below.

Photocard

To apply for an exchange licence when the previous photocard licence was exchanged for a Canadian licence, you will need to complete a D1 application form and return to the following address with your current licence:

DVLA
Swansea
SA99 1BT

D1 forms are available from selected Post Offices® that offer driving licence transactions, your nearest Post Office® can be found by clicking here or alternatively from the DVLA ordering service at www.gov.uk/dvlaforms.

Please allow 3 weeks for the receipt of your licence.

No fee is required with your application.

Photographs are valid for use on a driving licence, for a 10 year period from when they are presented to the DVLA.

Paper

To apply for an exchange licence when the previous paper licence was exchanged for a Canadian licence, you will need to:

• complete a D1 application form (available from selected Post Offices® that offer driving licence transactions, your nearest Post Office® can be found by clicking here or alternatively from the DVLA ordering service at www.gov.uk/dvlaforms
• enclose original documents confirming your identity (a full list of acceptable identity documents can be found in the information booklet which accompanies the form)
• send a passport type photograph
• return your current driving licence

Please send your completed application to the address above.

No fee is required with your application.

DVLA aims to deliver your new driving licence to you within 3 weeks of receiving your application.

Do not reply to this email. If you wish to contact us again about this response then please use our Reply Form or copy and paste the following URL in to your browser:

That's pretty much identical to the response I had when I made the same query a couple of years ago, except they didn't use the word 'exchange'.

The driver number is even simpler than that
I believe it is the first five letters of your surname, followed by a slightly jumbled version of your DOB

First number is the decade you were born, (4, 5, 6, 7,8 or 9 )followed by the month (01 or 02 or 10) followed by the date (again 01 or 11) followed by the year of the decade in which you were born. Then a few letters

I remember when it was first introduced there was horrified comment from some elderly ladies that this meant that any policeman who stopped them would know their real age!

Well back then, the license expired on your 70th birthday so the expiry date also would tell someone how old you are (unless you were past 70, of course).