Transfering Aus licence to UK?

Transfering Aus licence to UK?

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Discussion

Janosh

Original Poster:

1,743 posts

172 months

Monday 27th September 2010
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I've been looking on the DVLA website, but can't find a form that would allow me to do this...

I understood that I can transfer my driving & motorcycle licence over to the UK, but I've got no idea what I need to complete to get it done?!

Any help much appreciated!

MidnightXR6

814 posts

174 months

Thursday 30th September 2010
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Im pretty sure you cant do that.

You are allowed to drive over here on your Oz license for 1 year at which point you must sit a UK car and motorbike one if you stay longer to be legal to drive.

Xaero

4,060 posts

220 months

Thursday 30th September 2010
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I'm not sure about transfering it over, you are allowed to drive for 1 year after arrival and then have to take the test to get your own licence here, that also means giving up your old licence. Works both ways for both countries.

Edited by Xaero on Thursday 30th September 14:22

holloway_dave

449 posts

212 months

Thursday 30th September 2010
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You can definitely swap it over and it's actually pretty easy.

You can send all you documentation off to the DVLA and wait however long it takes them. It needs to be original documents though, so you need to send off your passport - which I don't like the idea of.

This tells you all about it http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensi...

The other option is to use the 'Premium Checking Service', which you can do at the Wimbledon DVLA office (in London - there are others around the country). Then you can just rock up with your identity documents and they verify them on the spot, so you don't have to send them away. You still need to wait for
them to actually send out your UK license, but it only takes a couple of weeks.

Oh, and when you are getting added to the car insurance they will ask you how long you've held your UK license. If you say you've only had it a few months the premium will go up a lot - you need to tell them that you've held your Aussie one for 10 years or whatever and that it's the equivalent of the UK one (since you don't need to retake a test). They'll argue with you, then go and talk to their manager, then come back and say that you are right and the premium will go down a few hundred quid.

Edited by holloway_dave on Thursday 30th September 13:33

Janosh

Original Poster:

1,743 posts

172 months

Thursday 30th September 2010
quotequote all
Thanks for the link Dave - that's what I suspected, just couldn't find right the page

Having read some more, if you have a digital passport, you don't actually have to send it off, so I think I'll just apply by post..

My only concern was their recognition of the Australian motorcycle licence?? I guess I just have to send it off and keep my fingers crossed!

MidnightXR6

814 posts

174 months

Saturday 2nd October 2010
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So does that mean i can go over to OZ transfer my UK to OZ license without ever having to sit a test then??


Pothole

34,367 posts

287 months

Saturday 2nd October 2010
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MidnightXR6 said:
So does that mean i can go over to OZ transfer my UK to OZ license without ever having to sit a test then??
Why would it?

MidnightXR6

814 posts

174 months

Saturday 2nd October 2010
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Well i would like to live over there at some point but it would mean less hassle being able to transfer my license from a uk to australian one or is it different rules over there?


Janosh

Original Poster:

1,743 posts

172 months

Saturday 2nd October 2010
quotequote all
No problem to transfer it that way. In Australia you need to pay for the annual licence fee though! From memory you get a 3 or 10 year option. Costs about $40 for 3 years & $150 for the 10 years..

Very easy to do though, you just go to the local licencing office and get an Aussie one printed there and then.