UK Driving License

Hi,
I'm trying to figure out how much time, money and effort I need to stick into converting my US driving license to a UK license?  Mine's from NY.  I heard you need to convert after a year but mine will be expiring before that.

Did converting involve mandatory driving or class lessons, a written exam, first aid course, a road test?  

After converting were you able to keep the US license?  I heard you're not allowed to, but I want to keep mine mainly for ID checks in US bars etc.

Final question:  was it as delightful as dealing with the DMV?

You can't just convert it unfortunately.  After a year, (or when your license expires) you'll need to book a practical road test, and a written test and pass them so that you can get your UK license.

Driving here is very different to driving in the US and the test is *considerably* harder.  Most people find it very useful to book a few lessons at least before the test.

For ID checks, I would think your UK license would be proof enough of age anywhere!

Good luck!

Just to add...

No, you don't lose your American license even once you get your British one.  (Though you will if you don't renew it, obviously.)

I have been travelling back and forth to the UK for about 4 years.......I have gotten married, and have now been granted indefinite right to remain...............

now, about my licence.......does the ''12 month'' rule begin from the date of residency, and is residency defined as when I was granted indefinite status?

anyone have any ideas?

No, it started when you first moved over.

At one time I knew Americans would go over to France from the UK so as to start the 12 months ticking again. No more.

So after just reading another thread, why don't the driving license and border control civil servants at the airports get transfered to policing duties on the streets on Friday nights and then let the timid police get transfered to licencing and border patrol duties.

Good advice so far...when I came over I had to book a significant number of lessons even though I had been driving in the US for years (I think it took me a bit longer because I never had driven a manual car before and wanted to pass the manual test. If you sit the test in an automatic car, you are only allowed to drive automatics).

Unfortunately, you can't just convert a US driving license into a UK licence (some other countries allow conversions, I think Germany might be one. Other countries [mostly commonwealth ones] can swap their licence for a UK one but not the USA), so as folk have said, once the year is up or the US licence expires, you need to take a road test. I used to think the 'clock' resat every time you left the country, but it's when you first move here and I think there are a few documented cases where people were found to be driving illegally or their insurance wasn't valid when they had an accident because they had been using a US licence for a long time.

The first thing I did was apply for the Provisional licence (a learner's permit sort of). I found the DVLA much easier to deal with than the DMV. I did everything online and only saw a person when I went to their office to turn in the application as they had to sign my photo or something like that. I didn't wait very long either and they were pretty friendly. You can do most things online or by post, I had to send in my US passport but it was returned pretty quickly.

I think it would be good to book at least a handful of lessons before sitting your test and see how you and your instructor feel. You have to pass a Theory Test which incorporates questions and a 'hazard perception' bit, this test was taken on a computer. 'The Highway Code' is the resource book to have, and I'd recommend one of the driving-test CD-ROM's. I found it really helpful and actually the CD was more difficult than the actual test, which boosted my confidence. After you pass the theory test, you can then book the practical test.

The practical test you can research online, it's usually 40 minutes to just around one hour and involves different maneouvers, road types, and hazards. It is much more difficult than the US test, I passed on my 4th try, but many pass first time around...I just was nervous and made silly errors.

I found my insurance was soooo much cheaper with a UK licence than a US one, so you may save money in the long run. The tests are quite expensive (I sat mine a few years ago, think the theory was around £28 and practical was £37 and provisional licence had a fee too, plus lessons were £17/hr, not sure what they're like today but you can shop around for a deal). In the long run, I found it to be totally worth it and now need a car for my job as I live in a rural area.

You do keep your US licence as it's not actually a swap in this case . Just remember to renew it!

Good advice so far...

Pay attention, folks!  The OP in this thread is nearly seven years old!  And there are plenty of threads on getting a UK licence that are more up-to-date

For ID checks, I would think your UK license would be proof enough of age anywhere!

Obviously this is old but I just wanted to point out that this is not true.  Most states require a US or Canadian Driver's License, US Military ID or passport issued from any country.  That's it.  And honestly, after working for two years in a restaurant in a touristy area of New York City, it's well justified.  There are a lot of countries who issue very shady looking IDs--like, pieces of paper with a passport picture pasted on, for example, (Italy) or Asian countries whose IDs can't be read unless you speak the language.  While British DL's look a bit more official, there has to be a line drawn.  And considering the consequences for serving underage (hefty fines, possible jail time), it's just not worth it.