UK EXPAT - ELECTORAL REGISTER - HIRE CAR PROBLEM

[Steve1960]

Not sure about Martin, I don't have any property in the UK therefore no legitimate address for the license. For me I think it's time to get a Singapore license.

[Primrose Hill]

https://www.gov.uk/change-address-driving-licence

[martincymru]

What if you rent a car with your SG driving licence? What if you update your UK address, I have updated it for banking purposes and HMRC - electoral role -closed (SG & London). Good tip- update licence address with DVLA to new UK address?

You mean you have 2 licences and 2 permanent residence addresses?

Steve: So we take the Singapore driving test then when we go back next year to the UK to live we have to take the UK driving test? If so then seems daft to me.

[Steve1960]

I am not sure what the UK reg's are. Here in Singapore I think it's only necessary to take the basic theory test to change license. Maybe there is a similar arrangement in the UK? Needs investigation. I will most likely never return to the UK to live so it's not an issue. Of course if I did I doubt I could pass the driving test as it is today!

[Primrose Hill]

What if you rent a car with your SG driving licence? What if you update your UK address, I have updated it for banking purposes and HMRC - electoral role -closed (SG & London). Good tip- update licence address with DVLA to new UK address?

You mean you have 2 licences and 2 permanent residence addresses?

Steve: So we take the Singapore driving test then when we go back next year to the UK to live we have to take the UK driving test? If so then seems daft to me.

No, no, I dont mean that at all. For electoral vote purposes, I informed gov.uk (Camden) of my address in SG, I also informed them that we have sold our house in London and moved up the road and here's the new UK address. As to how long we will remain in SG, I have left that question blank/indefinitely- until further notice.

Don't forget, I did ship the car over, so I had completed whatever DVLA notification then as well.
We do have SG driving licenses and LTA merely issued us with SG driving license and gave back our UK license.
Doesn't that mean that both licenses - UK & SG ones are valid?

[martincymru]

I am not sure what the UK reg's are. Here in Singapore I think it's only necessary to take the basic theory test to change license. Maybe there is a similar arrangement in the UK? Needs investigation. I will most likely never return to the UK to live so it's not an issue. Of course if I did I doubt I could pass the driving test as it is today!

"change license" I understand its a new licence not a change?

I also probably would not pass the UK driving test again at the aged of 60 ! Hence my concern.

[martincymru]

Primrose said : "moved up the road and here's the new UK address. As to how long we will remain in SG, I have left that question blank / indefinitely".

So your Residence is now legally Singapore, evidenced below.

"We do have SG driving licenses and LTA merely issued us with SG driving license and gave back our UK license".

"LTA merely issued". You mean no driving test required and "merely' paperwork?

But DVLA, when you informed them of your Singapore address, (your factual residence place) are legally obliged to retain [keep] your licence.
I am confused that LTA gave back your licence which should have been in possession of DVLA.

Of course if you informed DVLA "incorrectly" (forgive me if wrong) "moved up the road and here's the new UK address" that's a different matter.

[Primrose Hill]

In SG, we did the conversion/basic theory test. Something like $10 to take the test. You know immediately if you pass or fail. Once you have passed you get a new shiny SG driving license. LTA do not cancel out your UK license. We now hold 2 licenses - UK & SG.

UK - We imported the car to SG, at the time of importation we were living in a rental in SG. One of the criteria of importation of the car are the paperwork- Certificate of Conformity, informing DVLA through one of the vehicle paperwork (green paper) that you will be exporting the car out of the country from home (UK) to home (SG), there are tons of other paperwork involved. Gotten a PhD by the time you navigated through the maze of governmental depts that do not talk to each other.

Subsequent to car importation, we sold existing house (then) in UK and bought a BTL up the hill or road. We have informed Camden and all the relevant tax authorities and banks too, but DVLA slipped my mind.

I did informed the DVLA of our change of residence or address but our licenses were not withheld. They are aware of our change of address since the 1st year we were in SG, we were inaudated with summonese for non-payment of car insurance.

[martincymru]

Primrose said: "We now hold 2 licenses - UK & SG".

I am confused more. Firstly DVLA want your licence (Paper and card) back to re-issue to your Sg address. Of course DVLA cannot do that since DVLA will not issue an amended licence to an overseas address.

If you go back to UK are you using your UK or Sg licence for all transactions / dealings? If UK licence then actually it's invalid (shows wrong (UK) residential address); no trace electoral role, hire car problems etc.
If you use your SG licence than why keep your UK licence which is invalid anyway? If you flash your UK licence after an accident in the UK then Police have no trace of who you are, licence is invalid and could be serious implications.

[ Apologies to other Forum viewers for side tracking but licence/electoral role and residency are all linked in this discussion ].

[Primrose Hill]

hmmm food for thought.

[singapore eagle]

Here's my 2 cents, based on personal experience...

I obtained a Singapore licence back in 2010 by taking the theory test and converting my UK licence. The Singapore authorities didn't take my UK licence, nor, to my knowledge, did they enter into any contact with the DVLA. As far as the DVLA are concerned, my UK licence remains intact.

My UK licence currently has my parents' address on it. I consider this to be my permanent address in the UK.

I think, therefore, that I have 2 valid driving licence - UK and SG. But I may be wrong.

[Steve1960]

Here's my 2 cents, based on personal experience...

I obtained a Singapore licence back in 2010 by taking the theory test and converting my UK licence. The Singapore authorities didn't take my UK licence, nor, to my knowledge, did they enter into any contact with the DVLA. As far as the DVLA are concerned, my UK licence remains intact.

My UK licence currently has my parents' address on it. I consider this to be my permanent address in the UK.

I think, therefore, that I have 2 valid driving licence - UK and SG. But I may be wrong.

I think (but am not sure) this may be tied to the UK electoral register. Are you on the register at your parents address and do you or they pay council tax for you? If so then I think you are OK. If not then I think (again not 100% sure) that you do not have a legal UK address on your driving license as it is illegal to give a UK permanent address and not pay council tax.

I am thinking of asking my mother to add me to the electoral register and I will pay the council tax until I can get a Singapore driving license.

[singapore eagle]

The answers to your questions are no and no. I figured the requirement for a 'permanent' address was based around ensuring that fines, disqualifications, etc. would get to me - which is what my parents address does.

[Steve1960]

Well I have booked a hire car on line for my trip to the UK next month. The email confirmation I received said they would be carry out checks (although they do not say what checks) before I pick up the car. Will be interesting to see what they say...............

[Primrose Hill]

Well I have booked a hire car on line for my trip to the UK next month. The email confirmation I received said they would be carry out checks (although they do not say what checks) before I pick up the car. Will be interesting to see what they say...............

Come back after your trip and update us here, please. We too will be heading back there over summer and toying with renting a car this time