Enforcement of 12 month driving rule

I think that's the most valid point and speaks to someone's character...

agreed.  I'm not sure why there is even a question about this...the bottom line is, it is illegal to drive on a US license in the UK after living here for 12 months, and driving without a license is a pretty serious offence in the UK.  That should be all the justification you need to get your UK license, even if it's inconvenient.  All the talk about insurance, etc is irrelevant.  It's illegal, don't do it- it's that simple.

I'll be the one to speak up.  We have been here two and a half years and we drive (when I say we, I mean my husband), and neither of us has a UK license.

Yes, we know it's illegal.  Yes, we know it's not good.  Yes, we know our insurance coverage would be invalid if we were in an accident.  And so on.

Obviously I don't think it's ideal but it's just not worth it right now for us to go through the arduous process of getting lessons, scheduling the test, and so on when we only drive maybe once or twice a year at present.  We're not planning on getting a car, so the cost outweighs the benefits right now.  And we are willing to take on the associated risk of negative events if we do want to drive once in a while.

DH will be getting his license (likely in a few months if possible) but it's just not something we stress about.  He is getting it because we are planning an extended road trip in Europe and if we plan on driving much more than that, we think it's best to be legal for many of the reasons stated here (although I will say it's not just because laws are laws and we should follow them blindly). 

i'm glad they're enforcing it better nowadays. 

Me too!  And I bought a used car!  I am just the type who would never dream of driving with an invalid license.  But, I deal with law at work all day, so, there ya go! Also, if I don't have a UK license at the end of the 12 months, the extended warranty on my car is voided because I am operating the vehicle illegally, and only my husband can then drive the car.

Also, to the OP, if you need to drive for work, your employer is likely to require that you have a UK license when your 12 months is up.  Better safe than sorry.

We've been here 1.5 years and do not have UK licenses.  However, we don't own cars and only occassionally rent.  It seems ridiculous to pay for driving lessons and the test, in order to drive about 10 days a year.  I suppose we'd think differently about it if we were here permanently but we're only going to be here for 2.5 years.

He is getting it because we are planning an extended road trip in Europe and if we plan on driving much more than that, we think it's best to be legal for many of the reasons stated here (although I will say it's not just because laws are laws and we should follow them blindly). 

Why wouldn't a US license be legal in other countries?  I'm confused.  I thought we were fine when renting in Ireland and France for example, no matter how long we had lived in the UK.

We've been here 1.5 years and do not have UK licenses.  However, we don't own cars and only occassionally rent.  It seems ridiculous to pay for driving lessons and the test, in order to drive about 10 days a year.  I suppose we'd think differently about it if we were here permanently but we're only going to be here for 2.5 years.

Why wouldn't a US license be legal in other countries?  I'm confused.  I thought we were fine when renting in Ireland and France for example, no matter how long we had lived in the UK.

I am basically in the same boat as Kare - we only occasionally rent (although I admit we were on a car sharing program in London which was brill, and we drove a bit more often), and yes, we think it's ridiculous to do all of that for the small amount of driving we do.

The US license is legal in Europe, and if we don't end up doing the UK one by then it's not a big deal, but we just thought it was a good motivation to get legal in our country of residence, which is the UK right now. 

Personally, it really offends me that anyone would even think about breaking this law.  What if you hit someone else and they have to suffer because you're uninsured?  What if you get pulled over and need to produce a license?  What if you're in a horrible accident and your insurance won't cover you because you were driving outside the limits of your coverage?

I wouldn't hesitate to turn in an illegal driver.  After going through what was nearly a year-long process of getting my UK license, I resent anyone else flouting the law because it's not convenient for them.  

So those driving in the UK on their US licence illegally - would you drive in the US without a valid licence?  How are the laws here any less valid than the ones in the US?

Sorry, Geeta and Kare, but I have to agree with Lola. It doesn't really matter if you think the law is "ridiculous" or "not worth it." You moved here fully aware of the law and you're driving in the UK fully aware of the law, so I'm of the opinion that you need to get your UK licenses. I don't think how often you drive really comes into it.

Personally, it really offends me that anyone would even think about breaking this law.  What if you hit someone else and they have to suffer because you're uninsured?  What if you get pulled over and need to produce a license?  What if you're in a horrible accident and your insurance won't cover you because you were driving outside the limits of your coverage?

Many rental car companies provide insurance coverage past the 12 month limit.  For example, we rent through Budget and they will cover us for 2 years of UK residency.  We checked this out with them to ensure that our lack of a UK license would not affect anyone else.

Obviously anyone who is pulled over without a license has to suffer the consequences with the government.  And anyone who hits someone will have to pay for the consequences as well.  If you have insurance, the consequences are likely less than if you don't.  If insurance doesn't cover you, then you have to pay out of pocket.

The potential consequences are something you have to live with when you make choices about anything.  

I would drive without a valid license in the US, yes, if I were in a similar situation. To me it is less about the law and more about safety and the ability to handle the negative consequences.  I don't think I am safe to drive in the UK and so I don't.  Personally, I don't think me just being able to pass the test would mean I was a safe driver here either, so I wouldn't do it either way.

Sorry, Geeta and Kare, but I have to agree with Lola. It doesn't really matter if you think the law is "ridiculous" or "not worth it." You moved here fully aware of the law and you're driving in the UK fully aware of the law, so I'm of the opinion that you need to get your UK licenses. I don't think how often you drive really comes into it.

No need to be sorry - we all have our opinions!

Reading this thread, I find it staggering that some people can be so irresponsible and arrogant as to break our laws because they are 'inconvenient'.

To those of you who embrace such arrogance:  why didn't you declare this arrogance when you sought help with your entry clearance?  It makes me ill to think that I have actually helped some of you get here...

Many rental car companies provide insurance coverage past the 12 month limit.  For example, we rent through Budget and they will cover us for 2 years of UK residency.  We checked this out with them to ensure that our lack of a UK license would not affect anyone else.

I've just called Budget and they've emphatically stated that this is not the case.  "If someone is not legally able to drive in their country of residence for any reason, we will not allow them to hire a car."

I would drive without a valid license in the US, yes, if I were in a similar situation. To me it is less about the law and more about safety and the ability to handle the negative consequences.  I don't think I am safe to drive in the UK and so I don't.  Personally, I don't think me just being able to pass the test would mean I was a safe driver here either, so I wouldn't do it either way.
 

Any other laws you feel are okay to break as long as you feel you are able to deal with the consequences?

I think some laws really do need to be followed blindly, if only because the consequences are not even worth it if you happen to get caught.  I include having a valid license at all times in this category, along with things like not overstaying my visa, for instance.

I personally think getting a license in the UK is definitely a hassle especially for an already licensed driver, but I'm willing to make it a priority when I plan on driving here because it only takes one time to get stopped by a police officer while driving without a license to give me an even bigger hassle than getting my license would be in the first place.  It's just not worth it to me.

Obviously anyone who is pulled over without a license has to suffer the consequences with the government.  And anyone who hits someone will have to pay for the consequences as well.  If you have insurance, the consequences are likely less than if you don't.  If insurance doesn't cover you, then you have to pay out of pocket.

I find that hard to believe.  Someone who isn't responsible enough to drive legally probably isn't going to be responsible enough to pay for damages to someone else's car out of their own pocket (unless they were prosecuted, I suppose).

I would drive without a valid license in the US, yes, if I were in a similar situation. To me it is less about the law and more about safety

How can driving without a license be safe??