Driving in the UK

So far I haven't needed to really drive to get around. My fiance and I take the train to work and we live about 15 min walking distance to our High street. I am starting to realize that come winter and special occasions it will help to drive.

Can I rent a car when needed here with a California Driving Licenses?

I keep seeing people talk about renting cars and It doesn't seem like they have a UK License.

What is the best way to go about getting a drivers license in the UK?

You can rent a car with your CA license...otherwise, how would foreign tourists ever rent cars?  However, the law is that you have one year from your date of entry to obtain a UK license.  So you can drive on your CA license for one year from the date of entry on your visa, but after that you are supposed to have a UK license.

My husband is in the midst of getting a UK license and it is a major pain--it's MUCH more involved and MUCH more expensive than getting a license in the US (even in California ).  First you apply for a provisional license, then you take some written tests, then you can schedule a driving test, but it's very difficult and you must take (expensive) driving lessons first.  There seem to be large fees to pay for each of these steps, too.  I wouldn't recommend getting one unless you really need to drive...if you're planning to rent cars regularly, it might be worth it, but otherwise I'd try to stick to public transportation.  My husband is getting a license, but I plan just never to drive, because the licensing process is such a hassle (and we live in London, anyway, so we don't do a whole lot of driving to begin with).

Jade

First you apply for a provisional license, then you take some written tests, then you can schedule a driving test

Don't forget that there is now the additional hazard-perception test as well, which as far as I can tell is completely worthless but simply a pain to pass for an experienced driver.

unless I'm wrong, you can also get an international drivers license from AAA for around 15 bucks...no test.

Now, there may be some differences if you're resident or if your on visa for a finite number of years...but, for me I know, I would just get the international drivers license.  It works in connection with a valid license from your home.

the international driving permits are best for countries that do not recognize the US licenses.

there is no problem for the UK

However, the law is that you have one year from your date of entry to obtain a UK license.  So you can drive on your CA license for one year from the date of entry on your visa, but after that you are supposed to have a UK license.
I plan just never to drive, because the licensing process is such a hassle

I had friends that would get by by going to France for the day so as to get a new date of entry. I don't know if this still works with the EU?
If all these civil servants, involved in enforcement, could get transfered to doing something useful like making the streets safer.

unless I'm wrong, you can also get an international drivers license from AAA for around 15 bucks...no test

Legally though, the IDP (International Driving Permit) is nothing more than a translation which backs up your existing national/state license.  As soon as your 12-month period of grace has expired and your U.S. license is no longer recognized here, the IDP is also invalid.

I never understand the travel guides which make such a fuss about using an IDP between the U.S. and the U.K.    They're pretty much worthless between our two countries when the national/state licenses are in English and just as easily understood.

Yes, if you are here on a visa you need to get a British license within a year.  All other forms of license (including an international driving permit) are technically no longer valid after this.

This might not be much of an issue for you if you're renting a car, but if you're buying a car, it WILL be an issue--because of your insurance.  Once you've had a UK license for a certain amount of time, your rates go down.  Some insurers will charge you VERY high premiums if you don't have a British license.  We really had to shop around to find an insurer who didn't charge us an exorbitant premium for being not having a UK license (and even so we had to provide letters from our old insurer in the US that we didn't have any claims...which is the reason that I am not on the insurance, which is the reason that I don't drive.  But that's another story).

Jade

This may well be off topic and could have been answered somewhere else...but could someone please explain the logic behind being allowed to drive for a year with a us licence and then having to sit a test to get a uk licence?

I could understand it more if you had to take the test BEFORE you could drive, but not after you've been driving for a year???

People from EU countries (as far as i am aware) can get a uk licence without taking a test and yet they all come from countries with different rules than the UK as do people from the US - ie driving on the right, roundabouts, highway code?

I have two questions about driving that may seem obvious. 

First, the roundabout situation there will be opposite from here meaning that you'll turn left into it, correct?

