Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
LizB62A · 28/09/2019 22:15

Now that you know, how can you not report him?
How would you feel if he kills someone else's child, mother, wife, brother?

By not reporting him, you're allowing him to continue to drive and put lots of people at risk of being hit by an uninsured driver

Report him anonymously if you don't want your partner to know (but if that was my partner, I'd be seriously wondering about their view of what is right and wrong....)

pinkstripeycat · 28/09/2019 22:15

If he was driving on a provisional licence this would make him a leaner driver and he would have had to have a full licence holder in the car with him. If he got stopped speeding and he didn’t have a full licence holder in the car with him he would have his provisional licence taken away

MrsMunchetty · 28/09/2019 22:16

If your DP thinks it's OK, why did HE bother doing driving a test? Is he just a bit spineless with his own parents....to the extent that he'd risk the loves of his own flesh & blood?!

VanGoghsDog · 28/09/2019 22:18

My dad learned during national service but has a license, I think it got converted or something.

LoreleiRock · 28/09/2019 22:18

He has been driving for over 40 years, what do posters think is suddenly going to happen to the OPs children? I would be more worried that he may not be able to afford to pay any damages if in a crash.

Thelistwizard · 28/09/2019 22:20

I work for the DVLA. I can assure you that when you apply for car insurance they ALWAYS ask if you have a full or provisional UK licence and if it is full how long have you held it for.
They can ask all they want and of course it’s clearly unacceptable for people to lie about this but other than saying yes and giving a no of years there’s nothing else in place to stop people lying.
I’ve never been asked for my license number when applying for insurance .

nancy75 · 28/09/2019 22:24

There seems to be some grey area here between whether he has no license or has not taken a test
If he has somehow acquired a license his insurance etc will be fine

SusieOwl4 · 28/09/2019 22:25

If he has insurance it will be invalid in all respects if he lied about having a licence .

Oliversmumsarmy · 28/09/2019 22:25

My grandfather never had a driving licence. He worked as a driver for a coach company and learned to drive when he worked at a garage repairing cars.

He would however have been 110 this year.

pinkstripeycat · 28/09/2019 22:26

Also no one can drive in the motorway if they haven’t passed their test first

pinkstripeycat · 28/09/2019 22:27

Thelistwizard

You are right. You don’t have to give your licence number and of course he could have lied about the rest

Letsnotusemyname · 28/09/2019 22:27

When you insure a car you have to say when/how long ago you passed your test. That seems to be standard.

What is optional is giving your licence number. Not all require it.

If he got a speeding ticket that must have come to him via his car’s number plate/registration details.

But what about the next stage points/speed awareness course.

Somewhere a mark would need to be put on his records - either the points he’s acquired or that he’s been on a speed awareness course - and so can’t go on another for X years?

If his speeding event was recent that it may be that the admin of putting stuff on his record hasn’t been done yet. A knock on the door may happen soon?

Your problems with him not having a licence may sort themselves out without you having to do anything?

Or he’s given someone else’s details? This may not cause upset YET but when it does......

Span1elsRock · 28/09/2019 22:28

We've got a multi car insurance policy and all had to give our licence numbers for it. I'm also insured at work where we have to do a licence share code.

If he got done for speeding, there is no way he'd have got away with not having a licence, full or provisional. He's either pulling your leg or playing some sort of game.

VanGoghsDog · 28/09/2019 22:29

@longearedbat

Just rather amazed that someone would think a person in their 60's may have served in ww2!

I don't think anyone said that directly. People asked if he might have served not knowing his age, people asked is he maybe did national service which is a different thing - again. probably not knowing his age at that point.

No-one said "oh, he's in his 60's, did he serve in the war".

My father did the NS, having been born in 1937 he was rather too young to serve int he war.

But it was a reasonable question for people to ask.

saffy1234 · 28/09/2019 22:32

You can be insured without a license.

Goingonagondola · 28/09/2019 22:33

Also, think about how you'd feel if the police knocked on your door and said 'Are you aware that your children are being driven around by an unlicensed and uninsured driver?' I imagine it would raise concern - maybe even a referral to social services - when it became apparent that you'd allowed this to happen.

0hT00dles · 28/09/2019 22:35

My dfil is 80 and never passed a test. He was given his license. He has been driving for over 60 years now.

I wouldn't let the kids in his car due to his age. But he needs his car to continue working as he is a farmer. He is a safe driver. Hates people going over the Speed limit. He is very much the type to stick to any law given his experience where he grew up.

My mam has had her licence for years but is a terrible driver. As In she's had many accidents. Trust your gut.

My mam always ensures the kids are correctly strapped in. My dfil, wouldn't know a car seAt if it bit him on the bum!

Tweetingmagpie · 28/09/2019 22:41

Him not having a license doesn’t mean he’s a bad driver tbh, yeah he shouldn’t do it and if you don’t want your kids in the car with him then it’s your call but yabu to grass him up.

longearedbat · 28/09/2019 22:41

@VanGoghsDog - the op says in her opening sentence that the person in question is in his 60s. As national service finished in 1960, I don't think it is a reasonable question to ask, sorry.

mumwon · 28/09/2019 22:49

do you think its possible he might be pulling your leg?

BrokenWing · 28/09/2019 22:56

Him not having a license doesn’t mean he’s a bad driver tbh, yeah he shouldn’t do it and if you don’t want your kids in the car with him then it’s your call but yabu to grass him up.

He is also driving without insurance, unless he has a fully licensed driver beside him supervising at all times. Is that ok too? Would you be ok if someone in your family was in a nasty accident with an uninsured driver?

JudgeRindersMinder · 28/09/2019 23:05

Also no one can drive in the motorway if they haven’t passed their test first

Not the case in certain circumstances

I’m not being a smart ass -ds is learning just now amd there are loads of things like this I’ve had to check!

Driving without licence - WWYD
janj2301 · 28/09/2019 23:05

When i visit my daughter she puts me on her insurance, she needs my driving liscense details.
I've been driving 40+ years and would never pass a driving test, too many bad habits

JudgeRindersMinder · 28/09/2019 23:09

And for. Pp who asked about points on a non existent licence....anyone can have penalty points. If you don’t have a licence, and are convicted of a driving offence which would carry points, then the DVLA will create a driver number and put the points against that. If the person then applies for a licence, their licence will then come with these points now live on it.

(Police dispatcher for umpteen years, this is my bread and butter)

Sn0tnose · 28/09/2019 23:09

What a load of tripe. So much rubbish on this thread. Are you saying if you're doing 31 in a 30, you have no insurance because you're driving illegally!! If he has insurance, it will automatically cover any third party claim, so passengers or people he hits will be fully covered. Doesn't matter what lies you tell them, or how illegal you are acting, they are obligated to pick up the claim for anyone who is injured or has their property damaged by him. They might not pay out for the damage to his own car, but that's his problem. Utter bollocks.