Driving license BIG Problem
 

Hi,

Could I quickly ask for some advice?

I am planning to leave the country next Friday 11th, I haven't booked my ferry yet but want to in the next day or two. Everything is in order apart from my driving license I had to send it off the obe updated a few weeks ago but did not receive it back I contacted the DVLA and they have set up an investigation but cannot guarantee that I have it before 15th/16th and it appears no matter how much I pester beg and grovel that they could possibly hurry up.

Can I ride in the EU/Baltics/Turkey without my driving license. i would have a pass certificate, insurance, logbook and carnet.

Thanks,

James

I don't think that's the case at all. you have a license, just no document. get it sent on when it arrives. or have it scanned and emailed, so you can print out a copy.

no big deal.

I think you will find that in France and Germany, at least, If the cops stop you and you have no licence, You will not be allowed to drive any further.

Its one of the bits you are required to have. I was stopped in a car a few years ago without my licence. My passenger had to take over as he had his with him.

John

That's correct. I have passed my test, but my license is still stuck in the gremlins of the DVLA and DSA being updated. I have insurance.

So you don't see it as a problemin any of the countries or borders

I can't specifically give advice on any of those countries since I've never driven in any of them. But it seems that you would be inviting trouble by not having proper documents for operating your motor vehicle. You'd basically be taking a risk by going without your licence. Once you start crossing borders you may have to produce the licence as part of the process to get the bike into the country.

In Canada there is a fine for not having your licence with you and I can only suspect that some of the countries you'll be crossing will have the same rules in place.

Again, I'm not from that area and can't give definite answers. If it were me, I would not leave without a licence.


...Michelle
www.scrabblebiker.com

it wouldn't bother me too much. I've travelled through france without a license document before. i'm not in the habit of riding conspicuously if my documents are not entirely in order, though.

and I'm not you. or the other people who've said you shouldn't. we all have difference experiences and comfort levels.

I've never been asked to show my driving license at a border. and, obviously, the EU doesn't really have borders. if I were touring the EU first, I'd just get it posted out to whatever EU country I happened to be in (which I have done before; UK license, IDP and carnet to south of france). if you're stopped in the meantime you risk a fine, so don't do something that will get you stopped.

you might want to get an IDP too, but you're probably too late for that if you leave before your license turns up.

if you're a squeaky clean sort of person, that this doesn't sit well with, then wait.

now, you have your reflective/hi-viz jacket, spare light bulbs, warning triangle, large GB sticker, headlight deflected to the right, etc, etc.. don't you ?

Don't know if you have already done so but you can walk in and deal with DVLA face-to-face which gets things done much quicker, I've used their Sheffield office, don't know where your local one is.


Good luck.

Thank you, I didn't realise this I will go and see them tomorrow. Cheers

I did two big tours in the EU on my Tiger. (10,000 miles each trip)
I was stopped twice in France and once in Spain (no ticket either time). In Spain it was some sort of security Check point. Very serious. In France, one security check and one WARNING (speeding) In ALL cases, all they wanted to see was my Passport. I was surprised. Never asked for bike documents or Drivers license. This was a few years ago. They DID run my passport through a computer and maybe the bike's plate number. That was it. Never pulled in Germany, Italy or Switzerland.

Also .... you DO have insurance and you DO have a license, just no document. Your insurance is totally valid as you are a legally licensed driver.

Also, you could get an International Drivers License. Should be OK.

OR ....
Why not go to DVLA and ask them to issue an Temp. license? You guys offices you can walk into, right? I rode in UK to but was never stopped.

just read your other thread. you're actually on the way to Nepal ? lookup the International Drivers Permit (IDP), you can find it on the AA website. Probably worth having. It's has international translations of your UK drivers license details. Can make life much easier outside of the EU.

but, you need your license to get one. if you're off for 3 months, does a few days hanging about here make a difference ?

otherwise, what I did (I was desperate to leave here) was rode down to Sete in southern france and camped up near the beaches. I spoke to a posh hotel and they agreed to received a recorded delivery package (my license, IDP and carnet). they arrived and I tootled off. I'm pretty sure I used the IDP at some point when buying insurance, outside the EU.

hopefully you'll get it in time, and this will all be irrelevant.

Id trythe DVLA face to face - if you dont get your license before you leave, get a family member/friend to forward it to a HUBB community member on your route.

Look through the 'contact a community' tab to the left of this screen - someone will be more than happy help you out.

Id also try to get an IDP as DougieB mentioned - I always used to keep my old ones, if I got asked for my license in The Middle East, Id just hand them an old one and if the motorbike cops mess you around for too long, just drive off......they ride up along side you and hand it back quickly !!!

Been in to see the local DVLA office, they were certainly more helpful than the call centre. However, i am now waiting for a call back from the guy there investigating it for me. He did say I could get a temp license, but that they are antiquated and most foreign authorities are normally confused by them. However it would do me through the EU surely and as you have mentioned I could get it posted on to someone.

I did want to get an IDP but I feel I may run out of time. How long does it take the RAC to turn them around and are they compulsory in any of the countries I am going through
Netherlands
Germany
Austria
Slovenia
Croatia
Bosnia
Montenegro
Albania
Greece
Turkey
Iran
Pakistan
India
nepal

Cheers for all your help

You can get IDPs over the counter at some Post Offices, AA and RAC offices - including at port and tunnel offices/shops.
It only takes a minute or two. You do need to provide a photo, £5.50 and show your normal License.

For countries requiring them, as opposed to accepting their use, -http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/overseas/idp-requirements-by-country.html

IDP are not "compulsory " anywhere in Europe .I've been all over the countries in Europe you list plus Morocco just using /showing an Ontario license .Was never asked to show an IDP, even though I had it in my pocket, a wasted $15. Using an IDP is more of a courtesy dodge or a sneeky way for those barred from driving in their home country to try to get on the road. .Besides, you still need to show a license to get an IDP

"Using an IDP is more of a courtesy dodge or a sneeky way for those barred from driving in their home country to try to get on the road."

in europe it's a waste of money. but at borders where no english is spoken (for a UK license holder) it's very handy to have an IDP. that's their primary purpose, a document with your details and the descriptions translated into numerous other languages.

it's a complementary document to your license, not a license in itself. once you are outside europe it's pretty much irrelevant if you have are barred from driving or not, it only really matters if the official looking at your document is satisfied with it. an IDP helps a great deal here.

those barred from driving in their home country would no doubt have a second copy of their home license anyway, if they were desperate to drive. I can't imagine it being a common use for an IDP, though I may be wrong.