Getting around 1yr limit on driving license

   I am so embarassed.

 I knew all about the issues of getting the UK license within the first year, but due to the DVLA having to check on a medical issue and, mostly, my own inertia, I am coming up on a year and I am very scared that I will not be able to do this in time.  I have one month left and I don't even have my provisional yet, although it is in DVLA's hands. 

I am feeling so desperate that I was wondering if I went back to the States briefly, say a month or so, and then went through the process of immigrating again, even if I had to apply for a new visa, could I start the clock again?


Please be kind to me in your replys, I feel like such a fool.

Kathleen

You will be fine. 

Just gets those lessons, tests etc done. :-)

It's not a big deal - honestly. I've been here 2.5 years and haven't dealt with the whole thing yet. I just got my provisional and am just following the dumb rules about the "L" plate and having dh in the car when I drive. It's a drag but it's a good motivator to get on with it and take the tests! 

And no...you can't get around it...if you could...we'd all be doing it!

Or you could drive illegally on your US license and hope you don't get caught. Not that I'd ever recommend doing something like that, mind you!

Or you could drive illegally on your US license and hope you don't get caught. Not that I'd ever recommend doing something like that, mind you!

Not that I would either  but even if you do get asked for your license, the cop might well just accept it anyway and not go into details about how long you've been living here.  Then again he might be a "Jobsworth" type.

Besides, if it were me my attitude would be that I've set everything in motion with DVLA in plenty of time.   If they take 3 months to sort out a test date etc., that's not your fault, is it?

Thank you all for your very kind and helpful posts. 

I had some crazy idea that  i had to drive as a learner for a long time before I could take the test.  Ah, it is so often our own mistaken ideas that make us suffer! 

I have an appointment tomorrow with an instructor to get an idea of what I need to focus on with a view to the driving test.  I am reading hard in the theory book and trying to stay positive.   I will conquer!

You folks really helped me when I was down - Thanks.

Kathleen

I would highly recommend getting one of the training discs available to help study for the theory portion of the test.  It really helped me out.....

the training discs (CD roms) also helped with the hazard perception part a whole bunch.  Good LUCK!!

I still think it's totally unnecessary and unfair to make you all jump through every hoop just like somebody starting from scratch who has never driven before. 

Katpaint,

I started living in England legally in March 2003, and got my full driving license July 2005. I was over 7 months pregnant at the time!

As far as I know, there is no entity that goes around and checks immigrants to make sure they're driving on a full British license after a year. The only problem you may have is filing a claim with your insurance company, if need be.

Go to WH Smith, buy a DVD to assist you with the theory test and book your theory test. After passing the theory test, you have a year or more to take your driving test.

You will feel so much better after you get this out of the way. After I passed my driving test and came home, I popped open a beer and phoned my Mom at 3 a.m. her time to tell her the good news!