Dvla and foreign Licences

[ben]

I guess it would all get complicated if my dad added me to his insurance ...

Although I think that would be the least of my worries - trying to explain to a police officer why I have a Japanese license, but claim to be living in Taiwan ....

 

[Focus Owner]

and i think i would struggle to know that (the city i gave in spelling)

 

[johnw]

yes, but that wont affect their uk license (if they keep it quiet),

Thats what the guy we had in court last week thought. He told us he had no UK licence only an Irish one. The prosecution then produced a DVLA printout showing a UK licence holder with the same name and date of birth as the Irish one he had told us was the only one he held. So he was banned as a totter having reached 12 points.

He will be back in court next week to face a charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice. In view of the fact that he lied on oath in a crowded court room, I don't see any possible outcome other than a guilty verdict. Then he will go to jail for at least 3 months.

Hand it wont affect their foreign license when they go back abroad,

I couldn't care less how badly he drives in somebody else's country.

so in effect its free points to play with.

Only if you don't mind going to jail.

 

[ben]

Hypothetically speaking then:

If I got pulled in the UK and only had my foreign license on me, said I used to have a UK but I don't know where it is - then left the country again within the week (which is what I do) .... is there any recourse?

 

[sammy657]

Yeah so technically Im on 12 points in the republic on my irish licence and 6 points untill december on my irish licence in the uk as i have held a uk licence before?

 

[johnw]

Ben, as long as you tell the truth about having a UK licence you will face the same penalties as any other UK licence holder. If the offences add up to a ban or there are unpaid fines they will put you on a watch list and nab you at some future entry into the UK. This didn't use to happen but recently the rules have been tightened up.

Sammy, any points you have earned in the UK are on your UK licence and not on any other licence you may have.

 

[Cian]

Yeah so technically Im on 12 points in the republic on my irish licence and 6 points untill december on my irish licence in the uk as i have held a uk licence before?

...

Where did you get the points and what for?

The only way you can accrue points on an Irish licence is for offences in Ireland. If you've got 12 points in Ireland, you are banned and your Irish licence is invalid in the UK.

The UK doesn't care or know how many points you have on an Irish licence and they also cannot put points on an Irish licence.

 

[ben]

Ben, as long as you tell the truth about having a UK licence you will face the same penalties as any other UK licence holder. If the offences add up to a ban or there are unpaid fines they will put you on a watch list and nab you at some future entry into the UK. This didn't use to happen but recently the rules have been tightened up.

Sammy, any points you have earned in the UK are on your UK licence and not on any other licence you may have.

Hehe - so I'd be on interpol's most wanted

But it would also seem, I could get banned on my UK license - then just drive using my Japanese one anyway?

 

[sammy657]

Wouldnt you still be under the 6 point rule as you held a uk licence before ben?

 

[ben]

Well the six point rule is only within 2 years isn't it? I've had my UK license for 7 years now

 

[sammy657]

Ah i have 3 months left lol. Just really confused as to wether it carries over to my irish licence here in the republic

 

[Cian]

Ah i have 3 months left lol. Just really confused as to wether it carries over to my irish licence here in the republic

NO!

Points got in the UK cannot go on to an Irish licence.
Points got in Ireland cannot go on to a UK licence.

The only exception would be if you hold *both* licences - UK points would go on to the UK licence and Irish points on to the Irish licence.

 

[johnw]

But it would also seem, I could get banned on my UK license - then just drive using my Japanese one anyway?

No. if a UK court bans you from driving then no licence you happen to hold is valid in the UK.
Custody awaits those who drive while banned as does a no insurance charge.

 

[ben]

An interesting topic indeed - ta very much

 

[sammy657]

It is interesting but confusing too lol

 

[sammy657]

So has anyone else here exchanged there licence for a foreign one while still under the new drivers act in the uk?

 

[Cian]

So has anyone else here exchanged there licence for a foreign one while still under the new drivers act in the uk?

The Irish authorities will let you swap if the license is a week old or 9 years, 11 months, 3 weeks old. We don't care.

 

[jug]

So has anyone else here exchanged there licence for a foreign one while still under the new drivers act in the uk?

yes, about 1 week after i passed in the uk i exchanged my uk licence for a dubai licence (well a UAE licence actually).