Second, in a manual (or stick shift) car - how will the gears be arranged? 
In American cars, 1st gear is close to you while 5th is away.  In England, will first be near you as well (like a mirror image) or will it be away from you (in the same place as on American cars)?

This may well be off topic and could have been answered somewhere else...but could someone please explain the logic behind being allowed to drive for a year with a us licence and then having to sit a test to get a uk licence?

Think of a privilege to be able to drive on a foreign license for that period.

A person staying for an extended period is more likely to be settling so therefore they should abide by the local procedures.

First, the roundabout situation there will be opposite from here meaning that you'll turn left into it, correct?

Second, in a manual (or stick shift) car - how will the gears be arranged? 
In American cars, 1st gear is close to you while 5th is away.  In England, will first be near you as well (like a mirror image) or will it be away from you (in the same place as on American cars)?

1. yes you turn into a roundabout to the left

2. the gear shift generally looks the same and actually isn't all that different to use than learning one in the US... you just need to use your left hand! Much the same as a lefty learning to drive a manual.

Hi West 0515

Ok, yes you're correct. When approaching a roundabout, you will make a 'left' directional change to 'join' the roundabout traffic flow, i.e a 'clockwise' direction.

The gears are arranged in the 'same' pattern be it a left or right hand drive car.

The pedals are also in the same place be it left or right hand drive and that applies to auto's and manual's.

Hope that helps!!
Cheers DTM West London UK!

P.S - I wont confuse you by mentioning dog leg gearboxes and right foot clutches you sometimes might come across in 'certain' cars!

P.S - I wont confuse you by mentioning dog leg gearboxes and right foot clutches you sometimes might come across in 'certain' cars!

haha! Thanks, Dennis the Menace.  I'm sure if I get one of those cars I'll quickly ask for another one before I tramp out into the streets of London.

Quick funny story:  I was test driving cars a few years back and I saw a VW on the lot.  I really liked the look and had never driven one.  It was a manual (which is all I drive) and the guys asked, "can you drive a stick".  "OH, yeah!  My car's a stick.  That's all I've driven since I was 15", I replied.

I sat in the car to back out of the lot and noticed that 1st and Reverse were in the same place... ... ... I messed with it a bit, the car revving - motionless... ... ... 5 minutes later I walked back into the office and asked the guy, "how do you get it into reverse?"

Very embarrassing moment.

the logic behind being allowed to drive for a year with a us licence and then having to sit a test to get a uk licence?

Never expect logic from the government.  You'll go crazy trying to find any!   

It used to be that the U.K. would do a simple license exchange from places where they'd arranged a reciprocal agreement and, presumably, determined that the driving standards were sufficiently similar.   The only reason we now automatically swap for any EU country is because the EU laws say we must.

Personally, I think it's grossly unfair that the government won't also grant the same license swaps to those holding U.S. licenses, and I agree with you that there's little sense in saying you can drive for a year.   After that time you'll be far more familiar with British roads anyway.  It wouldn't be quite so bad if they would at least relax all the newer requirements (hazard test etc.) instead of treating you like a novice.

There are several other threads in the travel section on this subject.

5 minutes later I walked back into the office and asked the guy, "how do you get it into reverse?"

Reminds me of the time I borrowed a Volvo a good few years ago.  It was the first time I'd ever driven one, and I sat there for a couple of minutes trying to figure out how to shift into reverse.  I tried the usual lift up and push down on the knob which you need to do on some units, but it just wouldn't go in.  It was quite by accident while fiddling with it that I suddenly realized that the plastic collar around the lower part of the stick wasn't just decorative but slid upward and was the safety catch for reverse.   

While on the subject of controls, mirror images, and so on, let's mention the switch for the turn signals.   Traditionally, British cars used to have the stalk on the right side of the column, so it was up for left, down for right. 

On newer cars in the U.K. market though, you can find it on either side.  From my casual observations, I'd say it's mostly the European models where they've just kept the same steering column switch arrangement as for LHD Continental models, so it's on the left.  Japanese models mostly seem to have it on the right -- No doubt due to RHD drive being the norm in Japan so that's their standard position anyway.