Getting a UK drivers license...

As I will be moving to the UK hopefully by early September *fingers crossed* I'm just wondering what the situation on getting a drivers license over there is.

If you transfer from one state to another, all you have to do is get a new license for that state. But as the rules of driving and such are different over there, do we have to take a driving test over there to prove that we can abide by their rules and that we do know how to drive? Do we have to start out just as if we are a teenager getting a license for the first time? Ie. provisional and all of that.

My hubby has been trying to find that out but calling five different places has gotten us five different answers. So here I am, for the real answer of people who have done it.

I picked up a driving book while I was there, that I've been using as occasional reading just in case I do have to take the tests. Covers everything, even the tests you take. 

I just wanted to check before I even get over there that that is what I will have to do or not. Cheers!! 

x x x - Missy 

Hi, Missy. I'm actually in the throws of this at the moment and a friend of mine just got hers, so I'm relatively up on the red tape.

You can drive here on your American license for a year. By then you have to get a UK one. You start off with a provisional license which you can get just be filling out the application and sending it off with a picture and £38. You or your hubby can pick up the application at the post office. Then you have a year in which to take both a theory test and a practical test (don't know if you care, but you can take it in an automatic, but then you'll have a restricted license and won't be able to, for instance, rent a manual.)

My friend who just passed her practical took several lessons in order to "break" her American habits - things like crossing her hands over on the wheel while turning, letting the wheel spin coming out of a turn, not using the hand brake when preparing to reverse (!), and the correct order of operations when changing lanes (mirror, signal, manuever.)

Hope that helps!

You start off with a provisional license which you can get just be filling out the application and sending it off with a picture and £38. You or your hubby can pick up the application at the post office. Then you have a year in which to take both a theory test and a practical test (don't know if you care, but you can take it in an automatic, but then you'll have a restricted license and won't be able to, for instance, rent a manual.)

Reading this raises a question I have that maybe you can answer... a couple of job adverts I have seen have called for an applicant with a "full UK driver's license." Is that something only comes after a provisional license? I guess what I really want to know is how long it takes or what you have to do to get a "full UK driver's license." I assumed I could change to one pretty quick with a few tests taken and fees paid, and thus not be ineligible to apply for those jobs...

That helps quite a bit Anne, thanks!!

I'll have my hubby look into picking that up just so we can see what it's all about. I've been studying this manual like mad. I'm ok driving a manual, just not an expert by any means. My hubby has a kit car, so it's kind of difficult for me to drive it as the driver's seat does not move. However, we rented a Ford Focus (1.6) while I was there to take our trip from Bristol - Gretna Green, Scotland and then home (loads of stops along the way to see different things and people) and I drove that around London and around Bristol and didn't have too much of a problem with it.

However, I know that I'm not very good at all the road stuff...so I will keep studying my book and my husband will be giving me lessons as we won't have a whole lot of money to be spending on professional lessons. So long as I'm following the manual, I hope it will be ok. I really can't be without driving though as I love doing so much of it here. Would really hurt me to not be able to drive over there.

Thanks again for a prompt response - this is such a great place for advice and everyone is so prompt with answers!! Cheers!!

x x x - Missy  

Reading this raises a question I have that maybe you can answer... a couple of job adverts I have seen have called for an applicant with a "full UK driver's license." Is that something only comes after a provisional license? I guess what I really want to know is how long it takes or what you have to do to get a "full UK driver's license." I assumed I could change to one pretty quick with a few tests taken and fees paid, and thus not be ineligible to apply for those jobs...

I think a "full UK driver's license" is one that you get if you have the ability to drive abroad, though not sure.

bvamin

Welcome to all the new faces!  All the information you need on driving licenses is out there, but there's so MUCH of it that it's sometimes hard to know what to read, and what is relevant to you.  I'll give you some headlines and some URLs to start to answer everyone's questions. Please read right through this, and carefully.  Some of you are making incorrect guesses ... and I would hate to have to say "I did warn you" later on

1-2-3-4- drive in the UK!

1. If you come from the USA to the UK and hold a full driving license (and not just a learner's permit) from the USA, you'll be legally allowed to drive in the UK for up to 1 year from your date of entering the country (visitor / student) or  becoming a resident (if settling). (There are more restrictive exceptions if you want to drive a bus or a truck). See
        http://www.dvla.gov.uk/drivers/drvingb.htm

2. If you want to drive beyond 1 year and you hold a driving license from the USA, you'll need to
        a) Obtain a provisional license (a learner's permit).  Apply on form D1 which you can get from the post office.
        http://www.dvla.gov.uk/drivers/applydl.htm
then
        b) Take a hazard test, a theory test and a practical test and pass all three
before you're allowed to legally drive on the UK roads once your year is up.

