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4 unsuccessful attempts at getting driving license - where am I going wrong?

95

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 11 August 2011 - 14:49

I am getting a bit desperate now as I have started a job that I love and I need to be using the car to take my daughter to Nursery, run errands etc.

Basically I am on my husbands visa (issued in Abu Dhabi) so the 1st attempt to get my license at Al Barsha they told me to provide proof of address in Dubai (i.e. Dewa bill) I returned today with that and I was sent away to produce our tenancy agreement, I returned with it promptly. Then the girl looked at my UK Photocard and told me she thinks it had expired - I pointed out that on the back of the card it clearly states it expires in 2049, but she shooed me away and said I now need a letter from the British Consulate!! I called the British Consulate and they said they dont do this and dont understand what the Ladies issue is. I am so frustrated as I have taken time off my new job twice now to try and sort this and jumping in and out of taxi's with a baby is no fun in this heat.

Of course I could Taxi it to Abu Dhabi to apply however you need your ID card first for that, Any suggestions as to where I am going wrong would be appreciated
<em>edited by jenna7jenna on 11/08/2011</em>

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4747

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 11 August 2011 - 22:35

OK, I'll put my 2 cents in, and hopefully this will help. You said that your UK drivers licence expired in March. So that's 5 months. I remember when I was looking at getting my license here, I had lived in Thailand for 4 years before I came to Dubai and my Canadian DL had expired dusring that time. I vaguely remember the rules that if your licence expired 3 months ago, you need to take x number of classes, 6 months, then you need to take x number of classes. I know this really isn't good news, because you would need to take the classses to get your UAE licence and the classes aren't cheap. Unfortunately, it's true that you have to get your license in whichever Emirate your visa is in. My husband's visa is in Sharjah, so his licence had to be issued from there. My visa at the time was in Dubai, so I was able to take my lessons in Dubai. I had to do the test 3 times before I passed. :( I don't know what the girl was trying to pull with you in asking for your DEWA only to refuse you. When we bought our car, again, hubby's visa was in Sharjah, but if we could show the dealership our DEWA bill to prove that we lived in Dubai, then we could get a Dubai license plate. Things like this are so complicated here. I like Maaam's suggestion on finding a good taxi driver and keeping his number, or just arranging for him to be at you place at the same time each morning, then at your work at the same time in the afternoon. Would your fare be more that 20 dirhams each way? If not, then it's still reasonable. Good luck with it. for the renewal of the photocard you can renew it like when its 20 years out of date, you have a paper copy which is the licence up to your 70th birthday

4747

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 11 August 2011 - 22:33

you can also add to your documents - letter from DH company confirming you live in address/are married to DH with pp numbers and confirming your maiden name - letter from DH company confirming you are on AD visa but are applying in Dxb - remember all your pp copies/DH pp copies - letter from DH NOC for you to drive - marriage cert of you and DH confirming your maiden name :D LOL pretty much. But it comes down to a dude behind the desk who'll say yes or no at the end of the day. You have to learn to jump through hoops for this unfortunately. I'm sure they won't have an issue. before you do anything, i would just go to another rta office, and see what happens. i have known people who have provisional licences who have been given a licence without any issues, because they dont know the difference.

4747

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 11 August 2011 - 22:32

http://www.expatwoman.com/forum/messages.aspx?TopicID=155882 lots of information here

4747

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 11 August 2011 - 22:30

Jenna it won't matter what name/address is on your license. You have your marriage certificate confirming your maiden name right? so you can prove that is you. Just apply for the renewal without changing name etc. Private hire limos are not illegal provided you are getting receipts etc from them - perfectly legit. OR find a taxi driver you are happy with/get his mobile number and arrange for him to pick you up/drop you. edited by Maaam on 11/08/2011 technically though if you are not resident, you cannot renew your photo licence if living outside of the country.

619

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 11 August 2011 - 18:45

Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!!!!!!1 We need an applause smiley. :-D))))))))))

95

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 11 August 2011 - 18:36

Actually I am about to pour number 2, diets out of the window and I am calling Wagamamas next!! jenna, another suggestion, since it's Thursday, just pour yourself a huge glass of grape juice, down that, then have another, and another..............

