Bridgeman Posted October 19, 2016 Share Posted October 19, 2016 We are thinking of moving back to the UK next year, initially for a year but maybe permanently and I have been trying to find any information regarding the best thing to do about a car. We have UK driving licences, but the photo ID expired in 2009. I understand that we can renew these in the UK, but have read elsewhere on this forum that in order to do that you need to have been resident for 185 days. Is this true? Also that being the case we would be able to drive temporarily on our Oz licences, but understand that it is not possible to get insurance with your Oz licence if you buy a car, which would mean the only alternative is to hire a car till we can get our UK licences. Confused! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bristolman Posted October 19, 2016 Share Posted October 19, 2016 Your UK license should be valid until you are 70 I think, that's the old paper license. The photo license is renewed every 10 years. I can find no mention of any waiting period. If you have a UK license you should be able renew it as they don't run out every few years like in Australia. Actually I have found something about the 185 days, that's to show you are resident in the UK when exchanging a foreign license. You already have a UK license, it's just that the photo part has expired. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VERYSTORMY Posted October 19, 2016 Share Posted October 19, 2016 I had to get a new one on return and it was no problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bungo Posted October 19, 2016 Share Posted October 19, 2016 We are thinking of moving back to the UK next year, initially for a year but maybe permanently and I have been trying to find any information regarding the best thing to do about a car. We have UK driving licences, but the photo ID expired in 2009. I understand that we can renew these in the UK, but have read elsewhere on this forum that in order to do that you need to have been resident for 185 days. Is this true? Also that being the case we would be able to drive temporarily on our Oz licences, but understand that it is not possible to get insurance with your Oz licence if you buy a car, which would mean the only alternative is to hire a car till we can get our UK licences. Confused! Nope the 185 days is not true. Your licence has not expired anyway, just the photo card has and you simply need to renew that when you return and have an address. OH renewed his within a couple of months of returning, mine has a couple more years to go so I just started using it again as we went back to the same address. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScotlandBound Posted October 19, 2016 Share Posted October 19, 2016 you can renew at post office, one where they can do photo. did same last year and mine expired 2008. Takes about 3 weeks for DVLA to send out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BacktoDemocracy Posted October 19, 2016 Share Posted October 19, 2016 We are thinking of moving back to the UK next year, initially for a year but maybe permanently and I have been trying to find any information regarding the best thing to do about a car. We have UK driving licences, but the photo ID expired in 2009. I understand that we can renew these in the UK, but have read elsewhere on this forum that in order to do that you need to have been resident for 185 days. Is this true? Also that being the case we would be able to drive temporarily on our Oz licences, but understand that it is not possible to get insurance with your Oz licence if you buy a car, which would mean the only alternative is to hire a car till we can get our UK licences. Confused! You need to get a no claims bonus statement from your Australian insurers, Aviva are one of the English companies that accept Australian no claims bonus. Just send off your licence for change of address as soon as you have an address, it seemed that was all required when we did it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marisawright Posted October 20, 2016 Share Posted October 20, 2016 You can drive on your Australian licence for six months so there's no rush to get the British one sorted. Aviva accepted our Australian no claims without a problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BacktoDemocracy Posted October 20, 2016 Share Posted October 20, 2016 You can drive on your Australian licence for six months so there's no rush to get the British one sorted. Aviva accepted our Australian no claims without a problem. Be a little cautious, the insurers may charge more if driving on a Australian licence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marisawright Posted October 20, 2016 Share Posted October 20, 2016 Be a little cautious, the insurers may charge more if driving on a Australian licence. None of the insurers we got quotes from, even asked about our licenses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bristolman Posted October 20, 2016 Share Posted October 20, 2016 I have always found they will ask how long you have held a UK license. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bridgeman Posted October 23, 2016 Author Share Posted October 23, 2016 Thanks everyone for the useful replies which I have just seen as we have been away (no internet). Lots of good information. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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