Renewal of drivers licence expired 1974

[JohnCarrWestwood]

I am now resident in Australia ,have a clean Aus drivers licence and want to buy a car in UK rather than Rent.

The UK insurance co's are gougers when it comes to premiums.

To get a reasonable rate i need a UK licence . I have my expired licence which exp 1974 .

Is it possible to get it renewed without all the rigmarole of a new test? After all, I can drive on my Australian Licence.

I cant find any answer in DVLA nor email contact address

Appreciate any advice. I travel Sept 1 2012

[marmaris30]

How did it expire, exactly - what does it say on your old licence? I was under the impression that pre-photocard licences only expired at 70, which would make you a rather unlikely 108.

 

However, if you exchanged your UK licence for an Oz one then I doubt DVLA would renew it - they wouldn't be keen on someone having multiple licences, for obvious reasons.

 

The DVLA website says you can drive in the UK on an Australian licence, OR get it exchanged, for up to 12 months. But exchanging might give you problems back in Oz and I doubt you have enough time anyway.

 

Have you tried price comparison sites with both licence options to find the best deal - is it really such a big difference in price? Failing that, what about specialist insurance brokers - this is presumably a long stay (less than a year?) rather than resuming permanent residence, so your licence might not be the only problem - lack of a UK address, no-claims bonus or other driving history being one of them.

 

If they really do charge the earth then unless you're proposing to buy a £100 banger, you might be better off trying to negotiate a long-term hire contract. Depending on the firm, they should be glad to have their asset on definite hire and earning money, rather than parked at the depot.

[JohnCarrWestwood]

thanks for the input

The licence Expired in 1974 .

I know I can drive on my AUS licence but I cant get insurance at a reasonable rate. Its almost double because of my AUS licence. So, an option might be to get my UK licence renewed if possible . Failing that a Month long rental.

I am 63 held NZ 10 years with no claims and an AUS licence for almost 30 years no claims all of which can be verified and a clean UK licence. The old Red hard covered version

So far I have not been able to find a broker other than Short term Insurance that want $465 for 28 days ..MADNESS and trying to get a contact email for DVLA has so far proved impossible.

 

.

[Raykay]

If your old licence was one of the old booklet style council issued licences, it would have expired as they required renewing every three years - and I doubt if DVLA have any record of it.

If it was a paper computer type licence issued by DVLC (as it was), it would be valid until you are 70.

[marmaris30]

Well in theory the entitlement on a DVLA-issued licence only expires on turning 70, even if the licence itself expired. You could certainly try sending it in to DVLA with the appropriate form, fee and some photos. If they refuse then they'd hopefully send your fee back.

 

In fairness though, regardless of your age, your driving and claims history abroad are unlikely to be taken into account (company car history often isn't) by many insurers, and depending on the date on your 'new' licence, they might choose to see you as a 'new' driver and want 2000 quid per annum. It helps that you have no convictions though.

 

Equally, someone who obtained a licence in 1974 but hadn't driven a mile since would be seen as lower risk even though they'd probably be extremely dangerous!

[Roger Beaumont]

Hi...I passed my driving test in 1975 and has a UK license....I then went abroad for many years....i am now back but DVLA say I have to take the test again....is there anything I can do about this? Any advice much obliged...

[Roger Beaumont]

Just to follow up....although I can't find my license, DVLA know I had one as their records show

[johnvernon74]

I believe you can exchange your AUS one for UK one by completing a form and sending them you AUS one??

[marmaris30]

If you've tried to exchange a foreign licence then I think in many cases they will only accept them if issued after a certain date.

 

Either way, if DVLA say you need to take a new test to obtain a replacement UK licence then I don't think there's very much you can do apart from to go along with it. The only ways you could get around this would be to prove previous, unexpired and unexchanged entitlement.

 

You will need to take a theory and a practical test, and you will need some lessons to prepare for these. Think of it as an opportunity to ensure that you are still driving safely!

[crem]

Did you exchange your UK licence for a foreign one when you emigrated? If so, you should be able to exchange it back for a new UK one also.

 

If not, I see no reason why, having had DVLA admit that they know you had a licence, they shouldn't acknowledge also that it is valid until you are 70 years old. What reasons have they given?