http://www.eudriverlicence.com/faq.html

have i paid and still am paying loads on lessons and going in for my second test, and its costly with a family of 6 and anyone can just drive about legaly from the u.k and in the u.k by this loop hole?? what happens if you had a crash would that not be dangerous driving??. it cant be legal?? is it?. when will they stop it if it if it is, so people have to sit the theory and same nerve racking test i am doing a second time!.

sixpotsid74:

This sounds dodgy to me. If you are a citizen of another EU country or one recognised by the DVLA, you can swap your full licence for a UK one. If you have never passed a test in the other EU country and apply for fake licence, the UK police may find out if you have an accident. Your Insurance would be deemed invalid. So you would be done for driving without a licence, driving without insurance and any other offence they can add. The result

1) You could be without a car if written of.

2) Banned from driving for a long period

3) Have to pay a large fine

4) Have to pay any potential claim from the 3rd party yourself, as your Insurance would made void.

So if I were you, I would stick with trying to pass your test and get a proper licence.

Huckster

Check out the UK Government guidance:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensing/DrivingInGbOnAForeignLicence/DG_4022556

It seems if you already have a licence issued in the European Community and European Economic Area you are ok.

The full list is:

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Republic of Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Portugal, Slovenia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden

HTH

Sparky

Sparky

Did you look at the eudriverlicence site. Looks like a scam to me. Any driver licence for any category including HGV without having to pass a test!!!!!!!!

Huckster

so on the faq i can swap my learners uk licence apply as a resident in the uk to another eu country as we are now part of the eu and get a full eu and swap to the uk via the dvla to hold a british uk full licence then?? via a loop hole ? and thats not the only site offering it too!, me personaly having children would never forgive myself if i had a crash and id never passed. im a good driver its nerves and i have not spent all that money to take the easy way out!. but it makes a joke of the dvla and uk laws then???

worries me how many other people who cant drive or have been banned can still drive legaly then? and are driving around with no lessons or even the basic highway code etc?? mind boggles!

I am a qualified driving instructor and I believe that these people are simply trying to take your money. Whilst it is true that citizens of any of the countries listed can swap their full licence in for a British one, these are not the countries where you can usually simply pay for a driving licence. There are some, usually via a hefty bribe to the examiner, but they are not in Europe. Mostly they are in Africa and the Phillipines is also known for it.

If you have a licence valid in any of the European countries, then you can swap these in for a very small fee, so why pay these people a fortune? Not all countries have driving tests as stringent as ours so if you want to go off to one of those and pass your test, that could be an answer, though you probably have to live in that country. You have to be a resident in the UK to take a test here.

Australians can, I believe, also swap in their licence for a UK one.

Insurance can also be extremely high on a swapped in licence.

It is also true that one can pass in an automatic in a European country or Australia, then come here and drive either manual or automatic. We have to take a separate test for manual, but that is another story.

My advice to you would be to carry on with your lessons. You will want your family of 6 to be safe with you at the wheel, won't you?

Forgot to say, Good luck with your next driving test.

I didn't look at this other site, and it sounds very dodgy.

I only checked the DVLA site to see what the requirements were as I thought that for some countries you must still apply and have a FULL UK licence to drive.

I think there is a very large risk of going down this other website route and getting caught out by fraud, identity theft etc and without understanding requirements of the UK highways could be more likely to get into accidents, or charged with unacceptable driving standards (Dangerous driving, or driving without due care and attention).

Sparky

Unfortunately, there are many people driving around the UK who have never passed a test here, and may not even bother to find out our road rules. Most countries offer an international licence, which is valid for one year. If, after that one year, they have not passed their test here they can simply go home and renew it for another year. There is also a loophole with foreign licences from other countries, such as the United States. US citizens are allowed to drive here for one year on their US licence, but if they return to the States during that time and come back, that 12 months starts all over again. Bit of a joke, really, isn't it?

thanks with the good luck wishes, i have had to canncel about four tests with the kids being ill etc lol. im only doing auto and my instructor who has been with me for about 18 months off and on due to money and kids etc, says im a really good driver, i passed my theory with really high marks but at 36 years old and four very lovely heaven sent kids i would not do it any other way than the right way, even if i pass i want the motorway lessons and ill still think maybe they should test me again incase im dreaming. Its a shame because even at my age it will be such a good feeling that i done it, i passed!!!!, i kepted at it and met the new standards and done it, ill be so proud of myself pmsl.

