Getting a UK license question?

We are planning on moving to the UK next summer.  I have a few questions about getting a license.  I read somewhere on here that you MUST have a UK license to get car insurance in the UK.  Is this true?  Just wondering how we will be able to drive for the first few weeks/months that we are there?

Also we want to get an automatic car when we live there.  It used to be that if you  had an automatic car, you took your test on an automatic and were only licensed to drive an automatic (which would be fine with me).  I assume this test would be easier than the shift test (you wouldn't have to worry about stalling, etc.)

Is there a written part of the test and then the behind the wheel part?  Or it is one test where they ask you questions while you are driving (which I think was the case 20 years ago when we lived in London or so I heard from friends).

We are planning on moving to the UK next summer.  I have a few questions about getting a license.  I read somewhere on here that you MUST have a UK license to get car insurance in the UK.  Is this true?  Just wondering how we will be able to drive for the first few weeks/months that we are there?

You don't have to have a UK licence to get insurance (I'm sure there are people here on the forum who have managed to get insurance with a US licence), however I understand that some insurance companies may not insure people with US licences and/or it will probably cost more for your insurance than if you had a UK licence. Your US licence will only be valid in the UK for 1 year, after which you can only drive on a UK licence - this means getting a UK provisional licence and taking the tests. It is advisable that you try to get the UK licence within the 1 year because once the year is up, if you don't have the UK licence yet you will be treated as a learner driver - you will have to put 'L' (learner) plates on the car and will only be allowed to drive with a UK-licenced driver in the car (they must be over 21 and have held the UK licence for at least 3 years).

Also we want to get an automatic car when we live there.  It used to be that if you  had an automatic car, you took your test on an automatic and were only licensed to drive an automatic (which would be fine with me).  I assume this test would be easier than the shift test (you wouldn't have to worry about stalling, etc.)

Yes, this is still true in regards to automatic and shift tests. The UK driving test is unfortunately difficult to pass regardless of vehicle, although if you are more comfortable in an automatic, it may be easier for you in that respect. The main drawback to an automatic test is that there are many more manual cars than automatics in the UK and so automatics are harder to find and may be more expensive - it might be more practical in the long run to take the test in a manual car.

Is there a written part of the test and then the behind the wheel part?  Or it is one test where they ask you questions while you are driving (which I think was the case 20 years ago when we lived in London or so I heard from friends).

It used to be that there was just one test where they asked you questions (my parents took their tests that way but there are now 3 parts to the tests:

- Theory test
- Hazard perception test
- Practical driving test

The theory and hazard tests must have been taken (and passed) before you can book your practical test. Although most people pass them first time, it can take more than one attempt to pass the practical test (it took both my brother and I three attempts at age 17), so you would need to allow the time for re-takes if you were trying to pass the test before your first year in the UK was up.

Hope this helps .

Or it is one test where they ask you questions while you are driving.

In addition to the excellent information you've already gotten, I just wanted to add that there is a short portion prior to the practical/driving test where the evaluator will ask you a couple of questions about how the car works.  For example, on my test last week the evaluator had me open up the hood/bonnet and asked me where the windshield wiper fluid goes and how I'd check it.  Once we got into the car, he asked me to explain how I'd know if the handbrake was wearing out.

There are a few different questions they can ask, and whatever study guide you get to help you prepare will probably list all of the possibilities.

good luck,
Carl

In addition to the excellent information you've already gotten, I just wanted to add that there is a short portion prior to the practical/driving test where the evaluator will ask you a couple of questions about how the car works.  For example, on my test last week the evaluator had me open up the hood/bonnet and asked me where the windshield wiper fluid goes and how I'd check it.  Once we got into the car, he asked me to explain how I'd know if the handbrake was wearing out.

There are a few different questions they can ask, and whatever study guide you get to help you prepare will probably list all of the possibilities.

good luck,
Carl

Thanks for adding that, Carl - it's been several years since I took my test (2001) and the hazard perception and questions about the car (under the bonnet etc.) were not part of the test back then. I remembered about the hazard part, but forgot about the vehicle maintenance part  .

There are a few different questions they can ask, and whatever study guide you get to help you prepare will probably list all of the possibilities.

You can also get a list of the potential questions off the DVLA website. Just make sure you know where everything is located on whatever car you take the test in.

If you buy an automatic, you may be able to take the test in it -- just be sure that your insurance covers taking the test. 

If you have a good driving record in the US, it's worth getting a letter from your insurance company and/or the DMV, attesting to that.  Our insurance company gave us a no-claims discount on the basis of such a letter and that saved us a lot of money.