Buying a car... what do we need?

My husband and I are looking to buy a car.  He has a NJ State driver's license.  I do as well, but unfortunately it expired this past month! 

What do we need to have in order to purchase and insure a car?  I have read in these forums that the license isn't as much an issue as financing the purchase is.  Is getting UK car insurance relatively easy? 

I plan on taking some driving lessons and getting a UK license asap.

Apologies if this has already been discussed on this board- I suspect its an old topic- but I'm having a hard time pulling up answers that aren't more than a year old.  Thank you!!! 

When did you move to the UK? If it was over one year ago, neither of you is able to drive using your US license.

Geeta: does this mean, once I'm in the UK on a spouse visa, I can work toward a UK driving license and have to do so within 1 year? 

You can work towards getting a UK license at any point, but you only have one year after you arrive to drive legally on your US license.

I've been here since July so that shouldn't be an issue.   Do you have anything to add regarding the questions I posted?

I've been here since July so that shouldn't be an issue.   Do you have anything to add regarding the questions I posted?

You've been here since July, but you say your license expired, right? You do need a valid license to drive here for the one year you're permitted to do so.

You've been here since July, but you say your license expired, right? You do need a valid license to drive here for the one year you're permitted to do so.

Yes, if your licence has expired, then you will not be allowed to drive in the UK unless you get a UK provisional licence, but you there are restrictions on driving with just a provisional licence.

You will be treated at a learner driver and so you must be accompanied at all times by someone who is over 21 and has held a full UK licence for at least 3 years. You will also have to display red 'L' learner plates on the car and you will not be allowed to drive on motorways.

So we bought a car and only needed passports and drivers licenses (just in case someone else needs this information). 

Now on to getting the UK license. 

Thanks for all the feedback.

So we bought a car and only needed passports and drivers licenses (just in case someone else needs this information). 

Now on to getting the UK license. 

Thanks for all the feedback.

I leased a car a couple of weeks ago, they never asked to see my passport...

I suppose everywhere is different!

Maybe this has been answered before but I was wondering when you buy a car in the UK  do you get a title signed off by the seller?

@ Cheers - When you buy a car the current owner should have the registration document (V5).  They send it off to the DVLA and give you a tear-off section from it called the new keeper's slip or something like that. The DVLA will send you a new V5.

When I've bought or sold vehicles in the past, often the other party has insisted on watching me mail the V5.  It's not a bad idea, as it ensures the buyer will be recognised as the keeper, and the seller won't get the new keeper's parking and speeding fines.

I've also always insisted on a detailed, written receipt for a private sale.  I think technically having your name on the V5 confirms you as the registered keeper, but not necessarily the legal owner.