Jerseygirl

This is an email I received from the DVLA regarding renewing a UK DL...

I am sorry but it is not possible for an individual who is a UK citizen but is nor longer resident in the UK to apply for a further driving licence.

Changes to British legislation resulting in the implementation of the Second EC Directive on Driving Licences (91/439/EEC) since 1 January 1997, have required that driving licences are granted only to drivers who are resident in this country.

hungryhorace

That's (another) myth. The photocard is _not_ your driving licence. Holding an expired photocard does not in anyway invalidate your DL. Plod are guilty of continuing this myth, despite the offence simply not existing.

See s99 RTA 1988:

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/52/section/99

"(2A)Where, in accordance with the preceding provisions of this section, a licence in the form of a photocard remains in force for a period of more than ten years, the holder of the licence must surrender it and its counterpart to the Secretary of State not later than the end of the period of ten years beginning with.."

The actual DL is valid until you are 70 years old. THEN it needs renewing.

Duration of licences.

" (1)In so far as a licence authorises its holder to drive motor vehicles of classes other than any prescribed class of goods vehicle or any prescribed class of passenger-carrying vehicle, it] shall, unless previously revoked or surrendered, remain in force, subject to subsection (2) below—

(a)except in a case falling within paragraph (b) or (c) of this subsection, for the period ending on the seventieth anniversary of the applicant’s date of birth or for a period of three years, whichever is the longer,

(b)except in a case falling within paragraph (c) of this subsection, if the Secretary of State so determines in the case of a licence to be granted to a person appearing to him to be suffering from a relevant or prospective disability, for such period of not more than three years and not less than one year as the Secretary of State may determine, and

(c)in the case of a licence granted in exchange for a subsisting licence and in pursuance of an application requesting a licence for the period authorised by this paragraph, for a period equal to the remainder of that for which the subsisting licence was granted,

and any such period shall begin with the date on which the licence in question is expressed to come into force."

hungryhorace

Is anyone arguing that a UK drivers licence would be issued to a non British resident? I'm certainly not.

To be clear: The photocard expiry date is NOT the expiry of your DL. It doesn't matter what the DVLA or el Plod (mistakenly) inform you. Until the appropriate legislation (RTA 1988) is updated, they are just guilty of not knowing the law (not a surprise for your average copper or DVLA staff member, remember where the DVLA is - in one of the poorest and worst educated areas of Britain).

The MPS haven't even brought any prosecutions for an expired DL it appears:

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/reque...otocard_part_2

" Between 01/01/2011 and 31/12/2012, how many summonses have been issued
for offences under the Road Traffic Act (s99), where individuals have
failed to renew the photocard part of their driving licence? How many
of these summonses proceeded to a final hearing? How many convictions
have there been? How many people were fined the maximum £1,000?

This is to inform you that I cannot identify any specific
records/documents held by the MPS that will satisfy your request based on
the details you have provided."

hungryhorace

I have a photocard + counterpart DL. If I am still resident in the US I have no intention of renewing my photocard when it expires as my UK driving licence continues to be valid. The photocard part would just be expired - a separate offence (for the hundredth time).

Samxboy

There is another compelling 'financial' reason to keep your UK license. Ever compared the relative costs of US car rental when shopping through a UK website for Hertz or similar? Cost is typically half or even less! Just show your UK license at the rental desk and save loads....

hungryhorace

I haven't found that to be the case, though I agree with you, I would EXPECT it to be the case.

For example, I booked a Hertz rental recently for $220 - the cost to do it via Hertz UK would have been £155. That's with the same coverage's. I booked in advance via prepay, so this obviously affects it. The rates at the desk are insane, plus foreign drivers licences come loaded with all the insurance you'll never need (and AMEX card holders get as part of their package anyway).

Samxboy

Just pre-paid 300GBP for 2 weeks rental in Florida through UK website. Cost for exact same rental on US website was over $1,200.....go figure.. proud to be british when it suits

hungryhorace

Bizarre. Do you hold a US state drivers licence? Not that they even ask that question when booking.

Steve_

Hertz is a bit funky though, search the web for Hertz discount codes. There are codes that can only be used on the US website.

hungryhorace

I used my AAA membership (20%) as my corporate AMEX code wasn't given anything more than 10%.

Samxboy

Yes....both. They know full well it happens so they place in the small print that you must present a UK license when picking up the vehicle. If you turn up with your US license they can and will decline to rent you the vehicle. Saying that I'm a gold club member at hertz and go straight through to vehicle pick up...they don't care.

hungryhorace

I experienced that recently. Corporate booked a travel reservation against my UK DL for a hire out of state. I turned up and they expected my UK DL. It's at home in my safe I reply, indeed I don't believe I'm even allowed to drive on my UK DL given I hold PR status in the US.

In the end I cancelled the booking and took out a rental against my US state DL which was $50 cheaper - I could waive the collision damage waiver as it's mandatory like it is for foreign licence hire.

sir_eccles

I think one way of looking at it is that without a legitimate means to renew the Photocard, the counterpart DL goes into a state of limbo. The DL is neither strictly valid or invalid but waiting until a legitimately renewed Photocard can be produced. Upon re-establishing residence you can legitimately renew the Photocard and the DL comes out of limbo.

hungryhorace

For practical purposes, I would agree. However, for purely legal purposes, the DL is 100% valid. ie, an insurer could not relinquish itself from coverage due to you holding an expired photocard DL - I'm sure they would try of course, but like I say, until the law is changed the DL holder retains an active and valid licence.

Steve_

Yeah I use my AMA membership card and get 20% but I've noticed in the past some very strange things going on regards exchange rates as well. One of the reasons I stopped using Hertz, they seem to make it up as they go along. Like the "this car or equivalent" and the equivalent you get is far removed.