Discussion
Before I start I have not yet done anything nefarious and this is a question about the technical aspects rather than the ethical ones but out of curiosity...
I have two licenses as a result of living in China and wanting to drive there. So how does this work with UK speeding?
I have just been docked for toddling along at 70 in a 60 in a hire car which irritatingly takes me back up to 6 points and I was just wondering what would have happened if I rented using my Chinese license?
Given I cannot get UK points on a Chinese license dos this mean I could wriggle out with just a fine? There is certainly no link between the two...
Could one even drive one's own car and state a valid foreign countries license if one was pinged?
I have two licenses as a result of living in China and wanting to drive there. So how does this work with UK speeding?
I have just been docked for toddling along at 70 in a 60 in a hire car which irritatingly takes me back up to 6 points and I was just wondering what would have happened if I rented using my Chinese license?
Given I cannot get UK points on a Chinese license dos this mean I could wriggle out with just a fine? There is certainly no link between the two...
Could one even drive one's own car and state a valid foreign countries license if one was pinged?
You can, of course, hire a car with any licence the hirer will accept.
I have two licences, a UK one that is valid until 2027, and an NZ one (where I now live).
I use my UK licence everywhere except UK and NZ. For hiring a car in the UK I would use my NZ one as that is where I live.
The question to address would be if any "fines" ended up at an overseas address, do you bother replying?
The Australian Police once tracked me down to NZ after I had used my UK licence to hire a car in Brisbane. Filed in the bin, been back since with no issues.
Perhaps it depends where you are domiciled.
I have two licences, a UK one that is valid until 2027, and an NZ one (where I now live).
I use my UK licence everywhere except UK and NZ. For hiring a car in the UK I would use my NZ one as that is where I live.
The question to address would be if any "fines" ended up at an overseas address, do you bother replying?
The Australian Police once tracked me down to NZ after I had used my UK licence to hire a car in Brisbane. Filed in the bin, been back since with no issues.
Perhaps it depends where you are domiciled.
I have the same - a UK licence and a Chinese licence... I seem to remember reading on the DVLA website that you're supposed to surrender your UK licence after 12 months (or was it 3 years?) of being resident outside of the UK.
So I guess that your UK licence could technically be invalid anyhow?
So I guess that your UK licence could technically be invalid anyhow?
Pat Cash said:
I have the same - a UK licence and a Chinese licence... I seem to remember reading on the DVLA website that you're supposed to surrender your UK licence after 12 months (or was it 3 years?) of being resident outside of the UK.
So I guess that your UK licence could technically be invalid anyhow?
Think that is very technically though isn't it? One assumes that if one ever returned one would have to retake a UK license then? To use a Chinese phrase- mega mafan!So I guess that your UK licence could technically be invalid anyhow?
George 500 said:
Think that is very technically though isn't it? One assumes that if one ever returned one would have to retake a UK license then? To use a Chinese phrase- mega mafan!
Definitely mega mafan...But if thems the rules, then with the Government Gateway and their combined database information access, it would be pretty easy to identify, for example, someone who holds a valid UK Licence but has registered as non-resident in the UK with the tax man.
Again in theory, could lead to some awkward questions when a licence check was done.
kapiteinlangzaam said:
The rules are a mess (as usual).
I am British with a UK driving licence, but am resident in another EU country (and have been for nearly 7 years). According to the UK rules I should have surrendered my UK licence after 12m and got a 'local' one, problem is that here (due to other tax reasons) I am not allowed to be registered as a normal resident and therefore cant obtain a local driving licence.
Are you sure about that ?I am British with a UK driving licence, but am resident in another EU country (and have been for nearly 7 years). According to the UK rules I should have surrendered my UK licence after 12m and got a 'local' one, problem is that here (due to other tax reasons) I am not allowed to be registered as a normal resident and therefore cant obtain a local driving licence.
According to GB rules, and as a GB resident, you can drive here on any EU / EEA issued licence until your 70th birthday or for 3 years, whichever is the longer. AIUI, the same applies to all countries within the EU / EEA.
tenpenceshort said:
You are wrong.
http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/faq/holiday-home-cars/I've no idea where to look for actual legislation, and besides, my interest doesn't run that deep.
trashbat said:
tenpenceshort said:
You are wrong.
http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/faq/holiday-home-cars/I've no idea where to look for actual legislation, and besides, my interest doesn't run that deep.
Your link above is to do with registering a vehicle (for example, living in the UK and registering a UK vehicle to France), not driving it. The language relating to driving in the article is poor use of language and is misleading.
From memory, though it may have changed since, you must register a foreign vehicle in the UK once it has been here for 12 months.
tenpenceshort said:
Your link above is to do with registering a vehicle (for example, living in the UK and registering a UK vehicle to France), not driving it. The language relating to driving in the article is poor use of language and is misleading.
The article is ostensibly about that but is mostly concerned with what UK residents can drive here. However it also suggests that the stuff described in this thread (i.e. working in the EU) is a workable exception.From what I can gather, but again no law, you would be on shaky ground if you did actually live here. https://www.gov.uk/importing-vehicles-into-the-uk/...
kapiteinlangzaam said:
Yes, but they are not UK resident and not UK tax domiciled if they are living elsewhere.
It's irrelevant to the issue of whether a UK resident can legally drive a foreign registered car in the UK with a UK licence. Of course they can!Of course, you could always point out the legislation that makes it illegal, if you believe otherwise.
http://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/vehicles/regi...
and the directive behind it:
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri...
and the directive behind it:
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri...
EU said:
A tax exemption is granted if three conditions are satisfied. First, the individual importing the means of transport must have his normal residence in a Member State other than the Member State of temporary importation. Second, the means of transport must be employed for private use and therefore not for activities undertaken for consideration or for profit. Third, the means of transport must not be disposed of or hired out in the Member State of temporary importation or lent to a resident of that State
Good Lord I am boring. And no I don't know what English law actually implements that.Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff