Rental Car for a practical test..

I am trying to switch my USA driver license to UK one
, By law I allowed to drive one year here in UK. I am going to take a practical test with automatic car next Tuesday.
Can I pass the test with rental car; our company insures the car under our global policy.
Should I now put a L sign with my UK Proviosnal and valid USA drive License ?
Thanks

I don't see why you couldn't use your rental car to take the test.  I took my practical test in our own car.  You must have the L plates on and also be sure to bring one of those internal mirrors that goes on the inside of the windscreen for the examiner.  He will require that you have one so that he is able to see out the back and there's no guarantee the test centre will have one for you to use.

I would call the testing center with that question. You don't want to get to your appointment and be told you can't do it. The phone number is on your appointment sheet. Good luck!

I can't see why a rental car should be a problem, but I seem to remember reading somewhere that somebody had experienced problems when trying this approach.  I'm afraid I can't remember any more.  It would probably be a good idea to contact the DSA and ask, although it's not unknown for these places to give incorrect information.

The extra mirror requirement is relatively new.  We discussed the "L" plate issue last year, and although from what I could find then I was convinced that the rules don't actually require one if you already hold a valid U.S. license during the test, for what they cost you might not consider it worth arguing the point.

The DSA seems to be increasingly applying restrictions of its own to what it considers an acceptable vehicle:

http://www.dsa.gov.uk/Category.asp?cat=103

Are you having driving lessons, myoracle? (I think you might have posted the answer to that in another thread, but I'm afraid I've forgotten.) Anyway, if you're having lessons with an instructor in an automatic car, you should just use his/her vehicle for the test.

Re the L plate: As far as I've been told, if your US license is still valid (if you're within the 12-month window), you don't need to use an L plate.

Re the L plate: As far as I've been told, if your US license is still valid (if you're within the 12-month window), you don't need to use an L plate.

It's certainly not needed for normal driving within the 12-month period, even if you've obtained a U.K. "provisional" as well.   There was, however, a query some time ago (on this forum I think) in which somebody had gone for the test with a still-valid U.S. license and the examiner insisted that the "L" plates were needed. 

Reply #25 in this thread refers to some of the extracts of the legislation that I was able to track down:

http://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?topic=19176.0;all

There may well be other rules which amend or contradict those though!

Are you having driving lessons, myoracle?

Yes  I am taking lessons now ..
I am renting this car for my work not just for the test.. But I prefer to use it on mon test since
I am driving everyday now..


Thank fo the help..

good luck!

I say spring for a final lesson and use of training vehicle for your test.  Then you get a little extra assurance that there will be no hassles and you can ask any last minute questions.

I would call the testing center with that question. You don't want to get to your appointment and be told you can't do it. The phone number is on your appointment sheet. Good luck!

I did try to call them many times with no luck...Not sure now that I can drive with a rental car.
I will try to call again..

I decide not to use rental car... not sure about it..I am going to use my wife car..

The link below say. A hired car is unlikely to be
insured for the driving test.

http://www.dsa.gov.uk/Documents/forms/ibs/pt/DL26%20Apr05.pdf
Thanks

I think the key word there is "unlikely," referring to the position that the majority of Brits would find themselves in when taking the test (i.e. never held a full license before, anywhere).

Private insurance policies here usually allow one to drive a car belonging to somebody else, but almost always with the exception that this doesn't extend to a hired car.    So even if you have insurance yourself, when you rent a car you're covered by the rental company's "any driver" insurance.   As I don't know of any rental companies which allow learners to drive their vehicles, obviously their insurance doesn't cover anyone without a "full" license (and usually over 21, 25, etc. to boot). 

The fact that somebody in your position already has a "full" license which is accepted by the company and thus covers you on their insurance changes things quite a bit, but as is often the case, I think the various people involved probably don't realize the implications because it's not something they've ever had to deal with.