Penalties for using your U.S. driver's license

I feel for you, Anne. I know it is hard and who has the extra cash for lessons and tests?- I know I was sorely tempted the three months I was without it, inside with two small children.  I was a mental case.

I do hope you can get it soon- what made me nervous was my husband forgot to renew his tax disc when he was 19 and was stopped.  So, now he has a criminal record!  It doesn't affect him anymore as it has long been "spent", but it still goes on crb checks, etc.  The charge reads "fraudulently using a vehicle tax disc, invalid insurance".  He got six points and paid 150 fine.

If they consider the license invalid, they might invalidate the other things as well.  I wouldn't have thought of this had I not seen my husbands charges.

Good point, Grace. And I've had three CRBs since I've been here for various jobs, etc. so it would be a drag to have something stupid start popping up on them!!!

I'll definitely sort it out at some point soonish, but you're so right about the cost. Aside from needing a bit more confidence (particularly on very narrow roads and very big roundabouts  ) I need to get through a very expensive Autumn. Once I've paid for a new passport, a new visa, a best friend's wedding, and a trip to the US I'll start thinking about driving lessons! 

I feel the frustration as well.   Perhaps a petition of "concerned Americans" is in order?

We're obliged to give a U.K. license to anyone coming from two dozen different European countries.    I really don't see why we should not just exchange licenses for Americans and Canadians too.  Even if the rules/signs test was required but they did away with the requirement for the practical and the hazard-perception test it would be a help, right?   (And remember that many of us Brits have never taken any of those tests!)

...(And remember that many of us Brits have never taken any of those tests!)

Very true - and some of us Brits never even took a UK test at all!

mispost.

Very true - and some of us Brits never even took a UK test at all!

Surely you're not that old?!!    

Surely you're not that old?!!    

LOL No - I'm only 31! Took my test in Cyprus and exchanged my license when we moved back, (we lived there for two years). It was dead easy - same with the test for MD - in a closed course!!

I feel sorry for my Hubby, having to take the UK test 33 years after taking his US test.

Ah, gotcha!   

For the benefit of those who are now scratching their heads, perhaps I should explain that compulsory tests were introduced in 1935.   Before that one simply paid for the license and it was issued, so there are still a few "old timers" with a U.K. license who have never taken any sort of driving test anywhere.   

British driving test history:

http://www.dsa.gov.uk/Category.asp?cat=343

I would like to say that I too am very frustrated with this.  I work in a very cultured office where some people struggle with speaking English, but yet it is me that has to go take the driving test.  I got my provisional and passed the theory test with flying colors.  I took the practical exam on friday, in an AUTOMATIC and got 3 serious falts.  By the way, I don't think any of the 3 faults were serious, but the test guy did.  I was suppose to use a bus stop as a slip road to turn left, I went in early to turn right, and I didn't OBSERVE enough. I thought if I observed in my mirrors any more I wouldn't have been paying attention to the road in front of me!!!   I am the only one that has to go through this and it is so frustrating to pay for lessons and exams and then see someone that barely comprehends the language, use their own driving license from their home country(How are they understanding the signs?).  It is sooooo unfair...... I agree there should be some sort of petition!

I work in a very cultured office

 

Yeah, me too!   (...not!...) 

I would like to say that I too am very frustrated with this.  I work in a very cultured office where some people struggle with speaking English, but yet it is me that has to go take the driving test.  I got my provisional and passed the theory test with flying colors.  I took the practical exam on friday, in an AUTOMATIC and got 3 serious falts.  By the way, I don't think any of the 3 faults were serious, but the test guy did.  I was suppose to use a bus stop as a slip road to turn left, I went in early to turn right, and I didn't OBSERVE enough. I thought if I observed in my mirrors any more I wouldn't have been paying attention to the road in front of me!!!   I am the only one that has to go through this and it is so frustrating to pay for lessons and exams and then see someone that barely comprehends the language, use their own driving license from their home country(How are they understanding the signs?).  It is sooooo unfair...... I agree there should be some sort of petition!

Some people are just going to drive like f*nnies no matter what.  But as long as they follow the rules as the examiner sees fit, they pass the test.

it is so frustrating to pay for lessons and exams and then see someone that barely comprehends the language, use their own driving license from their home country(How are they understanding the signs?).  It is sooooo unfair......

It's also full of loopholes and inconsistencies.  For example,  some European countries have reciprocal license arrangements with one or two U.S. states.  Don't quote me on this, but I believe that France will do a license swap for a South Carolina license.  Once you had a French license, DVLA would then be obliged to issue a U.K. license with no further testing here.    If you came straight to the U.K. with your S.C. license, it's a different story, of course. 

I think everyone coming to the UK permanently should have to go for the exam or none at all its like telling one child they can have dessert and not the other....or something like that     I just dont understand it and never will.  Half of my office (The British Born) have told me that if they were to go in and take their UK test again they would fail... Don't you think the instructors could be a little more leniant with peopel that have many years of experience???  The instructor obviously knew I could drive!  The best feeling was getting out of my car and taking the L Plates and throwing them in the backseat and driving off..... hehehe...  sorry to hijak here...

I cannot personally vouch for the accuracy of the info, but supposedly the 14 states that have the reciprocal agreement with France are:

Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, New Hampshire, Ohio,
Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Virginia

I have a good friend in France but my license is from CA. C'est la vie.

Not sure it would have been worth the hassle, but maybe after I try and pass the exam I'll change my mind.

OMG Courtney!  So you are saying that THEORETICALLY I could exchange my IL license for a French one, and then my French one for a UK one??  Dude - that rocks!  I am one of the people who is deathly afraid of taking the test.  I will hunt for more information on this.