speeding ticket while driving on a American Licence in the UK what will happen

The laws haven't changed at all recently that I know of - it's been 1 year for driving on a US licence since long before you got your licence 2 years ago. I've been a member of the forum since January 2007 and it was definitely one year back then.

Yup. I moved to the UK in 2003 and the one-year rule was in effect then, and I have a feeling it's been around far longer than that.

If the OP claims to have been given incorrect information by the DVLA, I'm not sure that's going to make a difference, to be honest. Ignorance of the law isn't an excuse, I'm afraid. 

From what I have seen on other boards, it will be court, fine and points. If you had had an accident, it would have been a different matter.

Just don't drive on your own again until you get a full UK licence.

If you get a provisional licence, you can only drive with a driver over 25 who has a full licence, L plates and insurance (you have to be named on the insurance policy as a provisional licence holder).

When you get your points, you are required to inform your insurers. Not to do so will also render your insurance invalid. The insurers will decide if you have to pay an increased premium.

All drivers caught speeding on a foreign licence, have to go to court apparently.

I'm surprised you were able to get insurance after that first year.

That first years insurance would have been invalid in the event of a claim.

It still doesn't make sense.

There was a 1 year limit in place in the late 80's when I first encountered the rule.  It's a europe thing and not necessarily a UK thing. 

And the lady at the DVLA would not have told her it was a 2 year grace period because the DVLA doesn't make mistakes like that on their helpline full stop.

It's not like UKBA where they change the rules every two seconds so that the helpline is a mockery; the Highways Act 1990 is so massively stable you only have to learn it once every 20 years or so.

Having said that, and confessing my own incompetence in the area, I would be surprised if she did not have a recourse under common law.

And the lady at the DVLA would not have told her it was a 2 year grace period because the DVLA doesn't make mistakes like that on their helpline full stop.

It's possible the woman at the DVLA said something which the OP misunderstood or misinterpreted.

It's possible the woman at the DVLA said something which the OP misunderstood or misinterpreted.

Of course.  Agreed totally.  It's more plausible to think the OP misunderstood than to think the DVLA is going to start misquoting a rule that has stood unswervingly since 1971.

I'm still not even sure that you were legal to drive on a US license the day after you came back from getting it as I'm pretty sure the laws talk about your entering the country for residence, which you had done years before.  I could be totally wrong on that one,

You are correct Cadenza.

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

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensing/DrivingInGbOnAForeignLicence/DG_4022561

If you get a provisional licence, you can only drive with a driver over 25 who has a full licence, L plates and insurance

Quick clarification: the driver accompanying you only has to be over 21, not 25, but must have held a full UK licence for at least 3 years.

From the direct.gov.uk website (http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/LearnerAndNewDrivers/LearningToDriveOrRide/DG_4022661):

"If you want to practise your driving with an accompanying driver, the accompanying driver must be over the age of 21 and must have held (and still hold) a full licence, in the relevant vehicle category, for three years."

Quick clarification: the driver accompanying you only has to be over 21, not 25, but must have held a full UK licence for at least 3 years.

Right. And I believe it also stipulates that you cannot drive on the motorway, even with a licensed driver.

I'm surprised you were able to get insurance after that first year.

I believe the answer to this is that the insurance companies are very willing to take the customers' money and issue the insurance.  Belatedly, the customer will find that the insurance policy is not valid if there is no valid driving licence.

Yes, exactly.  The insurance company will only go on what the customer tells them.  If they were told their client has a "full driving license" without even thinking to ask is it a US or a UK license, unfortunately, this is the fault of the client for not clarifying. 

afternoon - to throw in my 2 cents.  During my first 12 months of UK residency, I recieved a ticket.  I sent them a copy of my US licence, paid a fine and that was it.  However, when I got my Full UK License 11months,20 days into residency, it had those UK Points on it.  (This situation is what directed me to UK-Yankee 6 years ago!). 

afternoon - to throw in my 2 cents.  During my first 12 months of UK residency, I recieved a ticket.  I sent them a copy of my US licence, paid a fine and that was it.  However, when I got my Full UK License 11months,20 days into residency, it had those UK Points on it.  (This situation is what directed me to UK-Yankee 6 years ago!). 

I wonder what happens if you get a ticket when a non-resident? For example, driving a rental car when on vacation. I presume the ticket will go to the rental car company who will then pay and charge you (plus a nice service fee no doubt...). But is the rental car company required to send in a photocopy of your license with the fine?

I wonder what happens if you get a ticket when a non-resident? For example, driving a rental car when on vacation. I presume the ticket will go to the rental car company who will then pay and charge you (plus a nice service fee no doubt...). But is the rental car company required to send in a photocopy of your license with the fine?

Apparently, they can enforce an on-the-spot fine if the driver doesn't have a UK address.  http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Nl1/Newsroom/DG_177085  It looks like this was changed with foreign HGV drivers in mind, but presumably it would apply to drivers of rental cars too.

Apparently, they can enforce an on-the-spot fine if the driver doesn't have a UK address.  http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Nl1/Newsroom/DG_177085  It looks like this was changed with foreign HGV drivers in mind, but presumably it would apply to drivers of rental cars too.

I don't understand the on the spot fine in the UK. I know how it works in Mexico.