Hi Guys

My son has a question for you all.
He is 19 and currently holds an SA 'Provisional' Driving Licence.

To obtain this licence he:

passed the SA theory test then took lots of driving lessons with an instructor. He passed the SA driving test almost two years ago, drives his own car around here now, displays 'P' plates as required by SA law and in June next year will convert to an SA 'Full' licence (he just has to keep a clean driving record till then).

At the end of this month, he is going back to the UK for 5 weeks to visit friends and family and would like to drive whilst there. Does anyone know if he is legally entitled to do so on this licence?

We wrote to DVLA Swansea asking this same question, explained all the facts as above, and received reply below. I'm still not sure how to interprete the response (the word 'Full' bothers me in relation to UK driving law). What do you guys think or does anyone know for a fact whether he will be OK?

DVLA Response:

You may drive on the strength of a full valid Australian driving licence for 12 months from the last date of entry if here as a visitor or 12 months from date of residency if here as a resident.
We will accept the licence that you hold provided you have passed the Australian driving test and obtained a full licence as a result. If you are resident outside the UK, are temporarily in this country and hold full ordinary entitlement you can drive any category of vehicle, up to 3.5 tonnes and with up to 8 passenger seats, shown on your licence for up to 12 months from the date you last entered the UK whether or not you brought the vehicle into Great Britain.
If you also hold full entitlement to drive large lorries or buses you are only allowed to drive large vehicles registered outside of Great Britain, that you have driven into the country.
As a resident, provided your full licence remains valid, you can drive small vehicles for 12 months from the time you became resident.
To ensure continuous driving entitlement a British licence must be obtained before this period elapses by exchanging your licence for a British one.
If you do not do this you must stop driving. However, an application to exchange a full valid licence will be considered within 5 years of your date of residency.
New residents may not drive medium or large vehicles or passenger carrying vehicles until they have passed the relevant British driving test(s). If you wish to exchange your valid licence and be issued with a British driving licence you must exchange your valid licence within 5 years from the date of residence.
You will need to obtain a D1 photocard application form (available from any main post office) and return the completed form to the DVLA along with the relevant enclosures, your valid driving licence and a fee of £38.00.
I am afraid we will be unable to return your licence as, according to the exchange agreement, it has to be returned to the Licensing Issuing Authorities.
For more detailed information regarding foreign licences please obtain our information leaflet D100 (available from any main Post Office).

Regards
Mrs C Mogford
www.direct.gov.uk

IMO an SA Provisional Licence is equivalent to the UK Full Licence, a new UK Full Licence holder has a limited amount of points that they can get in their first 2 years of driving or have their licence revoked back to a learners permit.

the SA P plate sytem is virtually the same as this except the government help us old bill out by giving you a nice coloured licence so we can work it out at a glance rather than get out pocket diaries out!

If I'd pulled over someone who presented me an SA P licence the chances are i'd be scratching my head so make sure your son has his information prepared (if you can grab a leaflet from Transport SA detailing the different licences taht would help.)

Also little known fact is that if you are a foreign national on holiday in the UK it is extremely unlikely that a ticket will be given to you as you don't have an address for the summons to be sent to - therefore the only option left is to arrest and this is reserved for the more serious offences anyway (true they taught us this in cop school - 'cept you use it so little that most people forget!) This doesn't apply for foreign nationals that live in teh UK though...

Dan

Hello,

don't know much about this at all. Sorry.

But, would it be possible for your son to get an international drivers licence while still in Oz. When I lived in Africa, I went to the local A.A. or R.A.C. can't remember which and got an international licence. That allowed us to drive over here okay. I don't know if you can get this in Australia, but might be worth checking with the motoring associations to find out.

Surely P platers are not full licence holders. If they are then why the P's?

Is he allowed to drive on his own? If yes then surely he is qualified to drive. Don't the P plates just let everyone else know to give them a wide berth. :D

Gavin

Have you tried contacting Transport SA? They seem to be much more helpful than their British counterparts.

I would have thought if he had his 'P's then he would be ok. It's a full licence held for a 'P'robationary period, just has those little annoying restrictions on it.

Regarding what DanChap said - I always take my SA licence to the UK and leave the old British one in Australia - then I can plead ignorance if I get caught!

OK one way arounnd this is you don't get any joy is to get an International driving licence. I did this before going to the states and oz (on hols) and turned out to be a waste of time as a UK licence was recognised.

However people might argue with a provisional licence BUT an International licence they wouldn't. Sorry if that was no help!

Hi Guys

Thank you to everyone for their useful suggestions.

In SA my son is fully licenced to drive alone, its just that the licence issued has the word 'Provisional' written across it. As we all know, 'Provisional' licence in England means something quite different. It would probably make more sense to use the word 'Probationary' on this type of licence which is after all what first time drivers actually are!

Plan is to obtain a leaflet defining 'Provisonal' licence holder in SA and possibly get him an International Licence to carry with him. This way I suppose he will be covered as far as he can be.

Thanks again everyone.

Judy

Hi Judy

he can drive with his SA licence - I'll show you the confirmation on Thursday!

Jules :)

Great - thanks Jules.