Learning to drive / converting to drive in the UK

It's the New Year, a time when folks who've settled recently in the UK are recovering from Christmas and looking forward to other more settling issues like getting their UK driving licenses.   There's plenty of information on this available, but it's changed over the years (and continues to change), and much of the information needed by folks here in the slightly unusual steps of an international move is hidden deep in documentation and web pages amongst a welter of other irellevant information.

I've noticed requests for a more visible presence here for learning-to-drive issues, and happy to oblige with your support.   As a starter, can I give you a link to an introductory text that I wrote here a while back and update / maintain in my own web space.

These days, if you want to drive in the UK and you're a new driver, you need to
a) Apply for a provisional license (learner's permit)
b) Pass a theory test
c) Pass a hazard perception test
d) Pass a practical test
e) Get your provisional license upgraded to a full license

If you hold a full EU driving license, or one from certain other countries (but NOT a USA license of any state), you can apply for a Full License stratight away. From the USA, you're allowed to drive for 1 year from when you become a resident in the UK on your American license, during which time you're supopsed to go through the five steps above if you want to continue driving on the UK roads unaccompanied. I know a number of people have flouted this rule, but it's very risky - for example if you get stopped by the police, or if you need to make an insurance claim you'll find that your claim is rejected because your cover wasn't valid and your're personally liable.

Please follow up here.  Who's "learning" to drive the UK way at the moment?

Meeee!  I'm going to get my provisional license in the next week or two!   

Thanks for that summary, Graham.

I've had two driving lessons (£17 each), which went very well.  I do not have a provisional license yet, as I am not resident in the UK yet.  Have been coming and going in the UK for the past 29 years, will apply for a settlement visa in March and make the move in July.  Have held a US license for almost 39 years.

The driving instructor is nitpicking, intentionally.  Hardest things to remember: don't cross hands when turning the steering wheel, lane choice and signalling at roundabouts, checking rear view mirror every six seconds in a way the grader will see, and driving slowly (so slowly that it would risk causing an accident back in the Washington DC area).

Jim

I'm planning to start the whole process in Feb/Mar...I'll have saved up money to pay for the lot.  The biggest issue for me will be getting up to a DMLV to get my picture signed as I don't know anyone here for 2 years.  It's a pain that you can't get it signed closer to home...I'll have to take the Thames Link up to Luton and then find a way to get myself to the office there.  Or have my bf drive me.  Oy!

ME! but am going for just an automatic license for starters.  If one does that, it may be faster if you are having problems learning how to drive standard, as well as learning about the driving regulations here in the UK. If I get my automatic license, I will be able to still use it like a provisional if I want to keep learning to drive standard.   have had 20 hours of standard lessons, but just started on automatic lessons, to mainly get the UK regulations under my belt so I will be able to pass the test.

I got my full UK license back in November, so I'm sorted!

But ... someone told me this and I don't know if it's true or not. (Since I already had my UK license, it wasn't an issue for me, so I didn't investigate any further).  Anyway, we all know that a US license is valid for 12 months. Fine. But what I was later told was that if you leave the UK (even for a vacation) and  then return, the 12 months begins again. Has anyone else heard this? My 12 months expired in June, and so I was technically driving illegally (eek!) from then until November when I passed my test. However, I was later informed that because I went to Mauritius on holiday for 2 weeks in February, my 12 months started again upon my return -- so I was  never illegal. I'm quite dubious, but wonder if anyone else had heard this.

Technically, your one year starts on the date of your visa (whatever type it is).  So, my one year ended on 7 October 2004, as the date on my spousal visa is 7 October 2003.  DH and I went to the US during my first year, but that doesn't mean that my year started over on the day we got back (11 July).

isn't this a title to a Tom Petty song?

I'm learning to driiiiive

but i ain't got....wheelz? 

Well, count me in as well.  I have my provisional, have passed my theory and my hazard perception.  On March 8th, I take my practical!  Luckily, I am quite adept at driving a standard transmission.  In fact, I prefer it to an automatic.  It is just the whole other side of the road and other side of the car thing that does my head in.      I am waiting to see if this job offer comes through to see when I can schedule my lessons.  I will probably take 6 lessons in total leading right up until the date of my test. 

My DH and I went for a drive a couple of weeks ago through the countryside.  Actually,  it was my (hopefully) new drive to work.  Poor man, I nearly gave him a heart attack as this bridge just happened to scoot over too close to our car.   He just kept yelling "bridge, bridge, bridge" and each time his voice went an octave higher!  The bridge missed us you'll be happy to know. 

I do not know what the speed limits are like in England or Scotland, but here in NI, the speed limit is 60mph on these back country roads that I just can't imagine why it is so fast.  Seems like it should be 45 or something and god help you if you are following me on my way to work, cause thats how fast I am driving.  Poor people of NI, here comes the slow yank! LOL.   Does anyone else think the speed limits are a little faster here than in the states or is it my imagination?

Technically, your one year starts on the date of your visa (whatever type it is). 

I didn't have a visa. I have dual citizenship (was born in the UK). Not sure if that made a difference.

I didn't have a visa. I have dual citizenship (was born in the UK). Not sure if that made a difference.

I was wondering the same thing as I have dual citizenship.  Not that I want to break any laws, but how would they know how long I have been here?

bvamin

I thought it was from the day you were arrived here to take up residence was the 12 month countdown, regardless of wheither you left the country during the 12 month period or not?

Good Luck with your practical test Rose

I've had two driving lessons (£17 each), which went very well.  I do not have a provisional license yet, as I am not resident in the UK yet. 

I'm surprised they let you have a lesson without a provisional licence.

From my understanding:

There's nothing to stop someone giving you driving advise / lessons if you're driving legally on an American license - although the person giving the advise, if they're a professional, may need to check there own insurance policy to see it covers and isn't tightly worded around "UK provisional license holders".   But I suspect many driving instructors wouldn't know this.

The "12 months on a USA license" is from when you take up residency.  Yes - VERY hard to proove at a roadside stop, especially for a dual citizen, but if the authorities wanted to find out they could probably do so ... and if your insurers thought you were claiming after the 12 months, they would probably know if they had been insuring you since you moved over, right??