185 days in UK before practical driving test?

We have just read in driving manual that have to sign form to say lived in UK for 185 days before can take test. We had no issue with provisional licence or booking theory test, but looks like Beth might have to wait a few more months before can take practical. Has anyone been through test sooner than that?

You can get the provisional license as soon as you move over but must be living in the UK for 6 months before you can take the test.

Just use this time for her to drive on her US license and get some more experience before she takes her test.

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The 185 days ONLY applies to EU citizens living in the UK. It's to prevent them from coming to the UK purely to get a UK licence and then returning to live in their EU country.

As a US citizen you can take the tests whenever you like.

From the DVLA website:

Taking a Test
If you want to take a GB driving test you must normally live in GB. If you have moved to GB recently from another EC/EEA country, you must have lived in GB for 185 days in the 12 months before you can apply for a driving test and a full licence.

See: https://www.licencebureau.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Driving-in-Britain-as-visitor-or-resident.pdf



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Phew - thanks. It was much cheaper to stay with my existing insurers and get her insured on provisional licence (we only have one car anyway), than change insurers to insure her on American licence so that's a relief.

Hmm just reading it and says if get provisional licence within the 12 months don't need L plates, motorway restriction etc - but I'm wondering if that is only if insured on full American licence. We've been treating as same as learner driver rules here cos that's what insurance says. 

Then I'm going to have to tell my driving instructor he's full of shite.

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Then I'm going to have to tell my driving instructor he's full of shite.

Most are.

I started with one instructor who I'd explained my situation to (I'd driven for years in the US so I knew how to drive, but needed to learn to pass the test). When I got in the car and made some comment about how it was different driving on the other side of the car, the other side of the road, shift on the other side, etc, her reaction made it quite clear she hadn't thought about the US/UK differences. I thought I'd made it super clear that that was what I needed help adjusting to. Within 5 minutes, she had me driving through a width restriction thing and it was the scariest thing I had to do. First time driving in the UK, in a new car, on roads I don't know and having to guess how close I am to a barrier when the road and the car are mirror images to what I'm used to.

I quickly switched to an instructor who made the change between the UK and Spain regularly and he was infinitely better suited to my needs. He had his own quirks and didn't have much patience for me practising parallel parking and reversing around a corner, but he knew what I needed help on and I passed first time around. I doubt I'd have had the same success with the first instructor.

My (somewhat strange) driving instructor understood my situation.  In fact, I was not her first American; she'd had several American students over the years that she'd been a driving instructor (and she has identified common traits among us that I had to admit I was guilty of!).

She gave me a reference point for car placement in the lane, and a bit of practice got me used to shifting with my left hand.  She readily acknowledged that I knew how to drive which gave me a lot of much-needed confidence, and she told me everything I needed to know to pass the test.  Overall, she was money well spent.

We've been lucky. A friend of mine is an ex-driving instructor, so she's been teaching Beth about driving here. She's also lived and driven in mainland Europe and America so gets what it's like for Beth adjusting.  Road position as you say here is one of the challenges. Beth has her driving theory test on Wednesday so she's been studying the highway code!

We've been lucky. A friend of mine is an ex-driving instructor, so she's been teaching Beth about driving here. She's also lived and driven in mainland Europe and America so gets what it's like for Beth adjusting.  Road position as you say here is one of the challenges. Beth has her driving theory test on Wednesday so she's been studying the highway code!

Good luck Beth! 

Go Beth! I'm not far behind you. Provisional has been applied for, now for the rest of the fun and games!


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Go Beth! I'm not far behind you. Provisional has been applied for, now for the rest of the fun and games!

Rick, are you driving around yet?  Shore Street and Inshes roundabouts are hell on earth!    They will definitely take you through Inshes on your test. 

I'm driving as part of my job for the council, and I can honestly say that I hate the roundabouts!! I'm based out of the Rose street car park office so I'm on them way more than I would like! Lol


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I'm driving as part of my job for the council, and I can honestly say that I hate the roundabouts!! I'm based out of the Rose street car park office so I'm on them way more than I would like! Lol


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Once you get used to them you'll love them.  Then you'll wonder why they use traffic lights when visiting the USA!

Beth is gradually getting used to the roundabouts. I passed my test in late 80s in Milton Keynes - it's a grid system based on US but every junction is s roundabout. I think it was unusual in that back then.

Beth passed her theory test despite over clicking on the hazard test out of nerves! Another hurdle...

Good luck with yours Rick