UK DRIVING LICENCE

[Auspom]

When i moved to Australia 13yrs ago i took my UK drivers licence with me so that i could drive in Australia until i obtained my Australian licence however as i am returning to the UK to live in 2012 can i still drive with my old UK licence.
My old UK licence is the older large Pinkish/Blueish type in a plastic see through wallet and is till valid until 2025, is there now a newer smaller style of licence and do i have to send my old one in and obtain the newer style and if so can anyone let me know as to where to send the old one back to to obtain the new one, last time it was DVLC Swansea but suppose a lot has changed in 13yrs.
Thanks for any advice.

Tony

 

[DavidKlyne]

Tony
The standard UK license is now a photo card the size of a credit card. The old style is still perfectly legal. If you change to a photo card it costs about £20 and only lasts 10 years. You also need to be careful that they give you all your current entitlements especially if you tow a caravan. Its still the DVLA who have a very good website where everything is explained. If you have recently renewed your passport with updated photos you can apply for a new license through what is called the Government Gateway and they use the photo and signature from your passport.

David

 

[Damian]

The licence you have is fine.
No need to do anything.

 

[ProfJohnL]

I assume you will have changed address, in which case you must renew your licence to record the change of address, The new one will be a photo card.

As others have said keep a record (Photocopy) so that you can check your replacement licence doe contain all the elements and categories of your old.

I also suggest that obtain a copy of the latest Highway code, and brush up on the myriad of little changes that seem to creep in with each new issue.

Welcome Home!

 

[602]

Hi,

You will need to change your licence to show your new name and address ..... which means lashing out on a photo-card. But you are still LICENCED to drive.

If you have passed driving tests for other groups (bike?) in Oz, you should be able to add them to your UK licence. Only you can decide if it is safe to do this at the same time as changing your address, or would that be to complicated, and things get lost.

Never put more than one transaction in one envelope ..... one is likely to get lost. Photocopy everything that you send to DVLA. If you are flush, you could send £5 to DVLA and ask for a record of your driving licence history, prevent any future arguments.

602

 

[KeithJ]

Prof John is correct. If you notify the DVLA of a change of address they will send you a new licence which will be a current style plastic photo one,which will be free of charge.

 

[TD42]

I had to change my old pink license last year,due to change of address. there was no charge for this & I did it via the DVLA website qouted my passport number & they used that for the new photo ID type licence & took off old penalty points.
normaly there is a £30+ charge for a new licence. but not if you are changing address
see here http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensing/NeedANewOrUpdatedLicence/DG_4022088

 

[KeithJ]

Sorry - forgot to answer the other part of the question. Your old licence will still be valid, so I suggest you wait until you move to this country, and have an address, then obtain the relevant application form from a Post Office and send it off with photos etc. The form will tell you what to do and where to send it. DVLC is now DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority), still in Swansea. Any problems, just phone the DVLA - in my experience they are very helpful.

 

[Auspom]

Thanks guys for all the help and advice, i will wait until i am back in the uk and then do it when i have a confirmed address otherwise if i was to put my daughters address in Manchester were i would be staying temporarily then that would mean changing it twice.
On my original llicence as well as it being for a car it also has my HGV Class 1,11 & 111 plus my PSV entitlements, these should surely carry over to the new licence shouldnt they ??
Tony

 

[DavidKlyne]

Thanks guys for all the help and advice, i will wait until i am back in the uk and then do it when i have a confirmed address otherwise if i was to put my daughters address in Manchester were i would be staying temporarily then that would mean changing it twice.
On my original llicence as well as it being for a car it also has my HGV Class 1,11 & 111 plus my PSV entitlements, these should surely carry over to the new licence shouldnt they ??
Tony

Tony

It would depend whether the qualification for the HGV/PSV required regular retesting and also age might be an influence. I think you would need to check out the DVLA website for more precise information.

David

 

[Auspom]

David.....Thanks for that info, i will contact DVLA to find out further. Tony

 

[hgv dave]

hi tony
the old class 1 2 3 4 hgv is no longer valid..............its c+e and god knows what else.....................also at the age of 45 to carry on driving hgvs (lgv as is now) you will have to undergo a medical and every 5yrs after..............so you will not able to drive a hgv untill you have passed a medical,thats assuming that you are over 45yrs at the present time
this is also the same for psv or as it is known now as a pcv

hgv dave

 

[Auspom]

Hi Dave & Thanks for that advice, unfortunately i am over 45 however i do not think i will ever be driving the biggies again so imagine i could let the licence slide.
Thanks once again.
Tony

 

[Willi-Wonti]

hi tony
the old class 1 2 3 4 hgv is no longer valid..............its c+e and god knows what else.....................also at the age of 45 to carry on driving hgvs (lgv as is now) you will have to undergo a medical and every 5yrs after..............so you will not able to drive a hgv untill you have passed a medical,thats assuming that you are over 45yrs at the present time
this is also the same for psv or as it is known now as a pcv

Thanks for reminding me that I am 60 next year & will have to renew my LGV. Thank goodness that the brigade will pay for the medical & renewal

 

[Timbo1]

Whatever are you doing moving from Australia back to the UK, are you mad!