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

I remember when I first got my provisional that the DVLA would exchange licenses from Commonwealth countries, as well as EU countries. So, Canadian licenses are exchanged for UK ones - no problems (although they may be for automatics, only).  So, why are Americans being penalized if our roads & rules are generally the same?? because we broke away from the Commonwealth??  Paul, I'd be up for that petition!

So, why are Americans being penalized if our roads & rules are generally the same??

I'm glad you mentioned the road rules issue, as that's something I've seen used as an argument in the past. 

"We must make sure that foreigners understand British rules."

So why doesn't that apply to everyone coming here?   As you say, Canadian rules, road signs & markings, etc. are more akin to American than to British, so why don't we require Canadians to go through the same tests?    You both need to know that turns on red aren't permitted, that 4-way stops don't exist, that no-passing lines are white instead of yellow, and so on.

France (and much of Europe) has the infamous priorite a droite rule which is alien to both North America and Britain.  So why don't we require French drivers to take the tests to make sure they're not going to shoot out of a side road into the path of a truck without looking to the left properly?

It's the typical bureaucratic mess of illogical and inconsistent regulations. 

It's also all rather ridiculous when one considers that you can drive on your U.S. license for 12 months before taking the tests anyway!     

Yes, Paul, SO TRUE!  I want to start this petition on those facts you brought up (and any others that out there who can add to them). But, how do we go about it & what kind of outcome can we expect from our efforts? Is anyone out there willing to help me out here!?

I would be..  If that is the mentality behind these ridiculous regulations, then just from the basis of the UK driving on the left should be reason for every foreigner to take a driving test. 

I had to take a driving test (theory and practical) in California when I moved there but it was easy.  I took no driving lessons before, the tester just wanted to make sure that I was safe on the road.  I never imagined I wouldn't pass.  Here, I am so stressed about taking the test.  If they were just testing on whether or not I was safe on the road, it would be one thing, but they're not.  It is all about HOW you operate the car.  And the driving code, is just that, a code, or suggestion if you will.  They are NOT law and therefore is subject to extreme interpretation. 

I loathe the driving laws in this country and maybe eventually I'll take my driving test to get my full licence.  But for now, I'm happy driving my automatic car on my Canadian licence-traded-in-for-a-UK-automatic-licence.  It is so much less stressful that way.





 

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!)

In all honesty, if you aren't good enough to pass the test in the UK, why should you be allowed to drive here?  Everyone I know (UK citizens) have had to take lessons and sometimes take the test more than once to pass.  Why should an American be any different?  America isn't part of the EU and the roads, signs, etc.. in the UK are WAY different than in the US.  I think its funny that some people on here said they failed the UK test and are complaining that they have to take it in the first place.  There is a reason one fails and maybe its time to take a lesson or two.

I remember when I first got my provisional that the DVLA would exchange licenses from Commonwealth countries, as well as EU countries. So, Canadian licenses are exchanged for UK ones - no problems (although they may be for automatics, only).  So, why are Americans being penalized if our roads & rules are generally the same?? because we broke away from the Commonwealth??  Paul, I'd be up for that petition!

Where in America are you from? I'm from Chicago and the roads (signs, ROUNDABOUTS!!!) are very different in Glasgow. 

In all honesty, if you aren't good enough to pass the test in the UK, why should you be allowed to drive here? 

IMHO, if you fail a UK test for reasons like crossing your hands over when you turn, failing to engage the parking break when stopped in traffic, or indicating before checking your mirrors, you are not failing for reasons that would indicate that you're not a safe driver. And I would be willing to bet that those are the sorts of reasons most Americans fail. I've driven since I was 16. I drive here. I am a safe, courteous and cautious driver (FAR more so than my British dh) and yet If I took the test today I'd probably fail. I personally don't think that's right.

Not trying to start an argument, just suggesting that failure on the UK test does not always indicate that you're not a good enough driver....

But, how do we go about it & what kind of outcome can we expect from our efforts? Is anyone out there willing to help me out here!?

I would think that a starting point would be to get as many signatures on a petition outlining the situation and asking that consideration be given to relaxing the testing requirements.  Copies should then be sent to both the Minister for Transport and the Prime Minister's office.

In all honesty, if you aren't good enough to pass the test in the UK, why should you be allowed to drive here? 

But you are allowed to drive here for up to 12 months.  Doesn't that make the testing requirements all the more crazy?   Someone could arrive in the U.K. for the first time without even looking at a book which outlines the differences in British road rules and it's perfectly legal for him to drive on a U.S. license.  Yet when the same person has been here 12 months -- by which time he will be more familiar with the signs and rules -- we then make him go through all the same tests as a novice who might have been driving only 2 months. 

I had to take a driving test (theory and practical) in California when I moved there but it was easy. 

While the U.K. system won't swap any U.S. license, it can be easier for Brits moving to America.   At least some states don't make us go through all the same tests as a regular American learner.  Nebraska, for example, required an eyesight test but left the road rules and practical tests open to the discretion of the DMV/examiner (just as for anyone moving there with an out-of-state U.S. license). 

And the driving code, is just that, a code, or suggestion if you will.  They are NOT law and therefore is subject to extreme interpretation. 

So true.   For example, instructors and examiners harp on about not crossing one's hand over the top of the wheel, but there is no law to that effect, just as there is no law which says one must keep both hands on the wheel except when shifting gears.  All that the law requires is that one is in proper control of the vehicle.  The DSA/examiners'/instructors' interpretation of how to achieve that is very subjective. 
 

