Driving on a Foreign Licence in UK
Discussion
I have a foreign driving licence, issued in the Middle East, as well as a UK licence.
People have suggested that I can use the foreign licence instead of the UK licence to avoid points in the event of getting a speeding ticket or whatever.
I don’t think this would work unless I didn’t have a UK licence and my cars were insured specifically for my overseas licence. Doing this would probably not be worth it as the increased premiums for insuring a foreign driver would likely be more than any speeding fines and incremental insurance costs for having points on my licence.
Just to confirm, I don’t plan on using the foreign licence in the UK, I don’t have any points on my licence and haven’t had for 20-odd years so I’m not trying to fleece the system, just looking for info to correct people when they say it can be done.
People have suggested that I can use the foreign licence instead of the UK licence to avoid points in the event of getting a speeding ticket or whatever.
I don’t think this would work unless I didn’t have a UK licence and my cars were insured specifically for my overseas licence. Doing this would probably not be worth it as the increased premiums for insuring a foreign driver would likely be more than any speeding fines and incremental insurance costs for having points on my licence.
Just to confirm, I don’t plan on using the foreign licence in the UK, I don’t have any points on my licence and haven’t had for 20-odd years so I’m not trying to fleece the system, just looking for info to correct people when they say it can be done.
slf2012 said:
I have a foreign driving licence, issued in the Middle East, as well as a UK licence.
People have suggested that I can use the foreign licence instead of the UK licence to avoid points in the event of getting a speeding ticket or whatever.
I don’t think this would work unless I didn’t have a UK licence and my cars were insured specifically for my overseas licence. Doing this would probably not be worth it as the increased premiums for insuring a foreign driver would likely be more than any speeding fines and incremental insurance costs for having points on my licence.
Just to confirm, I don’t plan on using the foreign licence in the UK, I don’t have any points on my licence and haven’t had for 20-odd years so I’m not trying to fleece the system, just looking for info to correct people when they say it can be done.
You've got a UK licence. That's the one that would be used for points, fines, etc. That's it. People have suggested that I can use the foreign licence instead of the UK licence to avoid points in the event of getting a speeding ticket or whatever.
I don’t think this would work unless I didn’t have a UK licence and my cars were insured specifically for my overseas licence. Doing this would probably not be worth it as the increased premiums for insuring a foreign driver would likely be more than any speeding fines and incremental insurance costs for having points on my licence.
Just to confirm, I don’t plan on using the foreign licence in the UK, I don’t have any points on my licence and haven’t had for 20-odd years so I’m not trying to fleece the system, just looking for info to correct people when they say it can be done.
slf2012 said:
I have a foreign driving licence, issued in the Middle East, as well as a UK licence.
People have suggested that I can use the foreign licence instead of the UK licence to avoid points in the event of getting a speeding ticket or whatever.
I don’t think this would work unless I didn’t have a UK licence and my cars were insured specifically for my overseas licence. Doing this would probably not be worth it as the increased premiums for insuring a foreign driver would likely be more than any speeding fines and incremental insurance costs for having points on my licence.
Just to confirm, I don’t plan on using the foreign licence in the UK, I don’t have any points on my licence and haven’t had for 20-odd years so I’m not trying to fleece the system, just looking for info to correct people when they say it can be done.
If you got stopped they would do a check even if you handed your foreign licence over. This would show that you have a UK licence as well. Points would be added to that. People have suggested that I can use the foreign licence instead of the UK licence to avoid points in the event of getting a speeding ticket or whatever.
I don’t think this would work unless I didn’t have a UK licence and my cars were insured specifically for my overseas licence. Doing this would probably not be worth it as the increased premiums for insuring a foreign driver would likely be more than any speeding fines and incremental insurance costs for having points on my licence.
Just to confirm, I don’t plan on using the foreign licence in the UK, I don’t have any points on my licence and haven’t had for 20-odd years so I’m not trying to fleece the system, just looking for info to correct people when they say it can be done.
If you didn’t have a UK licence and you got points. A ghost licence would be created with the points added. Would still be searchable if stopped etc.
If you get stopped by a person, for something reasonable, few miles over, you will talk your way out, camera then they will create a dummy license. its a lot of work for a guy on the side of the road. but if you are uk resident theres a time limit, to exchange.
But if you dont get let go and check and you have a valid licence and dont tell them, then that is another offence.
In realty with cameras there is no gain and extra risks if you lie to a person.
