Hiring a car in UK on US license with old address
Sep 9th 2011, 2:24 am
#31
Joined: Oct 2006
Location: Reno Nevada
Posts: 15,917
Re: Hiring a car in UK on US license with old address
I give up LOL
Sep 9th 2011, 3:26 pm
#32
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 537
Re: Hiring a car in UK on US license with old address
A UK license is only valid if you have a UK address.....If you move to another country then it's not valid.
Sep 9th 2011, 3:40 pm
#33
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Apr 2007
Location: Charleston, SC
Posts: 1,455
Re: Hiring a car in UK on US license with old address
We were in the UK in March and my OH used his UK licence to hire a car. The address on it is the property we still own but it being rented out at the moment. I believe he also showed his US licence but the rental company didn't seem to bother about it. He booked through a UK rental site as doing it through a US one seemed to be more expensive. We got a VW Passat and had no problems.
(OH is still going on about the good MPG it had! Managed to go from London to Edinburgh and Glasgow on 1 tank of gas)
(OH is still going on about the good MPG it had! Managed to go from London to Edinburgh and Glasgow on 1 tank of gas)
Sep 9th 2011, 3:43 pm
#34
Joined: Mar 2009
Location: Google Town
Posts: 7,532
Re: Hiring a car in UK on US license with old address
From the DVLA website
Keeping your details correct
Telling DVLA your details have changed will ensure your record is up to date and all future driving licence reminders are sent to your correct address.
Remember, if you permanently move to another country, you can’t register your new address on your British driving licence. You’ll need to contact the driving licence authority in your country of residence.
Nothing here about surrendering your license.
Replacing Lost or Stolen License
Driving before your licence is returned
You can drive before you receive your licence as long as you:
•have held a Great Britain or Northern Ireland licence issued since 1 January 1976 or another exchangeable licence
Nothing to say and have been resident in the country since that date.
Also, it clearly states here that you do not have to inform the DVLA of a change of address if you move abroad. If your license became invalid, I am sure they would have put. "If you move abroad your UK license becomes invalid" It also goes on to say "if you return to GB and are not in posession of a GB license..." which must surely mean you can be in posession of one.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring...ng/DG_10023103
Keeping your details correct
Telling DVLA your details have changed will ensure your record is up to date and all future driving licence reminders are sent to your correct address.
Remember, if you permanently move to another country, you can’t register your new address on your British driving licence. You’ll need to contact the driving licence authority in your country of residence.
Nothing here about surrendering your license.
Replacing Lost or Stolen License
Driving before your licence is returned
You can drive before you receive your licence as long as you:
•have held a Great Britain or Northern Ireland licence issued since 1 January 1976 or another exchangeable licence
Nothing to say and have been resident in the country since that date.
Also, it clearly states here that you do not have to inform the DVLA of a change of address if you move abroad. If your license became invalid, I am sure they would have put. "If you move abroad your UK license becomes invalid" It also goes on to say "if you return to GB and are not in posession of a GB license..." which must surely mean you can be in posession of one.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring...ng/DG_10023103
Sep 9th 2011, 3:53 pm
#35
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2006
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 12,865
Re: Hiring a car in UK on US license with old address
Also, it clearly states here that you do not have to inform the DVLA of a change of address if you move abroad. If your license became invalid, I am sure they would have put. "If you move abroad your UK license becomes invalid" It also goes on to say "if you return to GB and are not in posession of a GB license..." which must surely mean you can be in posession of one.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring...ng/DG_10023103
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring...ng/DG_10023103
It's pity there's nothing on the DVLA's website that clarifies this. I find the info supplied to Jerseygirl by email (that the license is invalid when not a resident of the UK) persuasive but not quite definitive.
Last edited by Giantaxe; Sep 9th 2011 at 4:09 pm. Reason: "currently valid" as opposed to "valid"
Sep 9th 2011, 3:59 pm
#36
Joined: Oct 2006
Location: Reno Nevada
Posts: 15,917
Re: Hiring a car in UK on US license with old address
Might need a new style version 
mines looking a bit tattered!!
mines looking a bit tattered!!
Last edited by Poppy girl; Sep 9th 2011 at 4:02 pm.
Sep 9th 2011, 4:03 pm
#37
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2006
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 12,865
Re: Hiring a car in UK on US license with old address
Lol, even worse shape than mine!
Sep 11th 2011, 6:54 am
#40
Joined: Mar 2009
Location: Google Town
Posts: 7,532
Re: Hiring a car in UK on US license with old address
"In possession" of a license doesn't mean said license is valid for the period of time you aren't resident in the UK. I actually am in possession of three licenses, but am very sure that one (and possibly two) of them aren't currently valid.
It's pity there's nothing on the DVLA's website that clarifies this. I find the info supplied to Jerseygirl by email (that the license is invalid when not a resident of the UK) persuasive but not quite definitive.
It's pity there's nothing on the DVLA's website that clarifies this. I find the info supplied to Jerseygirl by email (that the license is invalid when not a resident of the UK) persuasive but not quite definitive.
Sep 11th 2011, 4:16 pm
#41
Joined: Oct 2006
Location: Reno Nevada
Posts: 15,917
Re: Hiring a car in UK on US license with old address
Now you know how I felt.....I will admit that I emailed the DVLA in the UK on Friday so let's see what response I get, hopefully tomorrow 
Sep 12th 2011, 3:39 pm
#42
Joined: Oct 2006
Location: Reno Nevada
Posts: 15,917
Re: Hiring a car in UK on US license with old address
HERE WE HAVE IT!!
Dear
Thank you for your email received on 9/9/11. Your email reference number is ******
Whilst an individuals citizenship has no bearing on the validity of an individuals driving licence, I can confirm that providing the licence remains valid and you have not been issued with a licence from another country since leaving GB you may driving on the strength of your GB driving licence on return visits.
If you have been issued with a licence from another country since leaving GB you should use this on your return visit, as the most recently issued licence will be the valid licence.
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:
When filling in the form the email reference number ***** will be required.
Regards
L Evans
Customer Enquiries Group
DVLA
Dear
Thank you for your email received on 9/9/11. Your email reference number is ******
Whilst an individuals citizenship has no bearing on the validity of an individuals driving licence, I can confirm that providing the licence remains valid and you have not been issued with a licence from another country since leaving GB you may driving on the strength of your GB driving licence on return visits.
If you have been issued with a licence from another country since leaving GB you should use this on your return visit, as the most recently issued licence will be the valid licence.
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:
When filling in the form the email reference number ***** will be required.
Regards
L Evans
Customer Enquiries Group
DVLA
Sep 12th 2011, 4:06 pm
#43
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2006
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 12,865
Re: Hiring a car in UK on US license with old address
Excellent.. so we now know that if you have a US license, then that license is the only valid license for use on UK visits; if you don't have a US license, you may use your UK license. This should be sticky'd somewhere.
Last edited by Giantaxe; Sep 12th 2011 at 4:11 pm.
Sep 12th 2011, 4:15 pm
#44
Joined: Oct 2006
Location: Reno Nevada
Posts: 15,917
Re: Hiring a car in UK on US license with old address
..So 
lol
Sep 12th 2011, 4:17 pm
#45
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2006
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 12,865
Re: Hiring a car in UK on US license with old address
The irony of that wasn't lost on me... maybe you should write back and ask that they put this info on their website?