Penalties for using your U.S. driver's license

Hi All,

If I remember correctly the UK laws allow us to use our U.S. license for a 12 month period, after which we need to have a valid E.U. license.

Has anyone ever been caught driving with a U.S. license after 12 months? What were the penalties? A friendly warning or death by firing squad?

Thanks

From what I've been told - very heavy fines...VERY heavy.

there's a thread about this somewhere in the section but i can't find it at the moment.  from my understanding- the problem lies in the insurance.  if you remain on your US licence while in the UK for longer than 12 months, you are in fact driving on an invalid licence.  but for whatever reason, you will probably still be able to get insurance (both my parents drove here for 3 years and never switched licences, and were able to get insurance no problem).

the problem is that if you were in an accident, the insurance company could look at your information and say that since you were driving on an invalid licence, they are under no obligation to process your claim.

as for penalties from a legal, DVLA standpoint... i have no idea. 

i know a fair number of people who flout the law and just continue to drive on their US licence.  i personally don't know anything that's ever happened to any of them.  that doesn't mean it wouldn't/couldn't.

I personally would never ever take the risk, probably because all I can think about is, what if, God forbid, I get into some sort of accident and someone was hurt or killed...?   I'd never be able to live with the guilt.  It would be bad enough if I had a license.  But knowing that I never should have been on the road to begin with would push me over the edge.  Maybe I'm just too paranoid.  I drove here on my US license alone for a year.  When that year was up, I stopped.  I have tried taking my test but cannot pass.  I have come close to doing what I hear others doing, which is basically just to drive anyways, because I'm so fed up.  I've stood at the door with keys in hand but then think, and I can never go ahead with it. It's not that I think I am unsafe, but I guess you just never know. 

What I'm saying is that if I would just receive a fine, I probably would have done it long ago.  But it could be worse than 'just getting caught'.   

sariann, have you had some lessons?
Or have you tried just passing in automatic?
I know it's frustrating, but like you, I had to take a three month break when my US license expired, but then I passed the UK test.  It is such a nice thing to be able to drive, but I agree with you the risks of driving when illegal are too high.

Also, when your insurance is invalid, doesn't that invalidate your tax and MOT?  I'll tell you that the penalties for that would go on your criminal record.  Plus fines.

sariann, have you had some lessons?
Or have you tried just passing in automatic?
I know it's frustrating, but like you, I had to take a three month break when my US license expired, but then I passed the UK test.  It is such a nice thing to be able to drive, but I agree with you the risks of driving when illegal are too high.

I've had about 25 lessons  with 2 different instructors.  The last instructor who was a woman was really nasty and said 'Stop or your going to kill us both!!!' the lesson right before my last test, which completely blew any remaining confidence I had.  (She felt really bad immediately though cause as I pulled up to the side of the road and sobbed, she said that I was a good driver    )   It's not one thing that I'm doing wrong, it's something new every time.  And each time I get more and more wound up and upset, so much so that I find it hard to even go through with the test, but I do, and fail.  I need to pass in a manual because that's what me and my husband have, and it's not a big deal because that's all I've driven back home.   The pass rate where I am is also really low, which doesn't help (it's about 31%)  I've been trying to pass this test for a year now. 

Sorry about the thread hijack

sariann... passing is hard.  but not impossible.  you probably are a good driver.  something i had to keep telling myself is that it doesn't matter how "good" a driver i was, i was taking lessons to learn to pass the test.  you can pass. 

of the two instructors, did you like the first?  (the one who didn't make you cry?)  i think instructor - student relationships are key to passing.  she/he needs to inspire confidence. 

i also found that a lot of practice driving is key.  now, i passed just in the nick of time.  so i could go out with myself and practice.  i also forced myself to drive "correctly" all the time leading up to the test.  but with your provisional- can you schedule in lots of driving time with your husband?  driving to the shops with him won't feel like a lesson but it really is reinforcing your "good uk" driving habits...

big hugs, sariann

If it's any reassurance, I know a Brit who took six times to pass her test.  Not in a crowded, congested area of UK either.
The real annoyance is how expensive that can be- that instructor was way off and if she works for a company, I would definitely let them know what she said to you.  Meggles is right, your confidence has been shaken, but here's hoping you can rebuild it with the right instructor or practice.  Fingers crossed for your next try!

sariann... passing is hard.  but not impossible.  you probably are a good driver.  something i had to keep telling myself is that it doesn't matter how "good" a driver i was, i was taking lessons to learn to pass the test.  you can pass. 

of the two instructors, did you like the first?  (the one who didn't make you cry?)  i think instructor - student relationships are key to passing.  she/he needs to inspire confidence. 

i also found that a lot of practice driving is key.  now, i passed just in the nick of time.  so i could go out with myself and practice.  i also forced myself to drive "correctly" all the time leading up to the test.  but with your provisional- can you schedule in lots of driving time with your husband?  driving to the shops with him won't feel like a lesson but it really is reinforcing your "good uk" driving habits...