IMHO, if you fail a UK test for reasons like crossing your hands over when you turn, failing to engage the parking break when stopped in traffic, or indicating before checking your mirrors, you are not failing for reasons that would indicate that you're not a safe driver. And I would be willing to bet that those are the sorts of reasons most Americans fail. I've driven since I was 16. I drive here. I am a safe, courteous and cautious driver (FAR more so than my British dh) and yet If I took the test today I'd probably fail. I personally don't think that's right.

Neither do I.   I took my U.K. test in 1983, so I've had a long time to develop my own particular style of driving with which I'm comfortable.   If I walked into a test center tomorrow and took the practical test, I'm sure I would fail, for as hard as I might try to remember the "bad" things I'm not supposed to do, I couldn't just go back to the "proper" way without getting some practice first.  You can't just suddenly ignore 23 years of acquiring your own way of doing things.

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. 

Actually, unfortunately, this is not true as far as then swapping that licence for a UK one. I've researched this as my US hubby has had an EU licence for 4 years (which he was able to get after living in Finland for 6 months by filling in a form), but is now facing the test debacle in England in a year's time (we're moving next week):

"Community Licences issued in exchange for licences from elsewhere

A Community licence issued on the strength of a licence from a designated country (see section 3) will be valid for driving in GB for 12 months only and IS acceptable for exchange purposes.

A Community licence issued on the strength of a licence from a non-designated country will be valid for driving in GB for 12 months only (see section 5) but is NOT valid for exchange purposes.

A licence from any country outside the EC/EEA, which was originally issued on the basis of a Community licence, will be valid for driving in GB for 12 months only and is acceptable for exchange purposes. Evidence of the original EC/EEA entitlement must be provided.

3. Designated Countries are :
Australia
Monaco
Barbados
New Zealand
British Virgin Islands
Republic of Korea
Canada
Singapore
Falkland Islands   
South Africa
Hong Kong
Switzerland
Japan
Zimbabwe

Source: http://www.dvla.gov.uk/drivers/drvingb.htm#2

Thanks Paul, you are always such a help!

Where in America are you from? I'm from Chicago and the roads (signs, ROUNDABOUTS!!!) are very different in Glasgow. 

Umm, Uber_Yank - I was comparing US roads to Canadian roads

I havent read through this entire thread but I just wanted to add I was one of the naughty one's who drove on my US licence for three years. We were insured for any driver over 25 but when it comes down to it Im pretty sure I wouldnt have been covered if I got in an accident.
I neglected getting my UK licence purely out of laziness. Also I heard it was difficult to pass the tests however I didnt find it difficult and passed my first time.

In all honesty, if you aren't good enough to pass the test in the UK, why should you be allowed to drive here?  Everyone I know (UK citizens) have had to take lessons and sometimes take the test more than once to pass.  Why should an American be any different?  America isn't part of the EU and the roads, signs, etc.. in the UK are WAY different than in the US.  I think its funny that some people on here said they failed the UK test and are complaining that they have to take it in the first place.  There is a reason one fails and maybe its time to take a lesson or two.

Uber, I really don't think you're getting the gist of why we're annoyed.  I'm not trying to be rude, but please read all the posts carefully before responding. No one has said that the roads here are the same as in the US. And as Paul accurately pointed out, we are allowed to drive here for 12 months without prior UK enforced lessons.  This topic is bound to be an emotive one, but my point is that I feel that US citizens who have been driving for 12 months on their US license without a problem are essentially penalized b/c they have to start at square one when their 12 months run out but a Zimbabwean National can just exchange their license for a UK one with no problem? Ludicrous!

Actually, unfortunately, this is not true as far as then swapping that licence for a UK one.

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A Community licence issued on the strength of a licence from a non-designated country will be valid for driving in GB for 12 months only (see section 5) but is NOT valid for exchange purposes.

Ah, my mistake.  I hadn't realized that there was such a restriction.  Presumably the license carries some sort of endorsement to show that it was issued on the strength of a foreign license and thus marks it as "non exchangeable."     

This topic is bound to be an emotive one, but my point is that I feel that US citizens who have been driving for 12 months on their US license without a problem are essentially penalized b/c they have to start at square one when their 12 months run out but a Zimbabwean National can just exchange their license for a UK one with no problem? Ludicrous!

I agree entirely.  Why can't we have a system which allows some discretion, like the Nebraska procedure I mentioned above?   

If someone with a U.S. license has been driving here for almost a year with no problems (i.e. no major accidents, no charges of dangerous driving, etc.), then I think a little discretion should be applied and a straight license swap allowed. 

I'm sure many of you would be happy even if it just went as far as waiving the hazard-perception test (*) and the practical driving, just leaving you to take the road rules/signs test to prove familiarity with U.K. regulations. 

(*)  Remember that many native Brits (myself included) have never taken this test, or the formal written test.  All the test consisted of when we took it was the half-hour of practical followed by the examiner asking (verbally) a half dozen random questions about the Highway Code while sitting in the car afterward.

Paul, about the petition..I just had a thought - I'm currently not a UK Citizen (yet) and so therefore cannot vote.  In your view, would I still be able to organize a petition with the help from my fellow UK Yanks (Ahem!) and get these views heard by the government? As you can probably tell, I have never done this before!

Ah, my mistake.  I hadn't realized that there was such a restriction.  Presumably the license carries some sort of endorsement to show that it was issued on the strength of a foreign license and thus marks it as "non exchangeable."

Unfortunately there is, and the damning letters U.S.A. are printed right on the damned thing. I hadn't thought of it at all and came across the info by accident when I was trying to see how to get a UK licence for myself. Boy did my heart sink. I'm pretty sure it's done the same way in all EU licences, so unfortunately that route won't work.

I'm not too fond of the EU, but seeing how many hoops non-EU people jump through when moving to Britain/marrying a Brit makes me appreciate it for once.