3. UK citizens who are driving for the first time have to be accopmanied by a mature driver with some experience while driving on a provisional license, but holders of full USA licenses do not need to be accompanied during their first year even if they also have a provisional license in preparation for their UK tests.

4. When you've passed the practical test, which is the last of the three, you'll send in your paperwork and get a  full driving license which is what a lot of job applications ask for.  Most employers would accept copies of the papers if you've passed your test and sent off for the full license and it hasn't arrived, and I think most would accept your USA license if you're in the process of getting a full UK one - what they want is someone who they can ask to drive.

Other notes

Note that drivers with European and certain other driving licenses can exchange them for British ones without taking a test, but this concession does NOT apply to USA licenses.

There is a legal requirement to be insured up to a certain level when driving in the UK, and most insurance
policies cover named drivers for particular vehicles.  If you're joining someone in the UK and going to be using
their vehicle, they will need to add you to the insurance. Sometimes, this may mean that they will have to change to another insurance company as some won't insure certain classes of drivers - e.g. drivers who have not held a full UK license for x years.

All of the above is written to the best of my knowledge, but I may be out of date / incorrect on some issues and you should check with the relevant web sites or authorities.  I have also provided just the "bare bones" of answers and simplified in some areas.

Personal comments and suggestions

Obtaining a provisional license is NOT just as easy as sending off a form.  You need a photo signed by a person of some repute in the UK who is not a relative and who has known you for two years, for example.  We don't have identity cards in the UK, and the driver's license is often used as an alternative - so the issuing authority takes great care to avoid identity theft.

Roads in the UK are narrower, parking spaces smaller and traffic faster. The UK test is much harder to pass and (I understand) has a higher failure rate than USA driving exams.

Rules of the road are different to the USA, and you should study these and get plenty of practise before your test with a stick shift (if you're going to want to drive one - a test taken on an automatic is good only for driving automatics), driving on the left, and negotiating roundabouts, etc.  It's worth paying a professional for lessons even if you've driven for years and think you know it all.

The UK has an excellent public transport system in many places and although you might think you need a car / need to drive, this may NOT be the case.  I would not want to own a car in central London or Bristol, for example, and could do very well by train / bus except for my job. I routinely use public transport when visiting London and Oxford, and try to do so when flying out of Heathow or Gatwick because parking costs there are crazy.

There's plenty of other advise in earlier posts on this board and elsewhere on UK-Yankee and the net - you're not the first folks to go through this so you should be able to find what yoiu need.  If you have difficulty finding the information / want pointers / want to discuss, I'll be delighted to join in.

Please let me know of any corrections / additions to this, as it might form a useful resource for others too

Just to add to the tons of information floating around:

Keep in mind that you HAVE to apply for your provisional licence and pass both your theory and practical test WITHIN the first 12 months of residency (i.e., from when you move over to the UK).  If you don't, once the 12 months are up, you're legally supposed to abide by all the normal provisional licence conditions (e.g., NOT driving on motorways, having "L" plates on your car, having a driver who has been UK licenced for over 3 years in the car with you when you drive--yuck!).   This sounds like it shouldn't be a problem, and with good planning and foresight (not my forte...) it really shouldn't be. 

Something to keep in mind though:  You have to pass your theory test before you can schedule your practical (fair enough).  However, the backlog for the practical tests in some areas is insane.  I  scheduled my practical test last week (beginning of August) and was given a date in mid november!  You can always try to re-schedule for an earlier date, should they have cancelations etc.   My advice is to allow plenty of time to get your UK licence sorted out.

Ginger

Wow - lots of good advice given here!! Thank you all a bunch, will definitely give me and my husband something to look into and will also help us get prepared once I get myself over there!

Cheers!! 

x x x - Missy 

hi! i did my full license during the first year here. my first step was a mistake; going to an 'international driving service' in london. the instructor told me i would need at least 12 hours(£25/hour), told lots of horror stories of his success with 'passing' people who had failed 3 times..... i promptly went to a normal school used by brits, and was told that i could have a few lessons, but didn't really need more than an hour or two to correct my 'american' bad habits. the whole process went without a hitch, and i passed all tests with no worry.  the lessons were very good; especially concerning roundabouts. do be sure to get clear instructions on those from an instructor.  every licensed brit i spoke to before lessons came up with a different story about roundabout rules, so it's worth getting the straight story from a professional.

i would also recommend that you not do your test in london; go to a far suburb if possible. also, a friend failed the driving test 3 times at the same center then switched to one with a less 'stressful' atmosphere, at the suggestion of her teacher, and passed. so, find a place where you feel comfortable driving and take the test there.

good luck. we lived in london for 3 years, but i wouldn't have traded my car and my freedom for anything.

