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Original poster

Driving without licence - WWYD

321 replies

Washingyourcurtains · 28/09/2019 20:32

I've recently found out my father in law has never had a driving licence. He's in his 60s and has owned and driven cars all his adult life, just never took his test. I'm shocked about this so would be interested to know what others think and if this is more widespread. Obviously it's a big secret so I can't discuss it with people in real life.

He drives my 2 young children around, sometimes long distances and on motorways as we live the other end of the country and sometimes meet half way to hand over the children and they go to theirs by themselves (which in itself is great for all of us). But I feel really uncomfortable about them being in his car now as he doesn't have insurance (presumably). It will cause a massive issue with my partner if I stop them from being driven by him as he will think I'm overreacting. But what if he has an accident and they are seriously injured and there is no insurance? Should I just overlook it? What would you do.

OP posts:
Chloemol · 28/09/2019 20:55

You need to report this. Would you really be able to live with yourself if he killed someone? And stop your children from getting in the car with him. And if your partner thinks you are being unreasonable then you need to consider your re,ationship. I couldn’t live with someone who thinks it’s ok for someone to drive a killing machine without a licence

TigerDroveAgain · 28/09/2019 20:55

I wouldn’t be worried about safety as he’s obviously an experienced driver. But If he hadn’t passed his test that’s obviously illegal. I can’t see how this could arise: are you sure he hasn’t got a forces licence?

1Morewineplease · 28/09/2019 20:56

I’m not sure that you can legally drive without a licence. How has he bought cars and insured them without one?
However, my father, in WW2 learned to drive army transport and never sat an official driving test. But he was legally able to drive afterwards.
Maybe your FIL learned during National Service? Or is he younger than that ?

BananasAreTheSourceOfEvil · 28/09/2019 20:56

@BuggerOffAndGoodDayToYou are you serious?! Bloody hell, I not only get asked for my driving licence number I have to provide pictures of the front and back!

Ireland is mean when it comes to driving!

Andysbestadventure · 28/09/2019 21:00

Phone 101. Report it with the reg # and say you want to remain anon. The car will flag up on ANPR cameras and he'll get pulled over and banned within a matter of days.

gamerchick · 28/09/2019 21:00

Why doesn't he just take his test? When o was learning my instructor told me he'd had people who had been driving for years and decided to go legal. It would give him peace of mind as well.

FudgeBrownie2019 · 28/09/2019 21:01

Anyone that's so brazen about driving without a license is probably also prone to taking massive chances in other ways, so no, he shouldn't ever be driving you or your DC about again under any circumstances.

In all honesty I'd shop him. I hate that there are such dickheads driving about taking chances with road safety; having no license means no insurance and if he was to crash into someone and leave them with life-changing injuries they'd have to fight like crazy for payouts and support because of your FIL's shitty disregard for the law. Your partner can have all the problems he likes with the situation; he should be thinking of the children's safety and welfare rather than protecting an idiotic driver like that.

Elieza · 28/09/2019 21:03

The speeding ticket goes to the address the car is registered at. So the car will be registered in either his name or a relatives name. If it’s a relative then he must be paying for insurance for them to drive the car and they must have taken the three points on their license. You have to send it away to be endorsed. So there must be a license in either his name or someonelse’s name that was sent away. Whose going to agee to taking points for someone else? Not very many people for sure.

Are you sure he doesn’t have a license? How do you know? I’m thinking you may be mistaken and he does have one after all and is pulling your leg.

There’s no way I’d let anyone go on the car with him. I’d hes been driving that long he could pass his test. Let him crack on with that.

ChicCroissant · 28/09/2019 21:03

I've never had to show my driving licence for insurance, that must be an Irish requirement. I can't think of the last time I used it tbh.

But no, I wouldn't be happy with him driving without insurance. Why don't you look up his car on the DVLC website, it will tell you if it is taxed and insured?

AlmostAlwyn · 28/09/2019 21:03

"I wouldn’t be worried about safety as he’s obviously an experienced driver"

You can be as experienced as you like, but there are so many idiots on the road... Someone doesn't pay attention coming up to a junction, brakes suddenly and you go into the back of them. That's always your fault! With children involved, I just wouldn't risk it!

