One year driving rights on US license.

It was a finance issue for me. They wouldn't approve financing with my US license

Ah, O.K.    I just wanted to make sure everyone understood that as far as DVLA is concerned it makes no difference what license you have or indeed whether you have one at all when it comes to buying (cash) and registering a vehicle.

Basically (in my opinion) it boils down to the DVLA making money and lots of it!

I think you've hit the nail on the head.  The argument that "we must make sure American drivers are competent to drive here" can be shot down so quickly that it's a joke.  If you've been considered competent enough to drive here for the first 12 months, you're not suddenly going to become unsafe after that.  In fact somebody coming to Britain and being unfamiliar with the roads is more likely to be a hazard during his first few months, surely? 

We're forced to just swap licenses for people coming here from two dozen other countries where driving standards are far more questionable than in the U.S., yet the government insists that Americans have to be treated like learners and go through the whole series of tests. 

The other stupid thing is that the written and hazard-perception tests are relatively new.  There are millions of us who obtained our licenses here long before they were introduced.  Does that make us a hazard as well?   

You should consider yourself lucky that you at least get a year on your American license to drive in the UK.

It varies.  Nebraska had the usual clause about waiving some or all of the test for those taking up residence with a valid out-of-state license, and the DMV included a U.K. license in that.

The 12-month allowance here is quite generous by comparison though.  Most states give only 30 to 90 days to swap.

My point is that it's not only the UK that makes people from other countries retake the local test.

But in the US getting a license will not take months like here. You can take the writing test at DMV and book the driving test in about 2-3 weeks. If they're busy, you can go to another DMV. Most of my foreign friends in the US got their license not more than 1.5 months, and that's including failing the driving test more than once.

But in the US getting a license will not take months like here. You can take the writing test at DMV and book the driving test in about 2-3 weeks. If they're busy, you can go to another DMV. Most of my foreign friends in the US got their license not more than 1.5 months, and that's including failing the driving test more than once.

and it shows in the quality of the drivers in the US.

Lanwarrior,  to answer you question about how long this whole process takes and when you can reasonably expect to have your full Uk license?  I just went through the whole process and it took me ~ 9 months. 

When I took the practical test it clearly states on the test form that you have to have been in residence here for at least 6 consecutive months before taking the test.. and it makes you sign that this is in fact so. 

Part of the problem with the process is the whole booking system.  I live in a smaller town and the wait time was 3 months for the practical, from the time of passing the theory test.

Oh, and also a word of warning for those that are still driving on their US 12 month provision!  I got pulled over here on the M69 while still within that 12 months and had both my provisional and US license on me (cop said that it was for no other reason than I was driving an unusual car and he was checking to see if I had stolen it, Subaru Legacy).  The cop was unaware of the specifics of this rule and thought once I applied for and received my provisional, that I was then supposed to follow the learner rules and always have a licensed adult with me in the car and NOT drive on the motorway.  He threatened to have my car impounded, bar me from driving in the UK for the rest of my residency, and wrote me a ticket on the spot.

He said 'ignorance' was not an excuse for my infraction and sneered that many people are just hasty to get their license and don't read the regulations fully.   

Hah!  Needless to say, my court summons or anything else legal never arrived in the post.

My advice is to read up and know your regulations here! 

When I took the practical test it clearly states on the test form that you have to have been in residence here for at least 6 consecutive months before taking the test.. and it makes you sign that this is in fact so.

I just heard about this elsewhere.  Apparently the rule was introduced to prevent "license tourism."    There was a story in the news several years ago about German teenagers coming over to the U.K. to do a crash course and take their test here, because even with the accommodation and travel expenses it still worked out cheaper than taking the mandatory lessons in Germany!   Having acquired a U.K. license, they could then just return home and swap it for a German one.

Part of the problem with the process is the whole booking system.  I live in a smaller town and the wait time was 3 months for the practical, from the time of passing the theory test.

It sounds as though the whole system has become bogged down with the extra tests and paperwork. 

I can't remember exactly how far ahead my test date was from when I applied, but I can tell you that I took my test just 32 days after my 17th birthday.  You do the math, as they say.   That was 24 years ago when things were obviously running much more quickly.

