Info needed to start driving!

This is probably a dumb question, but I can't seem to find the answer for it anywhere!

I just got into the UK a week ago but my fiancee is on about wanting me to start driving sooner rather than later.

What I can't seem to find info for is whether or not I'm required to take lessons and a test to obtain a drivers license in the UK. I have my drivers license from the U.S. and my fiancee is convinced that it's enough to get my a UK license, but I'm pretty positive it's not that easy because laws and terminology, etc. is so different!! (and to be honest, regardless of it being needed or not, I think I still might want lessons for multiple reasons, one being that my fiancee has a manual which I can't drive! I've always had an automatic!)

Can someone please clarify this for us?
Thanks!
Amber

I'm afraid your fiance is wrong - you will have to pass the test as if you're a first-time driver. Your US license will be OK to use for 12 months, but after 12 months you'll have to either have passed your UK test or stop driving.

You are not required by law to have lessons, but if you read some of the related threads here on UKY, I think you'll see that most of us had at least a few lessons to help us pass our tests. Particularly if you're going from automatic to manual, as you say.

Best of luck to you!

Chary is right. Because your license is not from an EU country you have to follow the rules stated on the following site:

Residents

If you are the holder of an ordinary driving licence (car, moped, motorcycle entitlement) and provided your licence remains valid, you can drive any category of small vehicle shown on your licence for up to 12 months from the time you became resident. To ensure continuous driving entitlement a provisional GB licence must have been obtained and a driving test(s) passed before the 12-month period elapses. If you obtain a provisional licence during this period, you are not subject to provisional licence conditions eg displaying 'L' plates or being supervised by a qualified driver or being precluded from motorways.

However, if you do not pass a test within the 12-month concessionary period you will not be allowed to drive as a full licence holder and provisional licence conditions will apply. If you do not apply for a provisional licence within the first 12 months you must stop driving and obtain a British provisional licence with a view to passing a driving test. Provisional licence conditions will then apply.

If you are the holder of a vocational licence (minibus, bus, lorry entitlement) and a new resident, you must not drive large vehicles until you have passed the relevant GB driving test. Driving test candidates are required to pass a motor car (category B) test first before applying for provisional entitlement for larger vehicles.

I'd definitely go for lessons especially if you're going to be driving a manual car and you're only familiar with an automatic. The link above is to the DirectGov site and has all the information on how to get a provisional license and the licensing procedure.

Thanks for the clarification! 

One more question! Is the test BOTH a driving and a written test or is it just a written test? (What is it called? a "theory test"?)

Thanks again!

There are 3 tests for a UK license: Theory test (written), a hazard perception test (done on a computer where you have to spot the potential traffic hazards) and Practical test (driving).

There are 3 tests for a UK license: Theory test (written), a hazard perception test (done on a computer where you have to spot the potential traffic hazards) and Practical test (driving).

The theory test is on a computer too, isn't it? i.e. you don't actually write anything on paper, but you click buttons on the computer screen to answer the questions (it was like that when I took my theory, but that was back in 2000... and the hazard perception test didn't even exist then!).

The theory test is on a computer too, isn't it? i.e. you don't actually write anything on paper, but you click buttons on the computer screen to answer the questions (it was like that when I took my theory, but that was back in 2000... and the hazard perception test didn't even exist then!).

Yes, my theory test in 2004 was on a computer. I did the hazard and theory tests on the same day, one after the other.

Yes, theory and hazard perception are really all part of the same test

Recommend some lessons- if you want to learn manual and not familiar with it, then definitely

But lessons are great to be able to learn how to pass the test and get you feeling comfortable on the road in a safe manner 

Thanks for the input everyone! I guess I will be looking into it then!!