Watch Out for your Driving License

elko2



Joined: 24/07/2007
Posts: 4400

Message Posted:
04/05/2011 20:01

I was in Nicosia court today (no, not speeding, I was just waiting for my wife) and had a chance to listen to a trial before the president.



All driving licenses are valid as far as visitors are concerned but if you have residence permit or if you work here you must apply for a local driving licence.



This chap from turkey with a heavy lorry driving license was employed by a local to drive a truck and had an accident. The point of conflict is this: since the driver took up work here he had to get a local licence and therefore his turkish one is not valid and hence the insurance of the truck did not cover him. In the meantime he fled to Turkey. So who is going to pay the compensation, the insurance company or the owner of the truck?



The summing up of legal arguments from both sides will take place on 16th May.



so get a local license if you have residency here, otherwise your insurance mey be challenged. Insurance companies will use any excuse not to pay.

ismet

ttoli


Joined: 24/03/2007
Posts: 1172

Message Posted:
04/05/2011 20:05

When I first came here 2005 and got my residency I was told then that My UK/EU licence was only valid for three months, so got a local one, though to drive in the south I do need the UK/EU one.

Pippie


Joined: 02/12/2009
Posts: 1288

Message Posted:
04/05/2011 23:32

Ismet, just wondering, in order to get the local license in the first place you have to show your UK licence. What happens if your UK licence has run out when you go to renew the TRNC licence? Does it matter?

Brinsley


Joined: 04/04/2009
Posts: 6858

Message Posted:
04/05/2011 23:53

Ismet

For once, your post was as clear as mud! What defines a resident, a temporary visitor on annual parole?!



Richard

yrret


Joined: 17/08/2010
Posts: 761

Message Posted:
05/05/2011 00:14

Brins,

As the word implies, a 'resident' is someone with 'residency'

-----





We, like ttoli took licenses here within 3 months of 'residency'



Our neighbours spend 3 months here, then 3 months in UK, and so do not need residency, so cannot have a local license.

One time when stopped by the police they tried to explain to a confused individual that they are not residents, so cannot get a license if they wanted one, he was no clearer after the explanation, and shrugged his shoulders and said 'you must get one anyway'.



BTW, if you are leaving here, get an new license before you go, that way if for some reason you loose a UK (or other) license, you can still use the NC one in a multitude of other countries to hire a car on holiday. But, if banned in the UK, you can't then use a NC license until you get your UK one back.

Brinsley


Joined: 04/04/2009
Posts: 6858

Message Posted:
05/05/2011 00:59

Msg 5

You've got me beaten on that one. How does a 'temporary visitor' turn into a resident?!



Richard

Maz


Joined: 29/03/2009
Posts: 1924

Message Posted:
05/05/2011 01:01

What I want to know is what one does if the U.K one expires and is not renewed (as in the case of many senior citizens), one may then drive in the South, and better still, what if one goes to the U.K and wants to hire a car.

The last message says the NC one is recognised in a multitude of other countries . Which?



I think the residency bit is easy to understand. If you live here for longer than the period during which you can use a 'foreign' licence, whether u.K, French, German, or what have you, then you must get a TRNC one.

Groucho



Joined: 26/04/2008
Posts: 7993

Message Posted:
05/05/2011 07:22

It's safe to assume that if you are 'at fault' anything over 90 days makes you 'resident'.

Being 'at fault' will nearly always, but not exclusively, be determined by the police if you are involved in an accident with a local. You will know when you are at fault even if you did not cause the accident when the other party starts being kissed by the police in attendance... If by dint of the above (you don't have the necessary license and therefore your insurance is invalid) you will be judged 100% responsible for repairs to both vehicles. This happened to my neighbour. According to the police with no insurance, you should not be on the road therefore it is de facto your fault if you are in an accident no matter how culpable you feel the other driver was. My 'temporary' neighbour (one who does not live here full-time) had to pay for very expensive repair to a top-end BMW.

Groucho



Joined: 26/04/2008
Posts: 7993

Message Posted:
05/05/2011 07:23

cont...



So bang go all the 'theories' about getting away with it, border dipping to avoid expense could be a very false economy.

nostradamus


Joined: 15/04/2008
Posts: 557

Message Posted:
05/05/2011 07:36

Message 7: I agree that you need to keep up your UK licence if you are crossing the border to the south in a TRNC registered car. This is not so difficult - just give a UK address of a friend or relative. With regards to UK hire cars though, you can use your TRNC licence for this without any difficulty. UK rentals companies will accept any foreign licence so long as it is in English or you have a translation of it.

yrret


Joined: 17/08/2010
Posts: 761

Message Posted:
05/05/2011 08:48

msg 6, by staying more than 90 days an so applying for residence, don't worry though, it is complicated, the police officer didn't understand it either.



msg7, NC license can deff be used in Zuid Afrika, Australia, US, Canada, all of Europe, and I would bet many more (as a tourist).



For renewing licenses, remember, if you have a picture license, it's only valid for 10 years.

When you leave the UK, you cannot (according to the rules) change your address, so if stopped in the UK you will have to explain and demonstrate an overseas address or you can be prosecuted for failing to change the address.

When living outside the UK, you cannot (according to the rules) renew a license, but this does not affect your entitlement to hold a license which you can re-apply for on return to the UK.



Personally, for changing the address, I would claim to have 'returned' for a week or so, then changed my mind again and left, that way you break no rules, and you have a plausible defence at the re

Pippie


Joined: 02/12/2009
Posts: 1288

Message Posted:
06/05/2011 20:01

But what if your UK license expires and it's left expired (cos you didn't realise!), then your TRNC license comes up for renewal at some point in the future. Do you need to show your UK license again to renew the TRNC one? If not, no problem. But if so, would you have to take a driving test in the TRNC to get your next TRNC driving license?

shaun463


Joined: 16/08/2009
Posts: 105

Message Posted:
06/05/2011 20:33

when you renew your TRNC licence you do not need to show you UK one, thats only needed the first time, to renew your TRNC D/L you need your old TRNC licnce, two photos and copy of your passport and fill in the forms pay the money and wait for the renewed one takes about 3 weeks.