What did you do with your UK Driving License?

[The Dimmocks]

Driving in other countries on a GB licence : Directgov - Motoring

[adelaidenow]

Thanks

One bit says it all

Moving to another country

If you move to another country, you should check with the driving licence authorities there for information about driving and exchange of licences. You don't need to notify DVLA of a change of address when moving to live abroad.




The word exchange is the important one.

[The Dimmocks]

I know I saw that word. We still got ours, was expecting it to be taken off us but they didnt so will just keep hold of it.

[adelaidenow]

I don't blame you for keeping it. I have mine, but it has a hole punched in it!

I am, leaving this thread now!

[The Dimmocks]

http://www.immi.gov.au/living-in-aus...ly-drivers.htm

http://www.sa.gov.au/subject/Transpo...erseas+licence

[SA Great]

I don't blame you for keeping it. I have mine, but it has a hole punched in it!

I am, leaving this thread now!

Don't leave....your posts are great!

[sunnydays]

Hi all

Well Have been in touch with the appropriate people in the UK and they said that if I have an Australian Licence which is still valid :

you will not be able to exchange your driving licence for a British one, however, you will be able to drive in Great Britain (GB) on your full, valid driving licence for up to 12 months from the time you first become resident
you will need to stop driving once the 12 months are over
if you wish to continue driving in GB you will need to get a GB provisional driving licence and sit a theory and practical driving test

So you do have to sit your test again after 12 months.
It might be worth changing the address before you leave to your parents or friends address who will remain residents in the UK that way you are OK if you ever did return to the UK long term.

Thanks every one for your help!

[Pesty650]

Thats what I love about this forum, 26 replies to the original post & still no definitive answer. If it's important, you really should check with the relevant authorities for you answers, if you want to know where to get fish & chips in Adelaide, then ask away here.

[WhatNow?]

Thank you pesty650, I agree - I was waiting for the definitive answer from DTEI before posting again as I fail to see the point of arguing just for the sake of it. I emailed yesterday and got the following reply today...

Thank you for your enquiry.

A client applying for a South Australian Driver’s Licence is not required to surrender their overseas Driver’s Licence at the time. Even though the overseas licence holder is exempt from the requirement to surrender their licence, upon the issue of an SA Learner’s Permit or licence their overseas licence is considered to be voided.

For more information please refer to the website below:
http://www.sa.gov.au/subject/Transport%2C+travel+and+motoring/Motoring/Interstate+and+international+motorists/International+motorists/Driving+with+an+overseas+licence

Kind regards,
Karen
for
SERVICE SA
Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure


Perhaps this will draw a line under this issue. It is common sense after all - your UK Driving licence is a piece of personal ID - which is the point the ServiceSA manager made - therefore they should not be taking it off you. To answer the point about having 'two licences' - once you have applied for and been issued an Australian one, you cannot legitimately use your UK one in Australia.

Sorry Matt, but it's part of my job to know these things...and if I don't know or my information is called into doubt, I ask the people who do know. Perhaps the people who work at Service SA do know what they are talking about after all and deserve an apology...

[adelaidenow]

They say that the old license is voided, which still means you can only have one license. Holding 2 licenses is illegal, the word voided means its no longer valid!

Maybe they no longer insist on defacing or taking away your UK license, but legally you can't use it.

So no. I won't apologise :-)