Need advice on pursuing UK driver's license

Hi All,

Sorry if this topic has been covered a bit before, but I think I'm finally going to stop procrastinating and start preparing for the UK driver's license test. My questions specifically are:

1. I'm 34 and thus have driven in the U.S. for many years (and my U.S. license hasn't expired yet). Are there any exclusions for adults who have already been driving (in other countries), or do they basically make you go through the whole thing regardless, as if you were 17 and never drove anything before?

2. How much preparation do you think is necessary? Is it sufficient to get a book and study (And if so, which book/s exactly?) or should I consider taking lessons too (With whom and how much roughly would they cost)? I've been driving in the UK for 10 months already and haven't had any problems (aside from the odd multi-car pileup every now and then    Just kidding!)

Many Thanks

There's no exclusion for Americans.

I've held a valid US license for 39 years.  I've had two lessons and plan to have two more before taking the driving test.  I pay 17 pounds per lesson.  Instructor chosen by word-of-mouth recommendation from a neighbor.

I bought a copy of the Highway Code and the official learner's guide.  Don't have it with me and I can't remember the exact title.  They are sold in W.H.Smith.

http://www.dvla.gov.uk/welcome.htm

Here's wishing us both luck on the test.

Jim

Good luck to both of you on your tests! (from a smug owner of a UK license since Nov '04).

Just a word of advice: When buying a study guide make sure you get the current year's guide. It shouldn't be a problem if you get it from WH Smith, but if you're using someone else's or getting a second-hand copy, be careful. The questions on the theory portion of the test come only from that year's study guide. Previous editions of the guide will include questions that may not ever come up ... so don't waste your time studying for stuff you don't need!

I held a US License for 13 years when I came to the UK.  My husband's company failed to mention that you are only supposed to drive on your US License for one year.  We had been driving on our US license for a year and a half when we began the process (had to tell a couple white lies to the driving school).  We started by reading the Highway Code and doing the practice questions for the written/computerised test.  The questions weren't that hard.  I think my husband and I each got one wrong.  You also have to do a video portion of the test.  (There is a practice one you can get for your computer.)  Once we passed that we started taking lessons from BSM.  Lessons were very expensive.  If I recall correctly they were something like 21+ Pounds per hour or was that per two-hour lesson?  I don't remember now.  My husband's company paid for it so I didn't pay that much attention to it.  I think we each did about 20 hours of lessons.  The best part is trying to get in for a practical test.  We had to wait three months for a test and then it snowed that day, one of two days it snowed all year.  We didn't know if we could go out for the drive until an hour before.  I used to live in ND, I think I can drive on a light dusting of snow!  We both passed with flying colours...and what a relief that was!

Some countries offer reciprocity agreements with some US states...for example, in Germany I could have exchanged my US license in for a German one without taking any tests or lessons.  Then again, driving in the UK is a bit different than the rest of Europe/US.  

Cheers!

I am just beginning the process...

I am using an online test to practice for the theory & hazard perception parts: http://www.theory-test.co.uk/asp/default.asp...it is helping me a lot and isn't very expensive.  I have also downloaded the Highway Code:  http://www.highwaycode.gov.uk/drivers.shtml...which I read before I began doing the practice testing.

I am using BSM...in London it's £25 per hour...and they tend to set up 2 hour lessons.  I expect that I'll need at least 4 lessons as I haven't driven a manual for a few years and have some habits to break (such as coasting, positioning of hands on the steering wheel...just different things you need to do).  Note that it's not unusal not to pass...I think it's around 55% pass rate...I would definitely do a lesson or two if only to find out what the testers are looking for & to be certain that you are doing it the right way (who would have thought after 20 years of driving I'm doing it the wrong way, but apparently we do it wrong in the US!).

A site that I found to be helpful: http://www.2pass.co.uk/

Best of luck to everyone taking the tests...I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

(who would have thought after 20 years of driving I'm doing it the wrong way, but apparently we do it wrong in the US!).

I know!! I thought I was a good driver! The hardest habit for me to break was crossing my hands on the steering wheel -- like doing a maneuver or something that required turning the wheel a lot with both hands.

Regarding what the examiners are looking for, my driving teacher gave me useful tips about the various instructors and what kind of people they are. That may only work in a small community like mine where everyone knows each other -- but who knows; maybe the driving instructor/examiner community is pretty close-knit?

belindaloo,

How many points did you lose for hand-crossing?  I am finding it impossible to break that habit.  (I don't even know what's supposed to be wrong about it.)

Jim

Jim - I think it's a minor...but I can usually break the habit for short periods and think that during a test I will be concentrating so hard on not doing it that I won't...but we'll see!  It's a tough one!

belindaloo,
How many points did you lose for hand-crossing?  I am finding it impossible to break that habit.  (I don't even know what's supposed to be wrong about it.)

I didn't do it during my test, so didn't lose any points. During the period of time I was having lessons, I really concentrated hard on not doing it. My US license was still valid while I was doing all this, so I was still driving on my own as well -- and I made a point of following all the rules even when just going to Tesco. Of course, now that I have my license, I've happily reverted to all my old habits!

Yeah, don't even question why it's wrong 'cause you'll drive (no pun intended) yourself nuts. Just do it. 

another thing a lot of long-time drivers like myself do is coast.  i didn't even realise i was coasting - into stops, lights, roundabouts - until it was pointed out.  this is a BIG no-no! 

i think it's easier to coast in an automatic, but i'm perfectly capable of doing it in a manual if the road is flat. 

dh got 4 minors on his practical - all for mirror checks.  be REALLY obvious on those mirror checks - like bum cheek off the seat obvious.  apparently, you can get up to 15 and then it becomes a major and you fail. 

I wouldn't worry too much about the minor points. Everyone gets them. I think I had a couple for mirror things. It's to be expected. During my test, I felt like I was in this weird state of hyper-vigilance. I was so focused on my driving that it seemed like it only lasted seconds! I was like in a driving trance!

Mirrors, mirrors, mirrors,,,, that is the biggie. Check mirrors before doing anything, in the middle of doing anything, and again after you have done it,,lol. If you pass a cyclist,, check the mirror behind you after you have passed them,, check mirrors even if you already know nothing is around you, check mirrors, check mirrors, check mirrors,,lol. I don't think anyone has failed for checking their mirrors too often.

Hi All,

Thanks very much for the helpful responses. What a pain this is.  :\\\'( It's true that in some countries you can do a simple exchange (What heaven!) with your U.S. license.

Actually, one of you mentioned that is possible in Germany?? Hmmm....I have this fantasy about my company allowing me to transfer to our Frankfurt office (They'll probably say NO WAY IN HELL, and it's best I don't ask them until I've been here a few more months). Maybe I'll just wait to confirm the outcome of that before taking the plunge, although that means I'll be here for more than a year if I end up applying. Then again, I also have my illegal U.S. license plates still on the car, so I'll probably borrow someone else's car for the test!

Kind Regards,

I had the same fantasies... I thought that if I moved to Canada with my sister for awhile or to Germany for awhile, and transfer my US licence, then transfer the Canadaian/German for the UK... but alas- i just grined and got through it...

Great innit!

When I went to get my UK licence, I was actually told that if I had kept my driving licence from Japan, they would have just transfered it.  But as I was in the US for 10 years, I had to get a US licence.  The number of driving tests I've had to take since I was 16 is riduculous really.  Only good thing, no written test for me as I've held a UK licence for 10 years now.   

God I'm old.