That's why I let mine expire i can genuinely say I dont have a uk licence, been let of twice in hire cars on M4 leaving Heathrow.
I would not try it in a private car.
But if you dont get let go and check and you have a valid licence and dont tell them, then that is another offence.
In realty with cameras there is no gain and extra risks if you lie to a person.
That's why I let mine expire i can genuinely say I dont have a uk licence, been let of twice in hire cars on M4 leaving Heathrow.
I would not try it in a private car.
Thanks all for the replies.
As i said, using my foreign licence if stopped is not something I would do. Morally it would be wrong, and it would likely be fraudulent if I still had my UK licence.
Just wanted to be able to answer some people who obviously think they can fleece the system.
As i said, using my foreign licence if stopped is not something I would do. Morally it would be wrong, and it would likely be fraudulent if I still had my UK licence.
Just wanted to be able to answer some people who obviously think they can fleece the system.
dxbtiger said:
Claim what?
It's not my car.
I am a non resident of the UK.
I am visiting on holiday, will be added to the insurance with my UAE licence.
My UK licence is not valid due to not being a resident.
Whist on holiday, if you do anything which would earn you points, the points will be added to your UK licence.It's not my car.
I am a non resident of the UK.
I am visiting on holiday, will be added to the insurance with my UAE licence.
My UK licence is not valid due to not being a resident.
NGee said:
Whist on holiday, if you do anything which would earn you points, the points will be added to your UK licence.
Ok, but that is not what I am discussing.anonymous said:
[redacted]
Same way you did if you have one, by passing my test when I was legally old enough to drive, I lived in the UK at that point, from memory I had 3 points on it once, back in something like 2004, nothing else.You need to be a resident in the UK to have a valid UK Driving Licence, presently I am not a UK resident, my licence therefore is not valid.
At no point did I mention scenarios where I am pulled over, merely pointing out that I DO NOT HAVE A VALID UK LICENCE, despite possessing one.
phumy said:
If you are not a UK resident then you can not have a UK driving licence, end of.
Genuine question. If a non UK resident is driving in the UK on an UAE licence and gets done for drink driving how does he loose his licence?He can't loose his UK one if he doesn't have one. Does the DVLA have control over other countries licences?
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Genuine lol - 'get done' for what?Why would I need legal advice?
My brother's insurance company are happy to add me to his policy with my UAE licence, I've previously rented from Hertz or Avis (I forget which) with my UAE licence.
Gov.uk site confirms I can drive on foreign licence.
Please keep replying, it's amusing.
dxbtiger said:
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Free perhaps, decent no You are claiming that you are in possession of a UK driving licence. IF you have a/kept your UK licence, it does NOT stop being valid if you move abroad and you are no longer a UK resident. In some countries you can exchange your UK licence without taking another driving test. If you have EXCHANGED your licence, then you no longer have a UK licence and you can use your foreign licence to drive in UK.
In other countries, you have to take a local test and you can easily end up with 2 or more driving licences. In those cases, or in a country where you could have exchanged but took a local test anyway to keep your UK licence, you still have a VALID UK licence. When in UK, whether as a visitor or returning permanently, you must use your UK licence. The questionnaire on the gov.uk website doesn't apply to you because you have a valid UK licence, that questionnaire is only for people who do NOT have a valid UK licence.
By the way, I believe that attempting to use a foreign licence when in possession of a valid UK licence is grounds for a PCOJ charge, although I could be wrong. That would land you in a whole world of pain. I hope it doesn't come to that because PCOJ is looked upon very poorly by both the police and judiciary.
I wish we could have trial by AGT...
anonymous said:
[redacted]
So are you saying that if someone came here every year for a weeks holiday, once they have 'used' their UAE licence in the first year then it could not be used any more? I thought the 12 months was reset after they had been back in their own country a certain length of time?I realise that in this case the OP does have a licence but what happens to people who have never had a UK licence?
Does this mean that foreign licence holders, who don't have a UK licence, are not allowed to ever use their foreign licence again 12 months after their first landing on these shores.?
NGee said:
anonymous said:
[redacted]
So are you saying that if someone came here every year for a weeks holiday, once they have 'used' their UAE licence in the first year then it could not be used any more? I thought the 12 months was reset after they had been back in their own country a certain length of time?The entitlement to drive on an international licence is 12 months from the date the [non-resident] holder last entered the UK.
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