Did you learn to drive right away?

So I waited 5 years until I learned to drive here...what a mistake that was! I thought because I worked in the city centre that I didn't need to drive! I can take the tram I thought...so then one day a fantastic job opportunity came up and I thought...hey, if I want this I had better learn to drive.

So I took some lessons...and FAILED MY TEST. After years of driving in the states. So I took a ton more lessons and I passed!!! What a palaver!

But driving and having a car makes life so much easier! You totally take it for granted!

Nope.  I got here 6 months ago and haven't been in a car since.  We can't afford a car, live in an urban enough area that we can get by without a car, and the traffic here is sooooo horrible that I have absolutely no desire to drive.  There are occasions where it would be nice (such as being able to get into the country on the weekends), but nothing we encounter on a daily basis.  Maybe we'll regret it someday, but we don't yet.  Besides, I figure my MIL and my SIL never got their driving licenses, so maybe I fit in better this way.   

I bought a cheap second-hand car immediately and drove from day one, so got used to the roads right away. But I didn't actually take my test and get my official UK license until my year was nearly up. Utter panic! What if I'd failed!!? I definitely should have taken the test as soon as I arrived - and that's what I'd recommend to anyone else who's going to be driving here.

I've been here 3 1/2 years and am just getting around to taking my lessons now.  Up to this point, we haven't needed a car.  We've lived in areas with excellent public transport and work in the city centre, etc.

We still don't need a car, but we want one for the sake of convenience -- going to pick up big stuff, running down to the shops quickly, getting to the doctor or vet in 10 minutes rather than 30, etc. 

The sticking point for me is children -- if we have kids, we MUST have a car.  I absolutely refuse to drag children (and all of their paraphernalia!) onto a bus or metro!

I waited ages (still haven't taken the test. Shhhh.) and it was a huge mistake. The independence gain has been huge. I finally got pushed into it when I took a job that wasn't accessible by public transport without two very, very long bus rides. I'm SO glad that I had the decision made for me because I love the freedom.

I've been trying to practice as much as possible since I got here last October, but it has been difficult since we live in London, and I don't yet feel comfortable driving around here (despite having been a very confident driver in NYC). I'm learning to drive a manual, and I only get to practice when we visit my in-laws in the country. Unfortunately it's difficult to build upon my learning, when there are such gaps between my driving sessions. I feel like I'm constantly starting from square one!

My goal is to take the test before my year on my US licence is up, so that I can drive legally right away. Since we're in zone 2 London, I don't need (or want!) to drive, but it will be nice to get it out of the way sooner rather than later.

nope.

i'm a big wuss.

can't drive stick shift (try using that phrase on your average brit--they all go like this:  ) and dh's car is manual.

i've become a pro at public transport, though, which i never ever used in the states, so i guess there's a payoff.

I've been here for a month now and am learning to drive a manual (never drove one in the states). I've had 2 lessons so far and it hasn't been too hard.

Initially I was going to just get my UK license straight away and not really drive with my US license here, but after looking into insurance costs, it's actually cheaper for me to drive on my US license for the full year. It's just about £200-300 cheaper for me to drive with my US license rather than a UK license. So I'm probably going to continue with the lessons for a bit, but for the sake of my budget get a car and be insured with my US license and use up my 1 year driving privileges before getting my UK license.

I would try some different insurance companies, liberty....that sounds too steep to me.
I drove right away and passed the test before my one year was up- so glad I did.

Hi!

I've been driving since day one!  I've been here since October of last year, but have yet to send off for my provisional driving license.  After reading the other posts, I guess I'll do that tomorrow.  I have the paper work sitting right here.  I've taken loads of driving lessons and am quite good now.  However, proofs in the pudding, as my Grandma used to say.  Must take that test sooner rather than later.

Roni xox

I drove my partners car as well as a family friends from the day I arrived, but it took me 4 months until i bought my own car.  It's not the prettiest flower on the block but it runs great and is extremely reliable (Vauxhall Astra T Reg).  It was by far the best thing i've done over here.  I swear i spent the first weekend driving over Ilkley Moor screaming "FREEDOM!!!" at the top of my lungs with all the windows down (* and it was January).  It's been extremely liberating and has given me back my independence.  After driving for 17 years in the states it was difficult for me to go to borrowing cars and having to rely on public transpo (which isn't the best in the area where i live).  Doesn't help that my partner is a Manchester United fan so he was off to Old Trafford nearly every other weekend and I was stuck in the house.  In the states i lived in DC so i used the metro to get to work, but it was critical for me to be able to drive outside the city on weekends and without a car I couldn't have done that (i'm too much of a country girl at heart)

I've applied for my provisional and am waiting for it to come back (hopefully soon, it's been 2 weeks) and then I'm going to take a few lessons before i take the test in a few months.  August will be my one year mark so hopfully I will be fully UK Legal by then!

Been here almost two years and have never even been inside a car in the UK! (Not counting a handful of taxis here and there).

Many years ago, I wrecked a rental car in Ireland. Since then, I've vowed I would never again drive in any country where you drive on the left side of the road. 

 

I'm in the wuss camp.  And I drove lots & lots in the US, in all kinds of places, weathers, very long distances, heavy commuting traffic, etc.  Steve says I am a much better driver (from observing me drive in the US) than he is. But the driving here totally freaks me out!  So I've relied on DH for driving, and I like taking public transport here around Leeds (plus we have great public transport access).

But I've got to work on getting my licence, it's in the plan for this year...  Must go book those driving lessons.

Eventually, my US license is going to expire & having it renewed will be a much bigger palaver now (I think).  So I've got to get my UK licence sometime in the next year (or three).  (Scary!)

I was terrified to drive here initially! Once I started though, I found it to be easier than I expected. I bought my car after being here for 4 months, and passed my driving test last month, just in time for my 1 yr expiration date.

One major difference in my driving here, compared to CA, is that I drive pretty slowly on narrow streets and in traffic. I don't tend to zone out because I can't afford to. When you are so focused on what is going on around you, you do adapt quickly.

The other thing is that the other cars tend to orient you. The few times I have started to pull out into the wrong lane was when there was no other traffic around. Regardless of what country you are in, the driver is in the middle of the road. It is doable folks! Honestly! 

So I waited 5 years until I learned to drive here...what a mistake that was!

I waited 10 years before learning to drive here!
I lived in Glasgow, which has great public transport -- plus, i was more interested in drinking than driving!
I dont think it was a mistake at all...