I know I am a good, responsible driver, I just doubt my ability to pass the test - which is where the problem is.  Everyone else tells me that I can, even the first driving examiner I had - he told me that the test was well within my capabilities.  It's funny you mention the first instructor (a man).  The only reason I had tried a second DI to begin with was that people were suggesting that maybe a fresh outlook from a professional would help.  The first lesson I had with this woman her door flew open and she couldn't close it!  I should have took that as a sign.  Anyway, my husband called up my old DI just last night, told him the situation, told him everything (I couldn't bring myself to call him up, I was too embarrassed!!)  Well my DI said that he can take me on starting Sept, he is fully booked until then, to have a think about what I'm going to do (my next test is scheduled for the 1st week of sept, he suggested postponing it so that he could work with me and we could try again)  I honestly feel like a complete loser!  Everyone says that I shouldn't feel this way but they are not the ones without their licenses, now are they?  I think what I'm going to do is reschedule my next test, and take some more lessons with the first guy (Yes I did get on with him, just as I said thought that I would get a new view on things)

I drove home from the grocery store with my husband just a few nights ago (which is a fair drive from here) and my husband cannot believe that I haven't passed, he says he never feels scared with me.  He says he would give up his license if it meant me getting mine, cause he hates to see me cry about it.  Haha crying now.  It's such a painful subject for me.

Thanks anyways for the kind words.

big hugs, sariann

If it's any reassurance, I know a Brit who took six times to pass her test.  Not in a crowded, congested area of UK either.
The real annoyance is how expensive that can be- that instructor was way off and if she works for a company, I would definitely let them know what she said to you.  Meggles is right, your confidence has been shaken, but here's hopeing you can rebuild it with the right instructor or practice.  Fingers crossed for your next try!

That woman is an independant DI who was recommended to my husband by a girl in a florists (he was buying me flowers when I failed my 3rd test ) Anyways, I thought maybe a woman would be better...?  Ugh what a horrible experience.

It's so embarrassing though, I can't even begin to express how horrible I feel and yeah, my confidence is shot.  And I don't have vast amounts of money lying in Swiss banks either, so that is always in the back of my mind.....My husband says it's worth any cost and I guess he is right - cause I can't start working until I get my license (I plan on doing mobile beauty therapy, I am fully qualified but can't work until I get my license)

Anyways thanks for the support 

I feel bad for talking about ME in this thread, sorry OP

Two questions....

1-I just moved here--permanently.  Can I use my USA driving license together with my passport?  Or do I need to wait for my provisional one before I get behind the wheel?

2- I have been driving for 15 years in the USA... looking to sit for my theory and practical v.soon.  any tips?  especially on the part where you have to identify the threat part?

Many thanks!!

you can drive in the UK on your US licence for 12 months.

as for tricks for passing the theory & hazard perception.  i bought a CD that had practice tests of both and honestly they are the only reasons i passed.  i just did 2 tests/day for 2 weeks.  done.

if you were in an accident, the insurance company could look at your information and say that since you were driving on an invalid licence, they are under no obligation to process your claim.

As I understand the rules, the insurance company is still obliged to pay a third-party claim even in those circumstances.  So long as you have a policy, they cannot refuse such claims even if you were doing something illegal at the time.

Just think about cases where someone is speeding, drunk, runs a stop light, etc.  If the claim could be refused because he broke the law, it would probably invalidate 95% of all claims.

Are penalties less for driving on a UK provisional license without following the rules? Just curious - it might be less risky to have your UK provisional license which you can get without passing any tests than to drive on an American license once your 12 months are up. I'll come clean and say that's what I'm doing at the moment (hoping DVLA don't monitor this site. LOL.) My 12 months are LONG gone but I never did anything about it because I didn't really need to drive. Now I have to drive to work and so I've got a provisional license but obviously dh isn't in the car with me on the way to and from work every day. 

Once I'm feeling more confident I'll take a stab at the test, but for now necessity is taking presedence. Don't bother slapping my wrists anyone - I know I need to sort it out. But I need to get to work more.

Are penalties less for driving on a UK provisional license without following the rules?

"Driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence"

It can earn 3 to 6 penalty points upon conviction.  No idea what sort of fine you'd be looking at, although I would hope that a judge would take into account the fact that you have a U.S. license and are an experienced driver. 

http://www.dvla.gov.uk/drivers/endorsem.htm