The cop was unaware of the specifics of this rule and thought once I applied for and received my provisional, that I was then supposed to follow the learner rules and always have a licensed adult with me in the car and NOT drive on the motorway.  He threatened to have my car impounded, bar me from driving in the UK for the rest of my residency, and wrote me a ticket on the spot.

Oh dear.     I'm becoming increasingly alarmed at the way some cops seem to be trying to enforce laws which don't exist.  What's even more worrying is the attitude that some seem to have these days that a person is guilty until he cam prove himself innocent and that they (the police) can do pretty much what they like regardless of what the legislation actually says.   Look at the insurance database issue and seizure of cars that we've discussed recently for an excellent example, then read through this thread to see what I mean about some of the attitudes (it's 5 pages long, but well worth reading):

http://www.policespecials.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=44010

He said 'ignorance' was not an excuse for my infraction and sneered that many people are just hasty to get their license and don't read the regulations fully.

It doesn't sound as though he has read and understood them!   

I ran into an awkward cop sometime back in the early 1990s when I was living in Lincolnshire, again with an "unusual" vehicle, as I was driving an old Pontiac at the time.

It seems the primary reason for being stopped was that this officer thought I was running on non-U.K. license plates and when he asked how long the car had been in the country he undoubtedly thought I was over the time limit for it needing to be changed to British plates.  It seems he didn't believe that a Q-prefix number could be British until I pulled the registration out of the glove compartment and showed him.    He issued a ticket for having non-standard plates, which came to nothing, of course, as did his other complaint about the red turn signals.

and it shows in the quality of the drivers in the US.

I am not talking about the quality of the driver, because the writing and driving test is just a..well..test to show that the applicant have an understanding of how to operate a vehicle and the traffic rules. Following the rules is another matter and I think in UK they're lacking on enforcing these rules. For example:

1) I have seen many drivers drive really fast on a small 2-ways residental street, I'd say about 20 mph, even when making turns. This is really dangerous for the pedestrians.
2) I went to a shopping mall in Beckton where there are about 30 handicapped parking and about half of the car parked in these spots didn't even have the blue badge.

At least in the US, there are lots of cops that enforce the traffic laws, on the highways or regular street. Anyways, I am rambling off the topic here. Back to the original channel...

Lanwarrior,  to answer you question about how long this whole process takes and when you can reasonably expect to have your full Uk license?  I just went through the whole process and it took me ~ 9 months. 

When I took the practical test it clearly states on the test form that you have to have been in residence here for at least 6 consecutive months before taking the test.. and it makes you sign that this is in fact so.

Geez... that long?? I didn't even have the chance to go to the POst office yet to get them to sign my photo! I don't mind taking the tests again if that will allow me to learn UK traffic laws, but the time it take is just mind boggling! And I can't buy a car until I got the provisional license... dang..

And I can't buy a car until I got the provisional license... dang..

It would only be a problem if you're buying on finance and the finance company imposes that restriction for the loan.  There's nothing stopping you otherwise.

I am not talking about the quality of the driver, because the writing and driving test is just a..well..test to show that the applicant have an understanding of how to operate a vehicle and the traffic rules.

I used to be a driving instructor in England many moons ago and I can tell you that from the governments perspective the whole and only purpose of such a strict driving test is to ensure that people have situational awareness, and full and safe control of their vehicle at all times. I wish alot more countries had such a strict driving test considering the poor standards displayed elsewhere. Look at it this way, once you pass, the license will last for the rest of your life.

I understand your point of view seeing as you were a driving instructor in England, but if the DVLA are stating it's to ensure ppl have "situational awareness" then why are ppl allowed to drive for a yr on their US license before they have to take the full UK test? Surely it would make more sense that they have to take a test prior to driving on UK roads in the first place!!! In my opinion I feel the accident rate would be higher in their 1st yr without having taken a UK test - I'm sorry, but I still feel it's a money making scheme on behalf of the DVLA!!!

Vicky

if the DVLA are stating it's to ensure ppl have "situational awareness" then why are ppl allowed to drive for a yr on their US license before they have to take the full UK test?

