Finally - I can enjoy driving again

Well, I have stayed away from this board for quite some time now, mostly because I know you all would have little mercy on my deciding to drive on my US license after my 12 months were up.  It was wrong yes, but I felt that I was doing what I had to do for the sake of my family and my job.  I do not expect anyone here to approve of what I did (yes there are always other options I could have looked into if I had made the time and effort) but what's done is done.  I did what I thought was right at the time.  Was it?  Probably not...but it's easy for me to say that now.

Well, I finally can rest easy, as I passed my UK Practical test this morning.    I was convinced I was going to fail; perhaps in the deepest recesses of my mind I thought I deserved to fail because I had abused my driving privileges.  But pass I did, and now I can move on to the next challenge facing me in my new UK life.  It wasn't a bad experience at all.  I was very nervous at first, but as the test went on and my tester saw that I knew how to drive, he began to make some conversation, which made me feel a bit more at ease.  I ended up with 5 minor faults, not too bad seeing that I only took two professional lessons.  But I must admit how nerve wracking it was every time I caught him making a mark out of the corner of my eye - halfway through the test I would have sworn there were about 20 marks on the sheet already.

I guess my main reason for posting this message is for those of you who may be nearing the end of your 12 month grace period (or who have passed it), and are wondering whether it's worth taking the risk.. It's not.  Don't wait any longer and and get it done.  I cannot tell you the number of times I saw a police car following me and thought "now I'm going to get busted for sure".  While I was lucky, it could have been much worse - had I been in an accident, my insurance may not have covered me at all.  If I knew then what I knew now, the minute that it became remotely possible for me to get my UK license I would have done so.  So don't make the same mistake I did.  I will never criticize anybody for making difficult decisions, but I will criticize them (and myself) for procrastinating.  Just get it done.

I have to get my UK license when I get there asap b/c my brit bf has a company car that won't cover me w/ insurance unless I have a UK license, so I don't even have the luxury of a year!! You only took 2 lessons? That is so encouraging - I was told 10 at least!

Any tips? Suggestions? How long overall from the time you got your "learner's permit" til you got the license?

Well done! Congrats!!

Like you, I drove illegally for a while after my 12-month grace period. To me it wasn't such a big deal -- I live out in the middle of nowhere (no speed cameras) and I haven't seen a police car around since I moved here two years ago. But I did stay away from motorways and long-distance driving while I was illegal.

But it was an incredible relief when I passed my test, so I know how you feel!! Congratulations!!

Pittpanther 36-

How long have you been driving in the states?  I have been driving for 20 years (yikes) now, so I think my experience helped.  It also helped that I have always driven a standard (we call it a stick) back when I lived in the states, so it was just a matter of switching hands.  Lastly, the instructor that I had really focused in on the things I needed to do to pass the test, since I essentially knew how to drive anyway.  Once I got my provisional license, I took my theory test 5 weeks later (the soonest I could get an appointment) and took my practical 4 weeks after that (the soonest I could get an appointment).  The time it takes to get an appointment is always changing.  Last year at this time my instructor told me that it took 18 weeks to get an appointment.  Also, you can't start taking driving lessons until you pass your theory test.  I used an on line site to prepare for mine, you can start doing that now if you want:

www.theory-test.co.uk

I think it will be a challenge for you to try and take the test when you first get here.  It took me about a month to get comfortable driving on the other side of the road, as US drivers tend to have trouble with depth perception on their left side when driving a UK (right hand drive) vehicle.  And the roundabouts- well that's just something you have to experience.  So, you may in fact need more than a couple of lessons before you are ready to take your test.

Good luck!

Thank you Ed!

I have been driving for almost 9 yrs. I have also been driving while visiting on occasion in my bf's company car with him there to help. I was hoping to get the license before classes start, but it looks as though that may not happen.  I took my test on stick in the states - so no big deal. That is one thing I will always thank my parents for making me learn. Other than that - your experience is encouraging and I will start studying now!

congratulations Ed on passing your driving test, i passed mine 16 years ago and wouldn't like to think i had to learn to drive nowadays.

Like you, I drove illegally for a while after my 12-month grace period. To me it wasn't such a big deal --

Same here...  i just figured if i got caught, i would take the punishment, cos i completely deserved it.
Luckily i never got caught.

Congrats on passing your test , Ed!