Provisional License

I have a question...

Am I interpreting this correctly?

You have 12 months after landing in the UK to apply for a provisional license.  Once you have the P.L. there is a concessionary period before you have to take the test.  So you don't have to pass your test before the 12 months is up.  Please help me here... I'm a wee bit confused as I follow this road!

If you want to drive after your one year is up, you have to apply for the provisional license...many people don't need to drive if they live in a place like London or wait for a while before applying.

After you receive your provisional license you apply to take the 'written' test - it's like the standard one plus a hazard perception test (which is tough & like a video game in some ways).  I suggest doing some work with a book & practicing online (don't have the link right now but there are some good information boards).  After you pass the written test then you can apply for a driving test.  I'd suggest taking lessons first.  And if you pass that, then you get your license!

Once you have the P.L. there is a concessionary period before you have to take the test.  So you don't have to pass your test before the 12 months is up.  Please help me here... I'm a wee bit confused as I follow this road!

I thought you had to get your full UK license within the 12 months. But don't take my word for it -- I could very easily be wrong.

I know that you can drive with a provisional license -- but not on motorways, only with someone who's held a UK license for x number of years, etc.

i was under the impression that i needed to hold a full uk driving licence before my 12 months were up.  if i hadn't passed my test the first time, i would have go into my 13month here on my US licenece.  "OFFICIALLY" my US licence would become invalid, and i would be driving on my provisional licence which has all sorts of stipulations on it which belindaloo listed below. sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

DVLA Form INF38 (http://www.dvla.gov.uk/forms/pdf/INF38.pdf) has information about new residents driving in Great Britain.

Edited to delete a quote.  It may or may not be applicable.

MrsPink, are you're going to exchange your Canadian licence for a British one?

i was under the impression that i needed to hold a full uk driving licence before my 12 months were up.  if i hadn't passed my test the first time, i would have go into my 13month here on my US licenece.  "OFFICIALLY" my US licence would become invalid, and i would be driving on my provisional licence which has all sorts of stipulations on it which belindaloo listed below. sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

Yup. That's what happened to me. I dragged my feet, let it go for too long, and now I'm going to be stuck driving with dh with learner plates and can't go on the motorway.   My only hope is that I'll pass the test reasonably quickly....  

Yup. That's what happened to me. I dragged my feet, let it go for too long, and now I'm going to be stuck driving with dh with learner plates and can't go on the motorway.   My only hope is that I'll pass the test reasonably quickly....  

Yup me too----I am not driving these days. My advice to all is don't procrstinate--just get it done as soon as you arrive!

MrsPink, are you're going to exchange your Canadian licence for a British one?

Yes, MrsPink -- if you still have your Canadian licence, you may not have to go through all the same rigamarole.  I think the process is different for EU-nationals & possibly Commonwealth nationals as well -- like exchanging your licence, done!  (Vs 'learning to drive' all over again.)  Correct me if I'm wrong anyone, or if I misunderstood something.

I believe I read in one of the copious DVLA leaflets that Canadians can only exchange their licences for British "automatic only" licences.  For Canadians to get a British licence to drive manual, then I believe that the same restrictions apply as to us: 12 months to drive on foreign licence, British provisional before the 12 months expires, etc...

It should be mentioned that once you pass the theory test, you have 2 years from that date to pass the practical test.  If you don't pass within two years of passing the theory test, you have to retake it again before you can take the practical test again.

Now does anyone know specifically which date is the official day you become a resident?  The date on the Fiancee visa or the date on the FLR? DVLA doesn't clarify this...

Yes, MrsPink -- if you still have your Canadian licence, you may not have to go through all the same rigamarole.  I think the process is different for EU-nationals & possibly Commonwealth nationals as well -- like exchanging your licence, done!  (Vs 'learning to drive' all over again.)  Correct me if I'm wrong anyone, or if I misunderstood something.

Can someone please tell me why they don't do this for American drivers as well?

oh and the canadian situation has all kinds of wierd restrictions as well.  A friend was just describing what he must do.  He was really annoyed about it all, but I can't remember quite why.  Sorry not to be of more help, but be careful with that one.

Thanks for the link StuzMrs

Oh well, apparently there are more restrictions on Canadian (and/or Commonwealth countries) & possibly EU licence-exchange as well   than I thought.

As far as why they might make it easier for Commonwealth or EU nationals -- someone told me it may have something to do with a nation's licencing authority being a federal (national) entity vs with the US -- each state has its own separate licencing authority, some different state-specific traffic regulations, etc.  So you're not exchanging an 'American' licence, but a this-that-or-the-other-state licence, not something issued by the national authorities.  Heck - I dunno...lol...I don't know if there's anything to this theory or not -- it's just something I've heard.