95

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 11 August 2011 - 18:35

Thanks for taking the time to respond, I am going to send all docs to the DVLA and wait for them to be returned to my parents address then have them couriered over. In the meantime DD will have to say bye-bye (her only vocab) to nursery. We'll get a baby-sitting service from an agency while I am at work, I'll taxi it across the road from The Greens to Knowledge village where I work (was detouring via Al Wasl to Nursery 70 Dhs per day for the 2 round trips). What a palava though, just when we'd started to feel settled. Hopefully the new boss will be understanding that i'll be car-less for a month or 2

619

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 11 August 2011 - 18:25

jenna, another suggestion, since it's Thursday, just pour yourself a huge glass of grape juice, down that, then have another, and another..............

3804

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 11 August 2011 - 18:16

you can also add to your documents - letter from DH company confirming you live in address/are married to DH with pp numbers and confirming your maiden name - letter from DH company confirming you are on AD visa but are applying in Dxb - remember all your pp copies/DH pp copies - letter from DH NOC for you to drive - marriage cert of you and DH confirming your maiden name :D LOL pretty much. But it comes down to a dude behind the desk who'll say yes or no at the end of the day. You have to learn to jump through hoops for this unfortunately. I'm sure they won't have an issue.

619

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EW GURU

Latest post on 11 August 2011 - 18:01

LOL!!!

94

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 11 August 2011 - 17:55

you can also add to your documents - letter from DH company confirming you live in address/are married to DH with pp numbers and confirming your maiden name - letter from DH company confirming you are on AD visa but are applying in Dxb - remember all your pp copies/DH pp copies - letter from DH NOC for you to drive - marriage cert of you and DH confirming your maiden name :D

3804

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 11 August 2011 - 17:52

If your photocard has expired, then you need your paper part which is valid for 75 years or whatever it is. You can get a copy sent to you from the DVLA if you don't have it. Yes, you can get a Dubai license if you're on an AD visa. What I had to do was provide proof that I lived and worked in Dubai, no objection letter and get permission from the traffic captain - he's the one who says yes or no you have to get an abu dhabi one. It's a lot of faffing about, but can be done. Good luck :) @ natalie - her license hasn't expired, only the photo card, which is only valid for 10 years - no lessons necessary. <em>edited by Chocs01 on 11/08/2011</em>

619

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 11 August 2011 - 17:48

OK, I'll put my 2 cents in, and hopefully this will help. You said that your UK drivers licence expired in March. So that's 5 months. I remember when I was looking at getting my license here, I had lived in Thailand for 4 years before I came to Dubai and my Canadian DL had expired dusring that time. I vaguely remember the rules that if your licence expired 3 months ago, you need to take x number of classes, 6 months, then you need to take x number of classes. I know this really isn't good news, because you would need to take the classses to get your UAE licence and the classes aren't cheap. Unfortunately, it's true that you have to get your license in whichever Emirate your visa is in. My husband's visa is in Sharjah, so his licence had to be issued from there. My visa at the time was in Dubai, so I was able to take my lessons in Dubai. I had to do the test 3 times before I passed. :( I don't know what the girl was trying to pull with you in asking for your DEWA only to refuse you. When we bought our car, again, hubby's visa was in Sharjah, but if we could show the dealership our DEWA bill to prove that we lived in Dubai, then we could get a Dubai license plate. Things like this are so complicated here. I like Maaam's suggestion on finding a good taxi driver and keeping his number, or just arranging for him to be at you place at the same time each morning, then at your work at the same time in the afternoon. Would your fare be more that 20 dirhams each way? If not, then it's still reasonable. Good luck with it.

AdviceSeeker13702

1100

Posts

EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 11 August 2011 - 17:45

AS you always seem to have the good suggestions, your advice is always appreciated Yes I have a business card from a private taxi I used once, however I am sure I read on here somewhere that these private hire outfits are illegal to use as they are not on your sponsorship, and as they are not resitered as RTA their passengers are uninsured? Also I only work 4 hours per day and the cost of summercampNursery + driver will more than likely out-weigh my basic salary. I am going to start welling up soon as everytime I think I have hit on a solution its either illegal or extortionate. I really wish I had sorted out my paperwork before moving here in January but with a New-born, the Snow, Hormones, emigrating etc so many important things were overlooked :-( ugh, it is annoying and can feel your pain, but I'm sure you'll come up with a solution :) Drivers from companies such as Safe Driver aren't illegal and there's a few limousine companies around that are also perfectly legal, although as you've said they are expensive so weighing up cost vs work etc has to be done... As Maaam said if you have your marriage certificate you should be able to get your license renewed will just take a bit of time so don't give up just yet! :)