CupCupGoose · 28/09/2019 21:04

I know someone who drives without a licence. They have been doing this for almost 20 years. They've told me they never get asked for licence details when getting insurance. They drive short distances and make sure their car is always taxed and 'insured' so that when police do random registration checks, they generally won't pull them over if it shows they have tax and insurance and aren't speeding or whatever. Obviously I don't know how true this is but they've never been pulled over so maybe it is true. Even if people don't care about getting into an accident without valid insurance, I don't know how anyone would have the nerve to do it and not worry about getting caught.

MabelMoo23 · 28/09/2019 21:06

WTAF???

No license then he’s not insured. So if it was my FIL then my kids would never ever get in the car again

sashamichele · 28/09/2019 21:07

You can get insurance if you have a provisional licence, my great aunt drove for 70 years with no full driving license. You can still get insurance.

Knittedfairies · 28/09/2019 21:09

If he got a speeding ticket, how did he avoid getting points on his (non-existent) licence?

Ratcatcher9 · 28/09/2019 21:10

If he got a speeding ticket then as a previous poster said - either someone else took the three points on their licence, or he has a licence. Who does he live with, and do they have a licence?

MummyNeedsDisaronno · 28/09/2019 21:11

My kids wouldn't be getting in his car, I would report him too

ShippingNews · 28/09/2019 21:11

I've never had to show my license details to get my car insured. It's the vehicle which is insured, not the driver.

SouthWestmom · 28/09/2019 21:12

Licence
If you are caught driving without a valid or correct licence there again is consequences, however these are different compared to driving with no insurance. Even though driving without a licence is a serious offense and we wouldn’t recommend any body to do it, it’s not as serious as some may think. The penalty for driving without a licence can be 3 to 6 points and up to a £1000 fine. On the other hand, if you have had your driving licence taken off you and you are already serving a driving ban, if you are caught in this situation it will be taken much more seriously because you are ignoring a previous court order.

From the county group

nancy75 · 28/09/2019 21:13

Did someone else take his test for him & get him a license? I can’t see how he would have got away with it for this long if there isn’t some kind of license in his name. Years ago it was pretty easy to take a test as someone else ( rumour has it one of my uncles did it for 2 of my other uncles)

BigChocFrenzy · 28/09/2019 21:14

He's in his 60s ?
So am I
Every driver had to pass a test then

and btw, he and I were both born the decade after WW2

Dita73 · 28/09/2019 21:15

Phone 101 as soon as you can. No license,no insurance. I’m sure he’s competent so will pass the test but it’s not worth the risk. If he goes into the back of a car with a family you’ll never forgive yourself

MadeForThis · 28/09/2019 21:17

He can't have gotten a speeding ticket in his name and paid the fine. There would have been points attached. They were applied to a licence. Either his or someone else's. This is a massive deception. Illegal.

Have you seen him drive? Is he safe? He's not great if he got caught speeding.

While his insurance would be invalid I wouldn't get caught up in this issue. He's either safe to drive your dc or he's not. Insurance won't stop him having an accident and it won't protect your dc. Wether it would ultimately be invalid won't change how safe your dc are with him.

thebakerwithboobs · 28/09/2019 21:20

He thought he was going to get prosecuted but he paid the fine and got away with it somehow.

Something here is simply untrue, OP. That, or someone took the points for him which is also criminal. You have to put your licence number into the form when you get the speeding fine and then send the licence to be endorsed, as someone else has said. So either he does have a licence or someone else has perverted the course of justice....

Amanduh · 28/09/2019 21:20

Tell him you will report him unless he takes the test.

Original poster
Washingyourcurtains · 28/09/2019 21:21

I'm going to get DP to talk to him before reporting him. I think we need to find out more. I think he has a provisional as what he said was he'd never taken a test. But why aren't there triggers at DVLA when someone renews their provisional for 40 odd years??!

I'm not letting him drive my kids until he's sorted it out.

OP posts: