Driving in the UK

Application for what?  A new learners driving licence, or a theory test or practical test ?

I have always posted forms for obtaining or amending my licence via the Post office ( they have all the DVLA forms available in there ) then sent via special delivery.  As for booking tests etc..I used to book them online on the DSA website. (Driving Standards Agency)

For the New Learner's driving license.  I am not sending my application in via the post office.  I did that last year and despite the fact that I sent it registered, guaranteed overnight delivery and the envelope had my return address, the application (including my passport) was lost by the post office.  That cost me a lot, both in time and money to replace the passport and my ILR.

So now, I want to deliver the passport myself and give them a DHL prepaid envelope for the return of my passport.

I would have taken in to DVLA office myself back then, but when I called to see if I could do that the guy on their telephone help line told me that I could only mail the application in.  

What an annoying story, Karrit. I can assure you that dropping everything off at Wimbledon is very simple, and I had everything back within a week. The provisional and your passport come back separately, so don't get worried when you get one back and not the other. They usually come within a day of each other.

Thanks kate_mate, that is good to know.  So I take it you just went down to the office, and joined the queue?  How long was your wait?  I am trying to figure how much time I need to take off from work.

No problem.  See my reply on the previous page re: waiting times, etc.

No problem.  See my reply on the previous page re: waiting times, etc.

I don't know how I missed that!     

Thanks, very helpful!

Some of you are very supportive of the UK test and therefore I would like to know from your observations do the drivers still drive like they had to for the test once they have their license?
Do they require the hands to be at 10 oclock and two oclock on the steering wheel?
That was droped in the US because of the injuries if the air bag went off.
On the roundabouts. Go up to the roundabouts and if there is a lot of traffic crowd your way in and close your eyes. lol. Generally, I like them except if there is a lot of traffic.

Roundabouts are great for *do-overs*. Miss your turn off? just go around again and again. Can be a fun ride too. LOL

For the New Learner's driving license.  I am not sending my application in via the post office.  I did that last year and despite the fact that I sent it registered, guaranteed overnight delivery and the envelope had my return address, the application (including my passport) was lost by the post office.  That cost me a lot, both in time and money to replace the passport and my ILR.

So now, I want to deliver the passport myself and give them a DHL prepaid envelope for the return of my passport.

I would have taken in to DVLA office myself back then, but when I called to see if I could do that the guy on their telephone help line told me that I could only mail the application in.  

What a nightmare that would be!! I can't imagine if they lost my passport which will have my FLR and the *initial* entry stamp!! 

Oh great.... another thing to stress about now.

I tell my DH he better appreciate all the things I am going through so that we can be together! 

When you are getting a first licence in the UK as a US citizen, you have to take it to the DVLA.  They have to verify the photos--the rules don't allow the post office to do it like they do for UK citizens. There isn't a charge for it.  If you include your special delivery envelope in it, you will get your provisional licence and passport back very quickly--mine took about a week.

do the drivers still drive like they had to for the test once they have their license?

The last time I did everything according to the "official" British method was April 12, 1983.  Yes, that was the date I took my driving test.....   

When you look for a driving instructor they have a award system so you can spot a good one..the higher the award points they have means that they have a stronger test / pass ratio.

Also be warned about instructors that seem cheap but have a little triangle sticker in their window above their tax discs...(usually BSM Instructors)  This sticker means that the instructor is a trainee but hasn't taken anyone to a test yet!!  Investigate who you get because there are a few rogue instructors out there..ask to see their pass history.

I picked my instructor because he helped a woman of 80 years pass her test first time after 15 lessons..it made the newspapers..because her local bus to where she lives stopped running and she was stranded in the country and decided to pass her test even tho she had never driven before in her life!...I thought if he can help her..he can certainly help me! 

The computer CD rom you need to get helps you understand the rules of the road here and help you study towards your theory test and hazard perception test.  Its costs about £10 for the CD rom and £2.50 for the Highway Code Book. - This is the best CD Rom...this is by the DVLA. You can get it in woolworths or WH Smiths.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Driving-Tests-2007-2008-Edition_W0QQitemZ120266574371QQihZ002QQcategoryZ80013QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Thanks for the detailed advice! I checked out that Ebay link you posted. That'll come in handy.

I'm on my 6th month here and taking my practical test on the 20th.  I've had 8 hours of driving lessons so far and my instructor thinks it will take me about 4 more hours worth to get me so I can easily pass the test.  We'll see, I failed the first time in the US, so I'm not hopeful that I'll actually pass here first time around.

I LOVE roundabouts.  What a great invention!  If there were roundabouts in Miami I wouldn't have had to have been stuck in traffic for 2 hours (1 hour there and back) each day to go 10 miles to work and 10 miles back. 

I barely studied for the theory test, passed with 5 wrong- but I was a bit worried. However, I got an awesome score on the hazards perception test, so I obviously can drive, just don't know UK street signs.  Now I also laugh, because I still can't remember the speed limits when I'm driving around. Ooops. Better look that back up before the practical test. 

Oh and no one mentioned it yet, but if you pass your test in an automatic, you can only get an automatic license, but if you pass in a manual, you can drive both.  I drove a manual in the states, so its of no bother to me

Don't get me started on the passport thing, but that's just my luck... 

For the practical, you have to provide the car and it needs an L tag, if you have an instructor, that's easy peasy. 

 
Oh and no one mentioned it yet, but if you pass your test in an automatic, you can only get an automatic license, but if you pass in a manual, you can drive both.  I drove a manual in the states, so its of no bother to me

Don't get me started on the passport thing, but that's just my luck... 

For the practical, you have to provide the car and it needs an L tag, if you have an instructor, that's easy peasy. 

Hey! good to know, as that does apply to me. I only drive an automatic. What do they make you do exactly? What was the hardest maneuver? I am thinking it would be the parallel parking. I do that very well here but I think I will suffer trying whilst sitting on the rightside parking on the leftside. That's my biggest fear.

I probably have the same luck as you and.... oh actually don't want to jinx myself so I better not say! LOL

How soon after moving to the UK did most of you take your practical and theory test?
Was it difficult or simple?
Did you pass the first time?
Did you hire a driving instructor first or did your hubby/wife teach you?

Oh! and do I need to have my own car for the practical or do they have one for you?

Hubby is just doing his,
1. Started doing the tests at about the 1 year mark (hubby is a procrastinator and didn't believe me when I told him it wasn't as easy as the US!)
2. He found the theory hard as he has dyslexia and the voice-overs were hard to understand.. oh and he hates computers..
3. No failed the theory 3 times! and has just failed the practical, biggest tip I can give you is do not drive on the right side of the road.  he was so nervous going out of the parking lot, when she said turn right he got on the right hand side of the road! Failed before he even left the parking lot!!    Irratating thing is that he hasn't done it in the 18 months of being here!!
4.He had a couple of lessons for pointers, but instrutor thought he'd be fine on the practical.. Fingers crossed for next time..

What do they make you do exactly? What was the hardest maneuver? I am thinking it would be the parallel parking.

You'll have to do 2 of the 3 following maneuvers:

- Turn in the road
- Reverse around a corner
- Parallel parking

But you won't know which 2 you'll be asked to do until you're actually asked.

You also may be required to do an emergency stop.

I found the reversing around the corner to be the most difficult, but then I don't believe in driving backwards as a rule.