185 Days Rule for Practical Driving Test

Hi, everyone! 

So I've been tackling driving lessons for about a month now, just had my 6th lesson today. At the end of the lesson, my driving instructor mentioned it's time for him to start looking into booking my practical test. Fantastic! He pointed out that tests are being booked about 7 weeks out, so that would mean early or mid January for my test date. Not much else was said, and he didn't ask when my availability for the test would be, so it seemed he was musing more than anything.

After my lesson, I remembered that there was some sort of rule about the length of time living in the UK before the test. It's 185 days according to the gov.uk website, which means the earliest I could do my test based on that rule is February 10th.

I am curious though - is this something they actually check for when people come in for the test? Because the website says to bring your provisional licence, your theory test certificate, and a car for the test. I even went through the website like I was booking my test, half-expecting the date I selected to get flagged, but it seemed like it would all go through just fine. It almost sounds like it's something they don't really bother to check.

This comes up a lot, but the 185-day rule ONLY applies to EU residents/licence holders... they want to prevent EU citizens/residents from coming to the UK to take the test, get a UK licence and then move back to their own country.

The only requirement for you is that you 'normally live in the UK' (i.e. that you hold a visa that is valid for more than 185 days).

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

From that file:
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.

This comes up a lot, but the 185-day rule ONLY applies to EU residents/licence holders... they want to prevent EU citizens/residents from coming to the UK to take the test, get a UK licence and then move back to their own country.

The only requirement for you is that you 'normally live in the UK' (i.e. that you hold a visa that is valid for more than 185 days).

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

From that file:
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.

Oh, I see! Well, that makes me feel better then!  I was worried we were going to have to wait until mid February when I'd rather just the get the test over with and know that part is done and dusted!

Thanks for the info! 

I was not sure about this when our son was planning to take his test this year after returning from the USA. It seemed to me that the rules now were 185 days regardless of the country but the folks here were sure it only applied to EU countries. From their website it is possible to make inquiries, which I did, and received the following email with contact details so you can check for yourself.  Our son confirmed that the examiner did indeed ask him to sign a declaration as detailed in the email below.

mailto:customerservices@dvsa.gov.uk

Hi there,

My son has recently returned from living in the USA and has never held a UK licence. He now has his provisional licence and is booked in for a theory test and was going to take the driving test soon after.

Looking at the website to book a test I see a requirement that one has to have been resident for 185 days before taking the test. I was told this applied only to those that have moved from EU countries. Could you clarify if the residency requirement applies to those returning from the US as well.

Thank you,

Thank you for your email dated 7 February.

 

I can confirm that they must have lived here for at least 185 days in the last 12 months before the day they take their test. This is regardless of which country they have moved from.

 

You can view that here.

 

The examiner will also make them sign a declaration before the test commences to confirm this.

 

How did we do? Please take a few moments to complete our customer satisfaction survey by clicking here.

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

Marie Hawkins | Customer Support Representative

Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency

Phone: 0300 200 1122

Well that's good to know. 
Thankfully one can drive on a foreign license here for a year, so there's time.

Bumping the thread!

We are currently in the same predicament wanting to book a practical test.

Any update on this from the OP? We’ve read so many mixed messages regarding the 185 days. 

Bumping the thread!

We are currently in the same predicament wanting to book a practical test.

Any update on this from the OP? We’ve read so many mixed messages regarding the 185 days. 

Why not ask them directly.  You can email them at:

mailto:customerservices@dvsa.gov.uk

They responded to me very quickly.

Or phone them:

Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency

Phone: 0300 200 1122

Thank you.

I have done but have been passed around multiple times as none of them appear to know.

However, have now had confirmation that you must sign a declaration confirming not been in U.K. less than 185 days.

Thank you.

I have done but have been passed around multiple times as none of them appear to know.

However, have now had confirmation that you must sign a declaration confirming not been in U.K. less than 185 days.

Thanks for the follow up on this.