Driving on American license after one year

I had a car when I first moved here (2003) for about six months insured in my maiden name. I drove on my American license and never got the UK one so technically I shouldnt be driving according to the law about 1 year from date of residency.

Last night my father in law gave us a car!  I called up about insuring it and the insurance company is willing to insure it with my American license, no more questions asked.  My American license is now in my married name.

If I were to drive it and was stopped by the police and showed them my American license and the insurance showing it was insured and registered to me, would I get into any trouble??

Yes I believe it is illegal to drive on your American licence after a year.  Plenty of people do it but I wouldn't take the risk personally.

Edit - This thread explains the whole thing quite well

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

From what I understand, driving on a US license after one year is illegal, so if you were to be stopped by the police you could get into trouble. After 1 year you are technically an unlicensed driver and if you are stopped when driving without a valid license you would probably have to go to court - you could have to pay a fine of up to £1,000 and would face a possible driving ban (according to the road law website).

It's not a good idea at all. While the offence itself isn't that big, it can affect your ability to apply for future visas and/or citizenship.

Just because you were able to get insurance, doesn't mean that it's legal to drive on your US license, or that the insurance would hold up if you were in an accident. Often times insurers don't even understand the rules when it comes to foreign drivers. Frustrating, but true.

It's fairly easy to get a provisional license (many threads on this board), but it does mean you'll have to drive with someone else in the car, use L plates, and stay off the motorway until you pass.

Agreed with everyone else. Its illegal, you'd be breaking the law, and it may affect your visa/citizenship apps in the future if caught, so why risk it? If you've been driving over here already, you've already got a good idea of the roads and roundabouts so get yourself a few lessons to prep for the test and take the test.  Its just something everyone has to do. Unfortunately.

If you injure someone else or their property / car..you will be peronally liable as your insurance will be void.  That would be a big fat nasty bill to land on your doorstep along with a big juicy court case and fines 

You shouldn't even risk it.  If not for you then the risk to others ( not saying you are a bad driver ) but if a accident did happen..you could cause a family to loose their car or worse life and there would be no recompence for your mistake as your insurance will not stand for diddly squat and thats not fair.

Also..if you do get a provisional and drive with L Plates with someone else in the car who has had their licence over 3 years and is over the age of 21..then thats fine..but you must also notify your insurance company that you are a learner.

I know its crap and frustrating..but these rules are in place for a reason.

Thanks for the replies.  I am a confident driver, but you can never tell what's going to happen I suppose and I dont think I could live with myself if I hurt someone or worse and my insurance wasnt there to help them. I'll go the legal route! Thanks again.

If you injure someone else or their property / car..you will be peronally liable as your insurance will be void. 

You would actually be covered by insurance for liability to a third partyin that situation, because insurers are not allowed to refuse a third-party claim on the basis that you were doing something illegal at the time of the accident.   (If you think about it, a large proportion of claims result from somebody doing something which was illegal -- Speeding, running a light, failing to yield right-of-way, etc.).

Of course in the unfortunate event of a claim being paid in those circumstances, the illegal activity would almost certainly come to light and the police might then get involved, and it would almost certainly bump up any future insurance premiums with that on record.

You would actually be covered by insurance for liability to a third partyin that situation, because insurers are not allowed to refuse a third-party claim on the basis that you were doing something illegal at the time of the accident.   (If you think about it, a large proportion of claims result from somebody doing something which was illegal -- Speeding, running a light, failing to yield right-of-way, etc.).

What about contract law?  Every insurance policy I've ever seen has a clause stating that it only covers drivers with a 'valid licence.'  Could they not invalidate the policy because you broke that condition?

What about contract law?  Every insurance policy I've ever seen has a clause stating that it only covers drivers with a 'valid licence.'  Could they not invalidate the policy because you broke that condition?

As I understand it, there is an overriding piece of legislation which means that they cannot refuse a third-party claim, regardless of any conditions in the contract.  So long as you have a policy in your name, they must honor any third-party claim regardless of whether you breached any conditions of the policy.  They can refuse to pay out for anything else, such as damage to your own vehicle on a comprehensive policy, theft of items if you left the doors unlocked, etc. 

I've seen this point raised in a police forum in the past, and the consensus was that while a prosecution could take place for "driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence" and for any other relevant breaches of the law, they could not prosecute for uninsured driving, since the third-party cover (which is all that is legally required) is still effective.

This is happening to someone who has contacted me from another forum.

The guy was driving on his non-UK licence, and has been here for over a year.  He was hit by a bus and shunted into a police car.

He is being charged with driving with no licence and no insurance.  He was a named party on his spouse's insurance, and the insurance company have paid up for the repairs, so he has been advised to plead 'not guilty' to the no insurance.

Vicky

The guy was driving on his non-UK licence, and has been here for over a year.  He was hit by a bus and shunted into a police car.

Wow..if your going to get caught driving illegally..thats a double whammy hitting a police car!

This is happening to someone who has contacted me from another forum.

Presumably somebody from the U.S. or other non-EU/EEA country?   

I've heard stories of some cops trying to issue notices for driving beyond the 12-month period where the rules do not require the acquisition of a U.K. license in that time.

Presumably somebody from the U.S. or other non-EU/EEA country? 

Yes.  Foolishly, from a country which have a reciprocal arrangement and he could have just done a straight swap!  

I've heard stories of some cops trying to issue notices for driving beyond the 12-month period where the rules do not require the acquisition of a U.K. license in that time.

Hang on, I thought we had established it is necessary 

Vicky