I passed!! I passed!! I passed!! I passed!!

Jewlz, its 1 year from moving here... if you don't do it before the 1 year is up, you'll be stuck with your L plates and a licensed driver over 21 in your car until you pass

Jewlz, its 1 year from moving here... if you don't do it before the 1 year is up, you'll be stuck with your L plates and a licensed driver over 21 in your car until you pass

LOL - that might not be so bad! DH suggested maybe getting the L plates anyway, just to warn people that I'm terrified of double-decker buses. I ended up driving in the hedges because I didn't think the bus had enough room to pass without killing us!

LOL - that might not be so bad! DH suggested maybe getting the L plates anyway, just to warn people that I'm terrified of double-decker buses. I ended up driving in the hedges because I didn't think the bus had enough room to pass without killing us!

Thats what happens in the country  Roads are only big enough for a tractor 

Congrats, Tin!!   ;D  That's great news!

That reminds me, I need to send off for my provisional - I have been here for 6 months now and have been dragging my feet on this stuff!   :-\\\\  Do you have one year from the time you get your provisional licence to take the exams, or do you absolutely have to do it before a year has passed on your US licence?  I'm so nervous - I don't wanna do it!!! 

Jewlz, after I had lived here a year I quit driving.  Then I got my provisional with L-plates and that wasn't a big deal.  I was nervous of roundabouts and narrow country lanes so I took some lessons and did my practical test when I felt ready.  After you get your provisional, you have up to two years to do the practical, but you can't drive without a passenger who is a qualified driver over the age of 21, like phatbeetle said.  Good luck! 

Jewlz, after I had lived here a year I quit driving.  Then I got my provisional with L-plates and that wasn't a big deal.  I was nervous of roundabouts and narrow country lanes so I took some lessons and did my practical test when I felt ready.  After you get your provisional, you have up to two years to do the practical, but you can't drive without a passenger who is a qualified driver over the age of 21, like phatbeetle said.  Good luck! 

Cool, I was feeling kind of rushed, like I absolutely had to get everything done in the next 6 months, but we were already planning on the L plates - I think other drivers should know I am inexperienced, at least on this side of the pond - and I doubt I would be driving without DH in the car anyway, I'm too much of a scaredy cat! So now I feel more relaxed knowing it doesn't really matter if I get it done before the year is up - we will get it done eventually, anyway.

So if I start the process and get the provisional licence, etc., but don't pass the exams before my US licence expires, then the only thing that changes is having to use L-plates and needing the over 21 licenced driver in the car with me, right? I don't have to start all over again with the provisional licence or anything like that, correct? Just making sure I know exactly what I am doing if I choose to put this off a while longer....

Yes, that's right Jewlz.  Funny, I felt just like you! 

Yes, that's right Jewlz.  Funny, I felt just like you! 

Yes, and I feel just like you - a bit nervous about the roundabouts and narrow country roads. Not to mention, I kind of enjoy being chauffuered around town instead of having to drive everywhere!    I think I will just milk that cow a little while longer and worry about getting my licence when I feel ready! 

and you can't drive on motorways, but if you are comfortable with all that--do what you need to in order to feel confident!

Thanks a lot, guys! At first I felt all bummed about not being able to drive here yet, but I think I'm over that. I realize there isn't much need to, since DH and I work together (right around the corner from our house, no less) so there's no need, really, other than wanting to go shopping on my own, but there are quite a few shops I can walk to, anyway, or I can take the bus to the city. Many of my in-laws have never driven at all, and they still manage to do everything. So I think I will put it off for a while, until I really feel ready for the challenge and get a better idea of where I am going. Thanks for making me feel better! 

Yippie, I finally took the Theory test last night and passed the first time!

Now for the practical. UGH!

Congratulations Weininaustin!  Good luck with the practical too! Are you going to take a few lessons?

Yippie, I finally took the Theory test last night and passed the first time!

Now for the practical. UGH!

Congrats!!! I think I should get started on mine soon, after all. Might need it for work, me thinks.

Congratulations Weininaustin!  Good luck with the practical too! Are you going to take a few lessons?

Thank you!!!

I took 3 lessons with an instructor back in September/October and have been putting off the theory as I had other commitments that took up mental space. :-)

Now I'm going to get in touch with my instructor for one more brush up session. Funny thing is, she's my DH's old neighbor when he lived here 15 years ago. Small world! So, I have a slight advantage, well not really. But she did say she can do a ride along during my practical, so that should be interesting.

I have been driving here since arriving in April of last year, so I'm pretty comfortable with the roads and have been taken to all 3 testing routes. Still crossing my fingers hoping to pass.

Heeee - I've been here 5 years, and I just booked my first driving lesson for next Monday!    (I've had my provisional licence for 3 years, but I'm a big chicken.)

Yay Mrs. Robinson! I hope your lesson goes well.

My driving instructor was a Yorkshireman and he was lovely.  I miss him!

Are you sure your provisional is still valid though?  For some reason I have it in my mind that the provisional is only good for two years.  I could be wrong about that though.