Miss QT ..... what was your experience booking lessons for your wife with just international license? Hi the term ‘International Driving Licence’ is a misnomer. It is not a licence but a translation of one’s national driving licence. As such one cannot drive on an International Driving Permit as it is not a licence. If you doubt me take a look here:- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Driving_Permit
Not sure if any country would accept a ph DL just because if the sheer corruption in that office. I have a valid ph DL but it didnt stand a chance in dubai (had to start all over). Now even UAE DL isnt convertible (maybe because of left vs right hand driving thing?) which means im back to square one again.
Maley I assume you did not read my post of 30/01/16 when I said my wife exchanged her Phil DL for a Spanish one. That also applies in some other EU countries
I think i need to clarify what i posted earlier. I meant i cant just go to the DVLA office and exchange/transfer my ph or uae DL to get UK DL. If you have a UK DL, you can go to the nearest RTA accredited locations, show your UK DL, pay the fee and get the DL within 10 mins. The same process goes for UK DL to PH DL (just go to nearest LTO office etc).
Markham A Philippine Drivers Licence is valid in the UK - I've even hired a car there using mine. May I suggest no one should ever rely on a non official person in a car hire office or anywhere else to confirm anything is legal.
I agree, the legal position is explained on DVLA's website. Non-EEA licence holders may drive using their national licence for 12 months (provided their licence remains valid) whilst EEA licence holders may drive on their foreign licence for as long as it remains valid.
Driving in Great Britain (GB) on a licence issued outside EC/EEA area If you are the holder of an ordinary driving licence or a valid international driving permit, you can drive any category of small vehicle (up to 3.5 tonnes) shown on your licence. You will be able to drive for up to 12 months from the time you became a resident or up to 12 months from the date of coming to GB if you are a UK visitor. 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.
Matt If you are the holder of an ordinary driving licence or a valid international driving permit I do not think you saw my post i.e. “The term ‘International Driving Licence’ is a misnomer. It is not a licence but a translation of one’s national driving licence. As such one cannot drive on an International Driving Permit as it is not a licence." If a IDP is required in a country, then one must carry it WITH their national DL. It is only a translation
I read your post, you will note I have not used the term of International driving licence in my post,nor have I said you can drive on an IDP alone as I am aware you cannot. There are 174 countries that do not recognise certain countries valid driving licences and in these instance a valid IDP is required If I was to hold a Filipino driving licence or any other valid licence issued outside the UK I could drive in the UK for upto 12 months without the need to obtain an IDP although it is always good to have one it is not a legal requirement.
Then you made an error in your post as you said "If you are the holder of an ordinary driving licence or a valid international driving permit...." You probably meant to say "and" not "or"
Matt You have posted “…… nor have I said you can drive on an IDP alone as I am aware you cannot.” And, “If you are the holder of an ordinary driving licence or a valid international driving permit, you can drive”. Those posts conflict. And, just to make it clear, one could not have an IDP if they did not have a valid D/L However Matt, you can of course choose to do what you wish, but for others (as a former UK police officer) I again make it clear that if one drives relying on just an IDP (the internationally accepted translation of one's national D/L) and does not produce a valid DL in response to the HORT/1 form (the roadside order to produce documents within 7 days at a police station) they will be prosecuted. NB No D/L might also mean no insurance. PS In many countries of course one must carry their original documents at all times when driving. Thus in those countries where an IDP is required, a driver must carry both that document and their national D/L. Happy New Year John
My posts do not conflict, I am filly aware that you can drive in many countries on your own countries driving licence OR in some countries you will need an IDP (I am fully aware that you can only get this by having a valid driving licence) I believe we are talking about one and the same!!
To clarify, you can drive in UAE on a Philippines DL if you are a visitor driving a rental car. Once you become resident then you need to take the test and obtain a UAE license. I think that there is a lot of confusion in this thread as talk of driving on a particular license does depend on the type of visa that you are on. If you are on a tourist/visit visa then you can rent and drive using your national DL. However, once you become resident, then you will need to go through the formalities of acquiring a DL in the country that you are in.
I plan to go to the Philippines with Melody for three weeks next February(2018) What are the chances of being able to arrange a DL for her in that time? EDIT: Maybe I should have stressed the word 'arrange' Then I can teach her how to drive properly. I wouldn't want her driving 'Spanish style'
I believe one must wait a month between getting the provisional and the non professional DL. In my wife's case she did not have to take any sort of test. In Spain the law now permits a person who has a Philippines DL before they become resident in Spain, to exchange it for a full Spanish DL. That is what my wife did.
Something we should have done while we were waiting for her visa. Ah well. Back to the drawing board.
Hi Chris My situation was somewhat similar to yours. I gave my wife driving tuition personally in Dubai, we started in the desert with my Landrover, then progressed to areas outside of town with no traffic, only camels to contend with!! When she next visited Philippines, Cebu in fact, she took driving lessons with a school. She had 20 hours of driving tuition spread over 2 weeks. At the end of this she was "evaluated" by her instructor, no actual test, and was able to obtain a driving license plus an International License from Cebu LTO. As she is on a residence visa in Dubai, her Philippines DL does not permit her to drive here. Cheers