94

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 11 August 2011 - 16:58

Jenna it won't matter what name/address is on your license. You have your marriage certificate confirming your maiden name right? so you can prove that is you. Just apply for the renewal without changing name etc. Private hire limos are not illegal provided you are getting receipts etc from them - perfectly legit. OR find a taxi driver you are happy with/get his mobile number and arrange for him to pick you up/drop you. <em>edited by Maaam on 11/08/2011</em>

95

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 11 August 2011 - 16:38

AS you always seem to have the good suggestions, your advice is always appreciated Yes I have a business card from a private taxi I used once, however I am sure I read on here somewhere that these private hire outfits are illegal to use as they are not on your sponsorship, and as they are not resitered as RTA their passengers are uninsured? Also I only work 4 hours per day and the cost of summercampNursery + driver will more than likely out-weigh my basic salary. I am going to start welling up soon as everytime I think I have hit on a solution its either illegal or extortionate. I really wish I had sorted out my paperwork before moving here in January but with a New-born, the Snow, Hormones, emigrating etc so many important things were overlooked :-(

AdviceSeeker13702

1100

Posts

EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 11 August 2011 - 16:26

what about hiring a driver from a driver company? You could get the same driver and get them to keep a car seat for you whilst you use them. Do you have a car? If you do maybe you could hire safe driver as a driver to drive your car with carseat?

95

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 11 August 2011 - 16:20

Oh Dear, I have just checked off the back of your suggestion lo and behold it expired in March this year I had no idea they only last 10 years, I feel bad now for suggesting the RTA workers took a dislike to me. This creates a whole host of new issues; 1. License is in Maiden Name, wrong address, out of date 2. Turnaround time of getting the license back affecting new job 3. cabs scare the h*ll out of me, driver today had both hands on wheel 10% of journey max. Just looking into the part time maid idea (bl00dy expensive) so that I can keep my job and not risk my little girls life in a taxi with no car seat to get to Nursery - Why is nothing easy? Check the date on the front of your UK card - a UK licence only lasts 10 years and then the photo needs renewed (this has to be done in UK I beleive). Yes actually do check this, this happened to my DH a few months ago when he was applying for his motorbike license, I personally have never been so relived. I am going home tomorrow to get my sorted out (re-newed). Like you say, it should be very simple other than the above, but I seem to remember somebody with a RAK license had to go there to apply for it.

AdviceSeeker13702

1100

Posts

EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 11 August 2011 - 16:04

Thanks for your answers but does that also mean I need to get my ID Card from Abu Dhabi? If your husbands company has a PRO they should be able to apply for your ID card, you then will be given an appointment to go in and take a picture and what not, I think you can just choose the closest ID place to where you live, but as another poster has said its best to check with your PRO, and if you don't have a PRO just go into the ID centre closest to you and ask.

1280

Posts

EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 11 August 2011 - 15:19

Check the date on the front of your UK card - a UK licence only lasts 10 years and then the photo needs renewed (this has to be done in UK I beleive). Yes actually do check this, this happened to my DH a few months ago when he was applying for his motorbike license, I personally have never been so relived. I am going home tomorrow to get my sorted out (re-newed). Like you say, it should be very simple other than the above, but I seem to remember somebody with a RAK license had to go there to apply for it.

822

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 11 August 2011 - 15:14

Check the date on the front of your UK card - a UK licence only lasts 10 years and then the photo needs renewed (this has to be done in UK I beleive).

95

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 11 August 2011 - 15:14

Polly - Yes I have a British Driving License so should just transfer over nicely as has happened with my friends etc, No Idea why they are creating hurdles for me, I am very polite, covered up etc!

1280

Posts

EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 11 August 2011 - 15:14

Thanks for your answers but does that also mean I need to get my ID Card from Abu Dhabi? Sounds like it. I would ask your hubby to ask the PRO at his work, they normally know.

95

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 11 August 2011 - 15:13

Thanks for your answers but does that also mean I need to get my ID Card from Abu Dhabi?

1280

Posts

EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 11 August 2011 - 15:12

Maybe you are not payng them enough ;) this is following the report from 7 days that somebody was being paid to take tests for other people. Can I just check, you have your British drivers license?

AdviceSeeker13702

1100

Posts

EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 11 August 2011 - 15:08

Hi, I'm pretty sure you have to get your license from where your visa is issued. getting your ID card is pretty painless, a lot less complicated than your driving license experience :)

13

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 11 August 2011 - 15:05

I think if your visa is issued from Abu Dhabi, you will need to do it there. My visa is issued from Sharjah and I had to go there to get it done.

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