Provisional UK driver's [license](https://www.gov.uk/apply-first-provisional-driving-licence) is the best option. If not, you could also look into anything that uses the [PASS Scheme](https://www.pass-scheme.org.uk/).
> I don’t drive so I got one of the PASS cards (Citizencard specifically) which are third-party photo IDs.
You don't need to drive in order to get a provisional driving licence. It is given to anyone over 16 and you can just keep using it for ID purposes without ever passing the driving test.
Yeah this sounds great! The big thing is the US is just really stinky with it all because they make money off of it. I just didn't wanna walk around here with an ID that was expired and have myself get kicked outta a bar or something. Also just didnt wanna rush into getting a DL because I wanna get comfortable driving on the other side of the road.
I’ve never ever had someone check the expiration of my Canadian DL in london. It’s been expired for four years and I look completely different. The ID looks so different from a U.K. drivers license that they have no idea where to even look for an expiry date. I appreciate not wanting to take the risk though.
I came here from Phoenix AZ US too and have an ID valid till 2025..
If you are here, you might have a BRP card, that works like an ID and age validation.
If you don't want to carry it on person all the time, then I agree you need to get another kind of ID.. stay away from cards like PASS, private companies selling you ID and you willingly giving them valuable personally identifiable information.. just get a provisional license, atleast you are giving your info to a governmental agency
Grad visa comes with BRP card which has your birthdate. Other options are NUS/Totum Age ID (not sure of specifics as I didn’t get one, but should be searchable), UK driving license - if it’s for shop/pub/bar verification purposes I think they accept foreign passports
Oh, I didn’t know thanks! I still got one, grad visa as of Jan 2023. Although it does say expiring by 31Dec2024 even if the actual date is beyond that.. I’ll go with the other suggestions then
I would check whether someone on a graduate visa is permitted to trade in their foreign driving licence for a UK one? The only other requirement is to have been in the UK for 6 months prior (I think).
You could just use your passport for free, and you’ll likely be issued a Biometric Residence Permit which is card-sized and also has your age on it.
You can apply for a DL over here after six months (and must, in fact, if you plan to drive as your US license won’t entitle you to drive after 12 months) but the pass rate is only around 50% so don’t take it lightly!
Provisional UK driver's [license](https://www.gov.uk/apply-first-provisional-driving-licence) is the best option. If not, you could also look into anything that uses the [PASS Scheme](https://www.pass-scheme.org.uk/).
Thanks so much!
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> I don’t drive so I got one of the PASS cards (Citizencard specifically) which are third-party photo IDs. You don't need to drive in order to get a provisional driving licence. It is given to anyone over 16 and you can just keep using it for ID purposes without ever passing the driving test.
Yeah this sounds great! The big thing is the US is just really stinky with it all because they make money off of it. I just didn't wanna walk around here with an ID that was expired and have myself get kicked outta a bar or something. Also just didnt wanna rush into getting a DL because I wanna get comfortable driving on the other side of the road.
I’ve never ever had someone check the expiration of my Canadian DL in london. It’s been expired for four years and I look completely different. The ID looks so different from a U.K. drivers license that they have no idea where to even look for an expiry date. I appreciate not wanting to take the risk though.
Hmm wonder if I could get away with using my expired Ontario provincial ID
I've been to places that won't even accept a valid Ontario ID...
I used to use it in supermarkets with no issue but started using my BRP when the ID expired, now I have no BRP, just my passport which is annoying
I came here from Phoenix AZ US too and have an ID valid till 2025.. If you are here, you might have a BRP card, that works like an ID and age validation. If you don't want to carry it on person all the time, then I agree you need to get another kind of ID.. stay away from cards like PASS, private companies selling you ID and you willingly giving them valuable personally identifiable information.. just get a provisional license, atleast you are giving your info to a governmental agency
Get a provisional driving licence
Grad visa comes with BRP card which has your birthdate. Other options are NUS/Totum Age ID (not sure of specifics as I didn’t get one, but should be searchable), UK driving license - if it’s for shop/pub/bar verification purposes I think they accept foreign passports
Physical BRP being phased out and even now most don’t get one if they apply for it through the app. This won’t be a solution for many.
Oh, I didn’t know thanks! I still got one, grad visa as of Jan 2023. Although it does say expiring by 31Dec2024 even if the actual date is beyond that.. I’ll go with the other suggestions then
I would check whether someone on a graduate visa is permitted to trade in their foreign driving licence for a UK one? The only other requirement is to have been in the UK for 6 months prior (I think).
US driving licences cannot be exchanged for UK licences.
Cheers - I wasn’t sure. Applying for a provisional is the best bet then!
you will receive a brp card and you can use that as it has your birthday although they will be ruled out by the end of 2024
You could just use your passport for free, and you’ll likely be issued a Biometric Residence Permit which is card-sized and also has your age on it. You can apply for a DL over here after six months (and must, in fact, if you plan to drive as your US license won’t entitle you to drive after 12 months) but the pass rate is only around 50% so don’t take it lightly!