It does not seem right when taking something like driving which is a big responsabilty to your passengers and other road users and all that learning and right of passage that really most (unless like me) do when younger.Can just can be brought on line with out the lessons and learning that everyone should take!. i Just got cross when i saw this, i put in driving tests in to google and it came up, i clicked on it showed my hubby who said that cant be right? and then come on here moaning, sorry.

what i cant see is if you had a crash and hurt or injuried someone without a "real uk" driving pass then that surely should be the same as dangerous driving??, should be anyway.

will pop on and let you all know when i pass im going to frame my little pink driving paper when i get it lol.

p.s my driving is better than my spelling honestly so you drivers can relax when i finally get to drive my little volvo on the roads ,that is waiting lonely but ready for that pass ill get if it kills me , lol.

xx

Margot1:Unfortunately, there are many people driving around the UK who have never passed a test here, and may not even bother to find out our road rules. Most countries offer an international licence, which is valid for one year. If, after that one year, they have not passed their test here they can simply go home and renew it for another year. There is also a loophole with foreign licences from other countries, such as the United States. US citizens are allowed to drive here for one year on their US licence, but if they return to the States during that time and come back, that 12 months starts all over again. Bit of a joke, really, isn't it?

That is not quite true. You can drive on a foreign license for a year from the date you became UK resident (e.g. came to UK to work/study/live). The clock doesn't start again just because you went to Calais for shopping.

This rule is not enforeced vigorously by the police, so unless the person starts driving like a maniac, they would most likely get away with it. I know of a case, where insurance tried to dodge a claim because driver was using foreign license for like 5 years, but the judge said that did not cause the the accident and they had to pay up.

I am not talking about nipping across the channel on holiday. I am talking about US citizens who are working here, paying tax here, and resident in both countries. I have checked this with the DVLA only last week with a lady from the US who had never driven here before and wanted a couple of lessons. Because her job takes her back and forth, she can drive on her US licence for another 12 months when she returns to this country.

Sixpod: Please don't say "only automatic"! I teach automatic and I get fed up with the second class driver prejudice it attracts. I feel that as long as you are on the road, that is the important thing. And what do you mean At your age? I taught three ladies in their sixties last year, two passed third time and the one who had never in her life sat behind the wheel passed first time. Lots of people start driving in their thirties, men as well as women. You will pass, just don't let your nerves let you down. Remember you are driving on your own when you take a test and that is what the examiner wants to see - how you drive on your own.

Would love to know how you get on.

I agree with Margot1 - I drive an automatic car - part through choice, part - necessity

Driving an automatic needs a completely different way of driving especially when, like I did, you start on a manual car...

So - I too get annoyed by the "inferior status" that automatics appear to have gained

There is still foot control needed - which can be dangerous if not used correctly - for example "left foot braking !!"

People who condemn automatics as not proper driving, have usually never been near one. I am sick of hearing things like "I won't have one of those. A friend of mine had an accident in one". I wish people would realise that they change gear for you, that is all. It is not Kit out of Knight Rider - it doesn't take over. One woman remarked to me that automatics are lazy. So is a washing machine, I replied, but I bet you've got one of those!

As a driving instructor, we have to take our tests in a manual and I passed my test in one 40 years ago. But I don't drive one if I can avoid it.

Margot1:

In some other countries they think your odd if you drive a manual. In the US, they are amused by the Brits using those funny stick-shifts!

Some of my family live in Australia, where the majority use automatics. This is the norm and costs you nothing extra when buying.

I first used an automatic in New Zealand and it took me a hour or so to get use to it. I had to convince my brain that my left foot should not use the brake as a clutch and to just relax. For the first few miles I did alot of emergeny braking, hitting the brake with my left foot as if it was the clutch.

If automatic licence holder can't drive a manual without a re-test, I think the reverse of this should also apply. Is this another ISM!!!!!!!

Huckster