uk driving license

debdebs


Joined: 22/05/2008
Posts: 285

Message Posted:
01/12/2008 19:01

how long can you drive on your uk license before it needs changing and where do you need to go?

fire starter


Joined: 19/06/2008
Posts: 3401

Message Posted:
01/12/2008 19:18

3 months and you need to go to the driving licence office in lefkosa.

Groucho



Joined: 26/04/2008
Posts: 7993

Message Posted:
01/12/2008 19:24

If, when you arrive, you know you intend to stay you should apply for it as soon as your residency comes through... which should be initated during the first 30 days and completed within 90 days visa you get upon arrival. So between the date of your residency and the 90 days is the answer...



Some people will tell you otherwise... but this is the requirement as I understand it.

debdebs


Joined: 22/05/2008
Posts: 285

Message Posted:
01/12/2008 19:29

can you sort it at the driving school in girne, if so can anyone give me directions from Alsancak? thanks

rtddci


Joined: 29/12/2007
Posts: 842

Message Posted:
01/12/2008 19:38

Be aware that they may try and restrict the classes of vehicle you can drive. Make sure you get all you are allowed to drive in the UK i.e. car, van & motor cycle etc.

A friend of mine didn't realise this and found that (being a Non TC) his NC licence didn't allow him to drive (anything other than a car basically) a quad bike, which caused him all sorts of problems - being told he had to take several compulsory quad bike lessons and a test. They also take your UK licence & return it to DVLA.

Groucho



Joined: 26/04/2008
Posts: 7993

Message Posted:
01/12/2008 19:46

Debs... no you don't, the driving school has nothing to do with it if you already have a UK licence... you can renew a TRNC driving licence in Girne (at the tax office) but initially you have to go to the head office in Lefkosa to get the first one.... started.

AlsancakJack



Joined: 14/08/2008
Posts: 5762

Message Posted:
01/12/2008 19:59

rtddci

"They also take your UK licence & return it to DVLA."

I must admit that does sound a bit strange to me, not sure why they would want to do that.

fire starter


Joined: 19/06/2008
Posts: 3401

Message Posted:
01/12/2008 19:59

they didn't take my eu licence and sed it back!

i still have it.

they just took my catagories way. still drove the quad bike without problem.

the quad incidently said it was a tractor on its documents.

which is strange but that is what the police registered it as?

Hector


Joined: 26/08/2008
Posts: 2352

Message Posted:
01/12/2008 20:01

Yep, said it was classed as a tractor and taxed it as such, then said he needed a work permit!

cyprusishome


Joined: 31/03/2007
Posts: 2381

Message Posted:
01/12/2008 20:18

This one about taking your UK licence has been brought up twice recently. It is a fallacy. Apart from anything else, if you intend driving to RoC you still need UK licence.



All very well going to Driving School as I have heard many do but there will be a charge. Best way is to do it yourself and learn about living in TRNC. Staff are friendly and happy to help. Although all forms are in Turkish.



Make sure you have all the required documents, from memory it is your UK licence (both parts), photo copies of same, passport and photocopy of photo page and of residency stamp. Plus a couple of mug shots!!! It is nearly 3 years since did mine so maybe slight changes.



You can get licence for periods of 1 up until 10 years, unusually cost is proportionatley cheaper for longer period.



Best thing to get definitive info is to go to office and ask what is required. As I said my info is old and already the thing about handing in UK on this thread is wrong.

Groucho



Joined: 26/04/2008
Posts: 7993

Message Posted:
01/12/2008 20:19

Martin,



Where on earht did you get that crazy "fact" from...



We have never heard of such a thing and certainly there has been no question of us relinquishing our UK licences...

AlsancakJack



Joined: 14/08/2008
Posts: 5762

Message Posted:
01/12/2008 20:27

cyprusishome

You are right about doing things yourself and learning about the way the TRNC ticks and as you know I have and always will advocate people doing the same however sometimes when things do not quite go to plan it is handy to know that there are people (TC's) that can bypass shall we say certain obstacles.

AJ

fire starter


Joined: 19/06/2008
Posts: 3401

Message Posted:
01/12/2008 20:46

at the office is a little cypriot ladie who sits by the door outside.

she will help you with the paperwork and submit it for you for a couple of lira.

livethedream


Joined: 12/04/2007
Posts: 455

Message Posted:
01/12/2008 21:50

fire starter, have never seen the little lady outside the driving licence office - I know there's one outside the car registration office, who will take your forms and get them through the system for you.



Your english licence is not taken away, as rightly said, if you are driving over the South you will need your english licence.



The forms are in Turkish, so some help will be needed to answer the yes/no questions at the bottom of the page.

Hector


Joined: 26/08/2008
Posts: 2352

Message Posted:
01/12/2008 23:07

It was his old paper UK licence I believe. As he now lives in NC, the UK wont give him a new photocard EU licence. They assume he drives on a NC licence. Don't think DVLA are concerned about the political situation North v South.

AlsancakJack



Joined: 14/08/2008
Posts: 5762

Message Posted:
01/12/2008 23:19

Hector

All I have ever had is my tatty old UK paper license. It has never been taken away from me and when I have brief forays back to the UK any car hire company I use will accept the fact that that is all i have. I have an EU passport and an EU social security card for identification purposes. I would expect no problems going to the South (If I ever wanted to) after all the driving license card is no more than an ID card and you still have to show your paper license to any authority that accuses you of a traffic offence.

AJ

pink212


Joined: 15/04/2009
Posts: 1

Message Posted:
15/04/2009 20:33

KI live in the south side of Cyprus and now want to move to the north, can I bring my car over it has cypriot number plates. If not should I sell it and bring over a english plated car. This is happing in the next couple of weeks. Please help and if there is any other advise you could give I would be gratful thank you.

Mindy



Joined: 27/10/2008
Posts: 1210

Message Posted:
15/04/2009 21:06

Went to renew our licences yesterday, they didn't want to see UK licence atall, just copies of expired TRNC licence and copies of passport pages back and front and 2 photos each. Very helpful with filling in form.

fire starter


Joined: 19/06/2008
Posts: 3401

Message Posted:
16/04/2009 09:44

pink,

sell your south registered car and buy one when you get to the north.

Happy Hussar


Joined: 01/10/2008
Posts: 318

Message Posted:
16/04/2009 11:54

I crossed over to the south side recently and was asked to produce my UK driving license. I knew the Photo card was out of date and showed the paper part instead as it is in date till 2020. They looked at it and waved me on.

Problem Yok.

Tony