driving in the UK

There's probably another thread with this topic around here somewhere, but I'm sorry I'm too lazy to try to find it! 

I was just wondering if anyone had taken their driving test recently.  I've read on the DVLA website that I can drive over here with a passport until next January (when it'll be a year from when I first came over).  So as I understand it, I have till January to take my driving test, right?  And I've heard it's incredibly hard.  Has anyone done it recently and can let me know how hard?  Any advice or help would be greatly appreciated!

I found it very difficult and was glad when I passed on the second try.  No matter how long you've been driving or how good a driver you are, I would recommend taking some lessons.

I have taken it MANY times recently!  I am finding it EXTREMELY difficult, but others don't.  I think it's a combonation of where you live, if you are taking the test in a manual or in an automatic, how well you can handle nerves, and luck, to be honest.  You WILL need at least a few lessons, as some things are different to US driving.  See my recent posts and you can see my experiences talking about it in other threads. 

peachy- you need to first apply for provisional licence- you may as well do that now to get it out of the way.  you need to take your theory test & hazard perception test.  those are stanard computer oriented tests.

as for the driving- if you've been driving for many years in the US you've certainly picked up bad habits, or at least you don't drive the "uk" way.  there are certain tricks, hand breaks, how to hold steering wheels, how to check your oil, reversing around a corner, things that def wern't on the US test i had (in nj).

good luck- it is possible but it will take concentration & determination

Yes, peachy, start NOW and apply for your provisional licence.  That will take up to 1-2 months.  Then you need to take lessons, write your theory and Haz perception test, then apply for a test date which will be a min of 8 weeks from the time you apply.  This whole process takes an enormous amount of time and the DVLA loves to clog it up.

The biggest differences in driving is no hand-over-hand steering and driving in reverse.  Not to mention the whole "walking or crawling" around a corner.  And don't forget mirror checks (all three) before you do anything such as signalling, accelerating, approaching a cross walk etc..

Not to mention mirror, signal, maneuver!

Not to mention mirror, signal, maneuver!

the mantra..

Took me three times to pass after 7, yes 7! months of lessons (not continuous, but almost every week). I did it on a manual and used AA driving instructors. I think it's a matter of luck and tons of preparation. Start now and good luck

Welcome to UK-Y Peachy.

You'll want to pick up a copy of the "Highway Code" as well.  It's normally available in bookstores such as W.H. Smith. but you can browse the contents online as well:

http://www.highwaycode.gov.uk/

Oh no...Unfortunately, I'm sure you all aren't kidding with me!  What a nightmare!  And, if I can have just a little vent here, how completely outrageous!  I know people over here who didn't get their license till their mid-20's, and I had a learner's at 15!  Grrrr...
Well, I have a tiny car, which helps, and my husband's friend told us to get my test done at their hometown - a tiny town in Wales - which might help too.  And I'll be sure to get a copy of the highway code and get some lessons, too.  Just one more question - with a provisional license, does that mean I've got to put an 'L' on the car and drive with another person?

if you still have a valid US licence, you don't have to have an "L".  but once 12 months are up- and you're driving on your provisonal alone- yes, you should put the L's on.

random- when i went to take my practical test, i was still on a valid US licence.  So, i didn't put the L plates on.  But the instructor wouldn't take me on the test w/o them.  and an extra mirror for him to look in.  not sure if either of these are "official" but they're what my instructor wanted.

when i went to take my practical test, i was still on a valid US licence.  So, i didn't put the L plates on.  But the instructor wouldn't take me on the test w/o them.  and an extra mirror for him to look in.  not sure if either of these are "official" but they're what my instructor wanted.

The mirror thing seems to be a relatively new requirement.

I tried to look into the "L" plate issue before, see reply #25 in this thread:

http://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?topic=19176.0;all

As far as I could find from those regulations, the requirement to display an L-plate-- even during a test -- does not apply so long as you are within the 12-month validity of an overseas license. 

However, as noted in recent driving threads, the 1987 law has been superseded twice, so that may have changed and would stand further investigation.  The regulations are an absolute nightmare of cross-references, vague statements, and contradictions.

i agree with you Paul... i got the distinct impression i was the first american my examiner had ever taken on their test.  he didn't know anything about being here on a US licence that was still valid.  i really didn't want to start off our "relationship" with me telling him how to do his job. 

if i had taken the test in my insturctor's car, there two items would have been in place, but i took it in my own car. 

A quick search through the revised 1999 regulations reveals:

Conditions attached to provisional licences
16.   {.....}

(2) Subject to the following paragraphs, the holder of a provisional licence shall not drive a vehicle of a class which he is authorised to drive by virtue of that licence -

{.....}

(b) unless a distinguishing mark in the form set out in Part 1 of Schedule 4 is displayed on the vehicle in such manner as to be clearly visible to other persons using the road from within a reasonable distance from the front and from the back of the vehicle,   {.....}

There no longer appears to be the reference to the overseas license exemption which existed in the 1987 regulations, unless you want to try to argue that section 10 applies by virtue of already having passed a driving test (DVLA would no doubt say that an American test pass/license doesn't count):

(10) The conditions specified in paragraphs (2), (6), (7) and ( shall not apply in relation to the driving of motor vehicles of a class in respect of which the provisional licence holder has been furnished with a valid test pass certificate stating that he has passed a test for the grant of a licence authorising him to drive vehicles of that class.

The mirror requirement is now in the law:

Test vehicles
37.

(6) A person submitting himself for a practical test prescribed in respect of category B shall provide a vehicle which is fitted with an interior rear-view mirror providing adequate rearward vision from the front passenger seat {.....}

I can still find nothing in the updated regulations which specifies that L-plates are an absolute requirement for the test, so I assume it all hinges upon that provisional license issue, as discussed recently. 

If DVLA/DSA claims that L-plates are necessary even with a valid U.S. license, I can only assume that they are using those same crazy rules which force you to get a provisional license in the first place. 

What a mess!   

Quote above from The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licence) Regulations 1999:
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1999/19992864.htm

i got the distinct impression i was the first american my examiner had ever taken on their test.  he didn't know anything about being here on a US licence that was still valid.  i really didn't want to start off our "relationship" with me telling him how to do his job.

Probably a wise move.        

I think there are a lot of problems when various officials suddenly come upon a situation they've not handled before and it falls outside their usual day-to-day dealings.     (MoT inspectors are another vehicle-related problem when presented with something out of the ordinary to them.)