And why do we not require all foreign license holders to take the test?   If the requirement is to ensure that all drivers are up to standard, why does the government allow some licenses to be swapped with no testing?  (Other than the fact that for certain European countries the EU says that we must do so.)

And why do we not require all foreign license holders to take the test?   If the requirement is to ensure that all drivers are up to standard, why does the government allow some licenses to be swapped with no testing?  (Other than the fact that for certain European countries the EU says that we must do so.)

Good point! I feel it's unfair for certain countries to take ALL test, while other country don't have to. Are those country better drivers than those in US?

Paul and Lanwarrior....you are both so right. Could it be argued that this constitutes racism, that one nationality has to take the full test when others don't?
OK< OK, maybe that's a little bit of an extreme reaction, but I hope you know what I'm trying to say!!!!
Pffff, this really gets my goat! Other than the UK I think there only 2 or 3 other countries that drive on the same side of the road as us, so surely everyone who drives on the opposite side of the road would have to take the same tests to ensure they are all capable of driving on UK roads!!!!
What I really don't understand is why they can drive for a year on their US license before they have to take the full UK test - It's all absolute nonsense!!!!

Pffff, this really gets my goat! Other than the UK I think there only 2 or 3 other countries that drive on the same side of the road as us, so surely everyone who drives on the opposite side of the road would have to take the same tests to ensure they are all capable of driving on UK roads!!!!

Surprisingly enough, there are 74 other countries/regions in the world that drive on the left!!

What I really don't understand is why they can drive for a year on their US license before they have to take the full UK test - It's all absolute nonsense!!!!

If you had to take the test before you were allowed to drive here (i.e. as soon as you arrived), then what would all the tourists do when they visited? No one would be able to rent a car or anything!

Other than that, I have no idea why it is considered safe to drive on a US license for a whole year before taking the test!

Well, I'm not quite sure where I got my facts from but I dare say I shouldn't look there again...ha ha!!!
I hope I made sense in what I was trying to say though...and I certainly hope I didn't offend anyone.
In my opinion it appears the driving rules we have are a contradiction...it's OK to visit the UK, hire a car and drive on unfamiliar roads - but if someone decides to reside here they have to take the full test...it's bonkers!!

Surprisingly enough, there are 74 other countries/regions in the world that drive on the left!!

That list includes the U.S. Virgin Islands, along with many of the islands of the West Indies such as Jamaica and Dominica.    Some places have switched sides in the past:  Sweden changed from left to right in 1967, and some Canadian provinces drove on the left up until the 1920s.

Linking this to driving ability and tests though, I think people often place far too much emphasis on the left vs. right issue.  I don't think it's that big a deal to start driving on the other side, odd incidents where somebody forgets and sets off on the wrong side of a quiet road notwithstanding.

I think it's often the other traffic rules and the general conditions which are more ingrained in our minds and take some getting used to.  France's priorité a droite rule is a good example.  We know it exists, but for most British drivers it's a conscious effort to keep remembering that a 2CV might come hurtling out of a tiny side street to the right at any moment because it has priority.

And how many drivers here have you met who might have been thinking about visiting the United States for the first time and have no idea that a 4-way stop even exists, much less know the right-of-way rules at one? 

To prevent somebody from another country from driving at all until he passes a local test would just not be practical.   We have to assume that tourists and new residents have some common sense, will realize that not all traffic rules, signs, etc. are the same everywhere, and will check up on the most important differences before setting off.  (Again, look at all the travel books for France which explained the priority rules, the fact that -- at one time -- even visitors were expected to tint their headlights yellow, etc.)

Conversely though, I think the system needs to accept that experienced drivers arriving here already have the basic driving skills which would be applicable everywhere, and that it should not force them to sit the hazard-perception test (which is of dubious value anyway) and to drive in the specific, rigid fashion which is currently expected on the U.K. test.

Furthermore, if we allow drivers from countries as diverse as Greece, Finland, Estonia, and South Africa to simply swap a license, then there's no reason why American license-holders should not be treated similarly.