Am I allowed to get a car with US license?

My husband's father is going to help me out with the financial side of buying a car but I am wondering if I am even allowed to have a car here. I just arrived here a few months ago and have a valid US license. I have been driving my fil's automatic car for practice and all is going well. He is going to take me to look at a car tomorrow and I just got to wondering if I'm even allowed to buy one. What would be the next steps I'd have to take if we did purchase a car? What license plates would I have to register for? Would insurance be astronomical? What else do I need to think about? When should I begin applying for my provisional license? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

A lot has been written on this forum so you can go to 'advanced Forum search on the right and enter whatever you like to find out.

From what I remember you can own a car with a US license just as long as you have a British licence by the time you have been there 12 months.

Car insurance. Go and check at the post office because apparently they sell insurance and it cheaper than other places.

License plates. They stay with the car for its life so they come with the car. You do need to pay for car tax for the year or quarter.

Quite simply really and may be simpler than some states in the US. Having said that, do everything legally because the police and courts are less understanding if you flout the laws.

Don't worry and enjoy your car search!

Anyone can own a car. However, there are a number of legal restrictions on who can drive one.

I would check into insurance first before the car.  I know of one company that I wouldn't be able to get insurance through for at least 3 years... had to have UK licence for 3 years, and be a UK resident for 3 years as well.  YMMV, however something to look into before purchasing a vehicle.

I would check into insurance first before the car.  I know of one company that I wouldn't be able to get insurance through for at least 3 years... had to have UK licence for 3 years, and be a UK resident for 3 years as well.  YMMV, however something to look into before purchasing a vehicle.

Yeah, definitely a good idea to look into insurance quotes first - as some companies may not insure US licence holders and also insurance prices can vary a lot.

My brother bought a car a few months ago (from ebay of all places!) and then discovered that it would cost him over £2,000 a year for insurance (and he's always had a UK licence)!! He had to cancel the sale and then look around for another car that would be cheaper to insure... now he has a different car and only pays a few hundred pounds a year instead of a couple of thousand.

Look up insurance brokers in your Yellow Pages. A good one will sort you out and make sure you get the best deal on insurance with your US license.

Bear in mind that you can only drive legally here for 12 months on your US license, so it's best to get the UK license process underway as soon as you can.

Insurance will be the key thing like the others have said.  However, I bought a car with a US license, got it insured on my US license, then once I passed my test, called up my insurance agent, told them I had a full license and they lowered the premium. 

Insurance will be the key thing like the others have said.  However, I bought a car with a US license, got it insured on my US license, then once I passed my test, called up my insurance agent, told them I had a full license and they lowered the premium. 

That's exactly what I did.

We are finding decent rates which would be manageable if I can pay in monthly installments. It's not too bad, really. (more expensive than the little car that I'd be getting!) I am wondering though, I've only been here for 2 months, what should I do next in terms of the provisional license? Should I go ahead and apply and get the ball rolling? Is there a test I can take before one year of me being here is up? Any advice on the next steps would be helpful.

Apply for your provisional license and start studying/taking lessons!  If you have been here for 2 months, you have another 10 months to get your full license which should be totally doable.

I looked briefly at the provisional license info and if I read it correctly it said I had to be a citizen to apply? I am here on a spousal visa so I'm confused.
Also, how should I study, is there some sort of book I can get?

No, you don't need to be a citizen to apply. 

There are books and DVDs available for instructions on the exams.

You can get your provisional, and even your full, license at any time. You don't have to wait for the one year to be up! It just means that when that year is up and you haven't done anything, you'll be unable to drive.

I agree with Geeta - get started on it ASAP. My cousin (British born and raised) just failed her test for the third time. Not that I'm saying you will, but it's best to get started quickly just in case!

Maybe someone who has recently gone through the licensing process could write a 'Just Do It,' as this question seems to come up on a nearly weekly basis. It's been six years since I did it, so things may have changed since then, otherwise I'd do it.

Anyone?

I agree with Geeta - get started on it ASAP. My cousin (British born and raised) just failed her test for the third time. Not that I'm saying you will, but it's best to get started quickly just in case!

Definitely get started as soon as you can . If you haven't passed all the UK tests before the 12 months is up you will not be able to drive on your US licence anymore and will be treated as a learner driver: which means you will need to be accompanied in the car at all times by someone who is over 21 and has held a UK licence for at least 3 years, you will need to display red 'L' plates on the car and you will not be allowed to drive on the motorway!

It took me 15 months and 3 practical tests to get my UK licence, with a 2-month waiting time between each test (I was aged 17 and starting from scratch though so it took me quite a long time)!

I am getting a car!!!!!!!! YAY!!!!! I drove it today. It's a 1996 Vauxhall Corsa! It doesn't have power steering so that is a bit odd but other than that it is a decent car. It only has 60,000 miles on it. The girl who is selling it went down her her price and we are getting it for a bargain at 425 pounds!!!!!!! We are just pricing insurance now, which is what is going to be expensive. I will hopefully be driving this baby within a couple of days!