Does Getting A UK Licence Invalidate US License?

I know you can legally drive in the UK on your US license for up to 12 months once you've settled before you need to get a UK license, but that has nothing to do with my question.

In PA, if you move to another state and get a driver's license, you have to surrender your PA license.  Likewise if you move to PA, they expect you to surrender your former license within 90 days.  AFAIK, this is a pretty standard thing for all the states.

Do you need to surrender your US license at any point in the UK licensing process? (ie - after getting your provisional or after passing the test and having your full UK license)

Also, I assume if you're driving with both a UK provisional and a US full license you don't need a licensed UK driver in the car with you while you practice, but then I also assume you need to be insured under your US license. Am I right?

No, you don't need to surrender your US license.

If you are still under the 12 month window and you have a valid US license, you do not need a UK license holder in the car with you.  You do need to be insured though.

You definitely don't have to surrender your US license when you get a UK license. My international friends have all needed an international driver's license to drive in the US, so I'm pretty sure you can't drive in the US with only a UK license. My husband keeps his California license valid so he can drive in the US while we're there.

I don't know about the provisional license thing... I was under the impression that I wouldn't need to get a provisional license at all (could just apply for a full UK license without one before my year is up), but after reading the boards here I'm not so sure. If you do get a provisional license while you can still drive on your US license, I wouldn't think you'd need L-plates or to have another driver in the car... but like I said, I'm not sure. I'd like to know too.

You must get a provisional license before you get a full license.

You definitely don't have to surrender your US license when you get a UK license. My international friends have all needed an international driver's license to drive in the US, so I'm pretty sure you can't drive in the US with only a UK license. My husband keeps his California license valid so he can drive in the US while we're there.

I don't know about the provisional license thing... I was under the impression that I wouldn't need to get a provisional license at all (could just apply for a full UK license without one before my year is up), but after reading the boards here I'm not so sure. If you do get a provisional license while you can still drive on your US license, I wouldn't think you'd need L-plates or to have another driver in the car... but like I said, I'm not sure. I'd like to know too.

The UK licence in the US - I've hired cars in the US just using my UK licence, so for visitors thats fine....not sure if I moved there though.
The US licence in the UK - valid for up to a year after which you need to have passed both parts of the test and have a full UK licence. Need to get a provisional in order to apply for your test as well, but ok to drive without another person in car during that first year. DW is on my insurance under her US licence.

My husband drives in Cali when we visit on his UK license and has no problems. We usually drive my parents cars which their insurance policy covers the car & passangers as long as they have given permission for the driver to use the car. I renwed my CA license in 2007 just before I moved and it's valid till 2012.

As for UK licensing questions see this page: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensing/DrivingInGbOnAForeignLicence/DG_4022561

Residents
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.

If you are the holder of a vocational licence (minibus, bus, lorry entitlement) and a new resident, you must not drive large vehicles until you have passed the relevant GB driving test. Driving test candidates are required to pass a motor car (category B) test first before applying for provisional entitlement for larger vehicles.

I was under the impression that I wouldn't need to get a provisional license at all (could just apply for a full UK license without one before my year is up), but after reading the boards here I'm not so sure.

There was a statement on the website Tim was reading last night that said something along the lines of "depending on the country", and AFAIK, the US is not included on the list of simply trading it in. 

My husband drives in Cali when we visit on his UK license and has no problems. We usually drive my parents cars which their insurance policy covers the car & passangers as long as they have given permission for the driver to use the car. I renwed my CA license in 2007 just before I moved and it's valid till 2012.

My mom called her insurance to make sure it included foreign licenses before she let Tim drive, but she has the same thing on her policy since we share her car.

Thanks for the link...now my question is would you get insurance based on having a UK provisional, or insurance based on holding a foreign license?

You definitely don't have to surrender your US license when you get a UK license.

Nor should you even consider sending it to DVLA as identification if you ever plan on seeing it again.  There is no legal requirement to surrender your U.S. license, but DVLA has a nasty habit of destroying licenses which it has no authority to keep in the first place.

My international friends have all needed an international driver's license to drive in the US, so I'm pretty sure you can't drive in the US with only a UK license.

It would depend where they came from.  British-licensed drivers certainly do not need one.

International Driving Permits are required in both the U.S. and the U.K. of drivers who hold licenses from certain countries, but as far as U.K. license holders driving in the U.S. and U.S. license holders driving in the U.K. are concerned, they are completely unnecessary and a waste of money.

The UK licence in the US - I've hired cars in the US just using my UK licence, so for visitors thats fine....not sure if I moved there though.

No different, subject to having to get a local license within the time frame stipulated by the state in question (typically 30 to 90 days), the same as for anyone moving interstate. 

I don't know about the provisional license thing... I was under the impression that I wouldn't need to get a provisional license at all (could just apply for a full UK license without one before my year is up), but after reading the boards here I'm not so sure.

You will not even be able to take the tests without a U.K. provisional license (current cost £50).

If you do get a provisional license while you can still drive on your US license, I wouldn't think you'd need L-plates or to have another driver in the car...

No, for the 12-month grace period you are treated exactly the same as anyone who holds a normal U.K. license, so no need for "L" plates, no need for an accompanying driver, and you may drive on motorways.   But as soon as the 12-month period expires, if you have not passed the U.K. tests you then revert to exactly the same status as a British learner - Must drive with "L" plates, have a U.K. licensed driver accompanying you who is at least 21 and has held a license for 3 or more years, and not allowed to drive on motorways.

Bah. I don't want to get a provisional license. I'm so tired of shelling out money. 

Speaking of, I'm supposed to start driving tomorrow. I never knew that one of my favorite activities would ever be so terrifying...