PDA

View Full Version : Calling all Aussies and copper/ lawyer types rofl ;)



NOCTURNAL
16-11-2017, 08:42 AM
Calling all Aussies that have driven In the UK

Or anyone that knows driving law in UK :)

Can someone confirm for me that when wanting to drive in the uk the aussie resident will have to actually have their licence with them in the UK?

And therefore if they have had their licence revoked for say 6 months in Melbourne ,
, for speeding they cannot legally drive in the uk??
I'm therefore also assuming insurance would be invalid for false information having claimed to have a kicence when it was in fact revoked at the time? ?

All factual info great fully received :)

James C
16-11-2017, 09:44 AM
Presuming that they haven't brought their own car with them (what an effort!) any hire company would require to see the licence before hiring the vehicle anyway, so unless it was loaned by a friend (in which case the insurance company they were using would most likely have asked to see the licence of a foreign national anyway before adding them)

Source: We hire vehicles to people of all nationalities... as long as they have their licence.

scooter
16-11-2017, 10:18 AM
You must hold a valid licence to drive here

Nich
16-11-2017, 11:13 AM
Just to repeat what's already been posted.

All visitors to the UK must be in possession of a valid driving licence if they wish to drive in the UK i.e. they must have their licence with them and it must be valid i.e. not revoked.

You can add foreign visitors to your own insurance for a temporary period of time but must declare that they are in possession of a full valid licence issued in their own country.

Nich.

David
16-11-2017, 11:22 AM
Not relevant to Nick's question exactly, but you can't drive in the UK on even a valid license from another country if your UK one is revoked. Some folk legally hold a number of valid licenses for a variety of reasons! You can't say "taken my license have you? ; never mind I'll use this one instead...".
Bit of loophole, since you could show apparent proof that you are allowed to drive in the UK when in fact you would not be.

David

Malcolmr
16-11-2017, 11:17 PM
When I had my car in the UK (what an effort, but great fun - see photo!) I also arranged to be issued with an "international driver's licence" via the Australian Automobile Association. They also provided the AUS plate for the back of the car. The international licence just confirmed what previous people have said I needed, that I had a valid Australian drivers licence. It was also supposed to help confirm that at border crossings and if queried by police and was seen to be more authoritative than my Aussie licence which is issued by the state I live in (Australian Capital Territory) which presumably might not be immediately recognised overseas as a legal jurisdiction.

NOCTURNAL
17-11-2017, 10:00 AM
sorry guys typed this yesterday and then didnt realise it hadn't posted till i looked back today... DOH!!

cheers guys, all as expected and fully agreed, and is the advice I gave , but as it was only my opinion of the facts I asked to ensure there wasn't anything I wasn't aware of if you know what I mean :) also to clarify whether an insurance company would indeed actually ask for the photocopy of the aforementioned licence, or whether the person insuring the extra person is just held accountable for supplying false information and hence the insurance would be invalid..
the person wantiing to be insured doesnt know that the insuring person knows about the driving licence being revoked, so if actually supplying the licence is required thats great as I assume the aussies do actually take the licence away physically?

Nich
17-11-2017, 10:44 AM
I added my son-in-law's father to my insurance a couple of years ago so that he could drive my car while visiting the UK. My insurance company took down his details from me over the phone and did not require physical sight of his licence.

Might be worth asking the person wanting to be insured for a photocopy of his/her licence to send to the insurance company for verification.

Nich.

David
17-11-2017, 12:54 PM
When I had my car in the UK, what an effort, but great fun ...
I can well imagine! How much of the journey was driven and how much sea or air freight may I ask. Malcolm?
Must have been at least some of the way, since it's difficult to land a 747 in Abingdon, and I don't see the rudder and paddles option on the MG!

David

scooter
17-11-2017, 03:50 PM
I added my son-in-law's father to my insurance a couple of years ago so that he could drive my car while visiting the UK. My insurance company took down his details from me over the phone and did not require physical sight of his licence.

Might be worth asking the person wanting to be insured for a photocopy of his/her licence to send to the insurance company for verification.

Nich.

The insurance company may not ask to see the licence but will insist on seeing it if there is a claim.

Malcolmr
17-11-2017, 09:36 PM
The car was shipped in a container David, costing about three thousand pounds each way. We did about 7000 miles over eight weeks. Did we save money over trains and hire cars? I never worked it out as there was never a question about attending MG events in a hire car! :-)

NOCTURNAL
18-11-2017, 10:34 AM
The insurance company may not ask to see the licence but will insist on seeing it if there is a claim.
My point exactly scooter...ref the comment that the insured supplying the effectively false information at that stage would be liable and no effective insurance....

Thanks guys you've confirmed my advice that he would be ineligible to drive under the ban/revolution or whatever the Aussies call it. .. :)

Cheers. .

v8fangio
26-11-2017, 12:33 AM
I acquired International driving licence like MalcolmR said and 5 times i visited UK and EU have only produced International licence for police in UK and EU [ was never asked for my local home country license, same with Insurance ], Memory has it that i didnt even take my home license with me on holiday.