European Trip
 

My wife and I are planning a European trip. I had decided to buy a used bike in the UK rather than ship my bike over from Mexico. I narrowed the search done to a A Honda Deauville as it comes with panniers and shaft drive. I asked on the Deauville Forum if it was up to the task and a guy offered to lend me one for 6 months. We emailed back and forth and came up with a deal where I buy the bike and he buys it back. This will allow me to change it over to my name. Now for the questions.
I am a UK citizen but have lived in Mexico for 40 years. I have a paper driving license from the UK which is still valid but has the wrong address. A friend can let me use his address. Does anyone know if DVLC will do that for me? I have checked their website and it looks possible.
I need insurance and the fact that I am a UK citizen but not a resident seems to be a problem. Can anyone recommend a company that will give me coverage in UK and Europe.

Thanks for any help.

I am fairly certain that a paper licence is no longer valid but you might be able to convert it to a photo one on-line when they use your passport photo and change the address at the same time, if not you will need a certified photo, details below.
I would not mention at any time that you are no longer resident in the UK, not that I think it matters.
https://www.gov.uk/change-address-driving-licence

I only have a UK paper licence which is still valid but it's because I haven't changed address since the photo licence was introduced. If your address has changed (which it has) you will need to get it updated before it's legal.

I'm not too sure of the specifics but using a friend's address may not be what they had in mind, but on the other hand I have a US based friend who's done exactly that and used his mother's address for the last couple of renewals.

If you do go down that route make sure your motorcycle entitlement is transferred to the new licence. There have been quite a few people complaining that their new licence comes back with only the car groups included and the bike one left out. The DVLA are then saying that without "evidence" (i.e. the old licence which you sent in and which they've now scrapped) you can't get it back. Photographs / photocopies etc are not accepted. A number of people have been "losing" their old licence only to miraculously find it again if there's a problem ...

If you are a UK citizen with a UK passport and driving licence there should be no reason why you can't buy a bike, tax and insure it in the UK, as long as you have an address. However as the guys say, you will need to swap your paper licence for a photocard licence. But read the gov.uk website which will tell you how to do this, you may have to be in the UK at the time you apply. You'll also need a UK debit card to pay for the licence, tax and insurance. Bear in mind that when you buy a bike the road tax no longer transfers with the bike so you have to tax it or SORN it immediately or you'll get a fine through the post.

Thanks useful info. I got a reply from DVLC today. The license shouldn't be a problem. It looks like things will work out. The toad tax info is interesting but I have time to work it out.
On one site I found the question asked was how long have you been a UzK resident. My answer was 21 years. That is 20.9 years from1955 to 1976 and a week now.

Hi Garry,

we can provide the green card insurance, PM sent.

Cheers
Dooby