Is my USA license still valid after for hiring a car after the time limit?

Hello
I became a resident in 2003 and bought a car & registered it and drove it on my US license for about 6 months before selling it. I never got my provisional license or applied for a UK one within the one year time limit.  My question is - can I still hire a car here on my US license? Its still valid....I know ideally I was supposed to get my UK one within the year, but I didnt...and now Im wondering if I can legally drive on my US one at all?

sorry to break the bad news, but there isn't hedgeway with that law.  Your license is only good here for one year, so you would be breaking the law to drive any car with it.  This doesn't even change if you've left the country for visits home.  You have one year after you become a resident.  You'd probably do well to start the process of getting a license.  It's a pain, but worth it.

http://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?topic=40445.0

And just to jump the gun because the question invariably arises, it is NOT the UK who prevents a reciprocal agreement, but rather the individual US states who have been approached and have refused.   The UK is open to the idea of reciprocity for driving permits.

but rather the individual US states who have been approached and have refused

Would it more accurate to say that some states have refused, or at least that the "big white chief" of licensing in the state capital has refused even though at local DMV level there would be no objections?

I think the most accurate thing to say is that federal law prohibits individual states from forming international treaties (ie reciprocal driving licences) on their own. 

Paul, I agree with Persephone, and for sure when she and I were making representations at the consulate the American Vice Consul was adamant that it was the states who objected and not the UK.

Which leaves me questioning how some states have agreements with Germany and not with the UK.  It doesn't all completely add up, does it?  But then it was not the issue we were representing on, and there's not enough critical mass to advocate for it...

I suspect it has something to do with the huge military presence in Germany.  That's just my guess since the US military uses Germany as a landing post for so much.  It probably necessitated more adjustment.

Which leaves me questioning how some states have agreements with Germany and not with the UK.  It doesn't all completely add up, does it? 

It sure doesn't.  I know that at least one state has a reciprocal agreement with France as well.  Maybe it's unofficial.   

The thing is, the assorted DMVs in the U.S. seem to use discretion sometimes, issuing a state license on the basis of a U.K. license under their "out of state license" clause. 

I suspect it has something to do with the huge military presence in Germany.  That's just my guess since the US military uses Germany as a landing post for so much.  It probably necessitated more adjustment.


Don't think that is the answer either since the military in Germany all have to get a military license by first passing the German written test and sign test - and it's not easy!

Umm... I broke the law! I had my Hawaii driver's license and drove on that for two years before it was about to expire and I was forced to get a UK license.

I only ever drove once in a while when we rented a car. We didn't own one ourselves and the rental company never said anything.

I suppose I should have been more law abiding, but I didn't know you could get into trouble!

Good luck passing your practical. If it makes you feel better, after 16 years of driving, I managed to fail my first test by banging into the curb! Aaahhh, how I can laugh now, but it was so tragic the day it happened.

I suppose I should have been more law abiding, but I didn't know you could get into trouble!

I don't think it will put you on Britain's most wanted list.....