Enforcement of 12 month driving rule

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."

Direct quote from our most recent Budget contract...
"If a customer holds a foreign license and have been living in the U.K for 2 years or more. The customer cannot hire a vehicle. They would have to apply for a U.K drivers licence before hiring."

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).

Well, maybe in some cases, but not in ours.  We understand the consequences and would of course be responsible for them if we were faced with any of them.

How can driving without a license be safe??

I'm sure we can all agree that driving with a valid license does not necessarily make you a safe driver!!  And there are plenty of drivers in the UK who don't have licenses who are safe as well.

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

I'd have to think about it...jaywalking? 

Direct quote from our most recent Budget contract...
"If a customer holds a foreign license and have been living in the U.K for 2 years or more. The customer cannot hire a vehicle. They would have to apply for a U.K drivers licence before hiring."

You might want to take that up with Budget, then, because their customer service personnel are saying otherwise (and rightly so).

And quite frankly, I don't give a toss what the contract says because the law says this:

If you are the holder of an ordinary driving licence (car, moped, motorcycle entitlement) and provided your licence remains valid, you can drive any category of small vehicle shown on your licence for up to 12 months from the time you became resident. To ensure continuous driving entitlement a provisional GB licence must have been obtained and a driving test(s) passed before the 12-month period elapses. If you obtain a provisional licence during this period, you are not subject to provisional licence conditions eg displaying 'L' plates or being supervised by a qualified driver or being precluded from motorways.

However, if you do not pass a test within the 12-month concessionary period you will not be allowed to drive as a full licence holder and provisional licence conditions will apply. If you do not apply for a provisional licence within the first 12 months you must stop driving and obtain a British provisional licence with a view to passing a driving test. Provisional licence conditions will then apply.

Direct quote from our most recent Budget contract...
"If a customer holds a foreign license and have been living in the U.K for 2 years or more. The customer cannot hire a vehicle. They would have to apply for a U.K drivers licence before hiring."

All that means is that they won't rent to you if you have a foreign licence for more than two years, not that your licence is legal.  People with EEC licences have 3 years grace to exchange so would still have a legal licence after more than a year.

If you've got the rental agreement with you, I'll bet somewhere in the small print you declare that you have a valid drivers licence.  If you declare this and don't have a valid licence then you've lied on the contract and they can void it.

I'm sure we can all agree that driving with a valid license does not necessarily make you a safe driver!!  And there are plenty of drivers in the UK who don't have licenses who are safe as well.

Perhaps not, but it does mean that you have at least demonstrated an acceptable level of understanding of the rules of the road and that you can be insured legally.

I can't believe you're trying to justify this.  There are plenty of crap doctors in the world, but I'd rather go to a licensed crap doctor than some wacko practicing medicine without a license because he found it inconvenient to get one.

I agree that I don't think the rental companies would cover any claims.  I would think that even if technically you could say the contract says you should cover us, they will say you don't have a legal license and you're not meant to be driving in the UK, and thus your whole thing is null and void.

Perhaps not, but it does mean that you have at least demonstrated an acceptable level of understanding of the rules of the road and that you can be insured legally.

I can't believe you're trying to justify this.  There are plenty of crap doctors in the world, but I'd rather go to a licensed crap doctor than some wacko practicing medicine without a license because he found it inconvenient to get one.

Yes, it does mean you have demonstrated that and you can be insured legally and drive legally.  But as we agree, that doesn't mean you're a safe driver.

I'm not trying to justify anything.  I'm not saying it's a bad law (because I don't think it is, I think it's a good law).  I am not saying the UK requirements are worse than any other countries' requirements.  I am explaining why I choose to take a risk.  That's all.

I'd have to think about it...jaywalking? 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/6251431.stm

Laws are laws - doesn't matter what country you're in or how stupid you may think they are.

And on a forum like this where people come for advice on how to do things right and legal, I find it amazing that there are those who would openly admit they pick and choose which laws they wish to follow.

There are plenty of crap doctors in the world, but I'd rather go to a licensed crap doctor than some wacko practicing medicine without a license because he found it inconvenient to get one.

Agreed.

Oh my God--I would never dream of driving without a legal license in the UK or anywhere!    Luckily my husband drives (legally), and I am fine with public transit.

The thing is, one can be a very good and safe driver, but accidents wil happen anyway no matter how careful one is.

I am explaining why I choose to take a risk.  That's all.

Coming to the UK to settle without following the correct procedures is "taking a risk".  But I don't think any of us on here would be okay with someone doing that, would we?

You're not simply taking a risk.  You are breaking the law.  It's not a grey area.

And on a forum like this where people come for advice on how to do things right and legal, I find it amazing that there are those who would openly admit they pick and choose which laws they wish to follow.

I think you'd be amazed to find out how many UK Yankee members are still driving after 12 months.  Probably the only reason they've admitted it to me is because I've been open and honest about it myself.  It's not nearly as uncommon as you think!

You're not simply taking a risk.  You are breaking the law.  It's not a grey area.

Yes I agree - and breaking the law is a risk.

I think you'd be amazed to find out how many UK Yankee members are still driving after 12 months.  Probably the only reason they've admitted it to me is because I've been open and honest about it myself.  It's not nearly as uncommon as you think!

Absolutely.

Laws are laws even if we don't agree with them.  I wouldn't drive here without a valid license after the 1 year grace period.  And I would expect my husband to do them same in the US, not drive if he was not licensed.

The biggest thing for me is the insurance thing, you WILL NOT be covered if you have an accident.  It's not just yourself you are putting in danger, you are putting others in danger around you.

Geeta, it's just not so simple as paying out of pocket should something happen.  What if you hit a child while driving?  They find out you don't have a UK license, it won't just be about money.  Jail time could be involved, you going to pay your way out of jail too?

And on a forum like this where people come for advice on how to do things right and legal, I find it amazing that there are those who would openly admit they pick and choose which laws they wish to follow.

Especially as some have given out enough personal information to allow anyone to direct the police to their door, should they want to.  (And no, I won't be doing it because it would pretty much be obvious that it was me.  )