I'd also recommend a professional instructor.  Your hubby might be able to give you the bulk of the instruction, but a few lessons with a professional instructor might pick out those 'Americanisms' and help you to correct them.

I took professional lessons (after having a US drivers license for over 15 years).  My instructor picked out a few bad habits that would have failed me on the test -- the biggest one was my overuse of the clutch.  Something she said that the majority of the American that she taught had a problem with.

So let hubby teach you most of it, then have a lesson or two with the instructor.  They should be able to judge whether you have a chance of passing the test.

I am in the process of getting my UK licence also. I am studying the Theory test and I have just taken my first driving instruction. I do have a US license but was told I needed a Provisional so we picked up the forms at the post office only to find out I had to have my picture signed by an "upstanding citizen" of the UK which could be a Doctor, Barrister, Teacher etc. Not a relative. I then had to take it to my closest DVLA office and pay £38 and surrender my passport to be sent to Swansea.

Now I have taken my first driving lesson. I have a lot of bad American habits. Riding the clutch, hand over hand etc. You need professional instruction because the roads and laws are so different here. They vary in price but they are not cheap. I have paid £190 for 10 hours instruction 5 times at 2 hours a lesson.

I now want to practice in DH's car but he told me that i couldn't since I am not legally insured for it. Called the insurance company, Privilege, to add me on and found it to be an additional £67 a year. Not bad but, we were also told that had I had an International Drivers license from the U.S. (say from AAA) that there would be no additional charge to add me to his insurance. The int'l license will cost $10 so we have just down loaded the forms and filled them out to send off to the U.S. Privelega said that once I get that, they will refund the £67 and just add me to the insruance at no charge.

GrahamE,

Thanks for the information.  I wish I had looked into this sooner; my year is up on 08 October and I haven't started a thing yet!

I have two concerns regarding your post:

1) One of the requirements ito get your photograph ceritified is to have it signed by someone you have known for two years.  I have not known anyone here for more than the 10 months I have been here.  I can probably get the local pub to sign it for me and lie about how long he has known me.  Is this the easiest thing to do or can you recommend another option?

2) I am planning on moving in the next two months.  Will changing my address midway through the process be a problem?

Thanks

The address change shouldn't be a problem (assuming both are in the UK) as you can get post forwarded ... though you may need to get the license for the old address and then send it back soon for the new one.

"Known 2 years" can be an issue ... there are others here who have had to post off their application from Devon to Scotland to get it countersigned.   The DVLA are very fussy as a UK driving license is the nearest we have to an ID card and they are paranoid about stolen identities.

I'm writing on a very slow / expensive line ... will come back on and review my answer this evening.

Thanks for the info - I will check the site again later.

Regarding identity documents, do I have to send them my original passport, or will they accept a photocopy?  I have to give my passport to my HR department tomorrow, so they can send it in with the application for an extension of my work permit.  So, I would not be able to send in my application for at least three weeks.  If that happens, there is no way I would get my license before my one year is up.  Any sugeestions (the bus is not an option - I live too far from work)?  I drive a company provided car, but since noone from my comapny has queried this, I do not think they know about the 1 year rule.

Thanks again.

Hate to break it to you, but as October 8 is only just over 6 weeks away there is almost no way you are going to get your license in time. You do have to send off your actual passport, not a copy. That’s no big deal, but it will take a week or two to come back - it can take up to 10 days after you get your provisional license for it to come back!

Only once you have the provisional can you schedule your theory/hazard perception test. That will probably be a wait of 3-5 weeks. Only once you have passed your theory can you schedule your practical. Right now the waiting l for an appointment in our area is 17 weeks.  8 - 12 weeks is standard in many parts of the country.

And there is no guarantee you will pass on the first try.  The pass rate is only 42.7% and that includes those who are taking it for the 3rd time.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but I think you need to start looking into other options during the time you will be without license.  I wonder if it is possible perhaps for you to get an extension to the 1 year due to your job?  That might be worth trying.  In all honesty my husbands company didn't know about the year rule either.  He didn't used to drive a company car regularly but he did on occasion take the pool car.  After he didn't pass the first time he was over his year and still did drive it a couple of times. We were very lucky that nothing happpened in that time. I do NOT reccomend going that route. The worry and stress is NOT worth it. Get something else in place for the time being that you should be off the road. You can carefully choose your testing stations to make the waits less - I went further afield to a place with only a 12 week waiting list. Schedule your appointments online and pick and choose till you get a date you like.  Good luck!

Sorry!

Rosie