UK Drive Test

So took the drive test over here today, had my American license for 8 years, drove for my first year here, bought a Vespa, now been here nearly 2 years, took 6 lessons, and passed with only 1 minor. 

The tester didn't make me do the whole test either, I didn't do any dual carriage ways or anything.  When we got back to the test center the first thing he said was ''You have been driving a few years havn't you?''  My instructor told me they do that sometimes with international licenses, that they dont make you do the whole 40 mins or dual carriage ways if they can tell youre driving just fine.  I think my test was 25-30 mins..

I've never heard of that! I'd been driving for 25 years in the US and that was never offered to me. I didn't have to do dual carriageways, though ... but only because we don't have any.

Good for you for passing! 

Congratulations!!!

Congrats DalmerIsDead!

If you don't mine me asking, where did you take your test? I need to take my test and was planning on doing it somewhere outside of London.

Maybe it's just that drivers from the northwest are great! (I think I recall you saying you're from Bellingham....I was born in Anacortes and lived all over the northwest, including Bellingham).

Congratulations! 

Congratulations! I had to do the full test, but my examiner didn't seem to be too bothered with even marking down my faults or anything. He said he could tell I was an experienced driver and wasn't worried about me at all. Passing is a great feeling!  Enjoy your Vespa! I'd love to have one!

Congrats DalmerIsDead!

If you don't mine me asking, where did you take your test? I need to take my test and was planning on doing it somewhere outside of London.

Maybe it's just that drivers from the northwest are great! (I think I recall you saying you're from Bellingham....I was born in Anacortes and lived all over the northwest, including Bellingham).

haha

yep from bellingham, well moved from, i was born in everett, and grew up in arlington.

I took the test in Bedford, was pretty easy.

Congratulations! I had to do the full test, but my examiner didn't seem to be too bothered with even marking down my faults or anything. He said he could tell I was an experienced driver and wasn't worried about me at all. Passing is a great feeling!  Enjoy your Vespa! I'd love to have one!

it is a good feeling! love my vespa though, working on getting my motorbike license and getting a vintage vespa next

Congrats!!!

What other sorts of things did you have to do on the test? I am preparing to begin driving lessons here.

If anyone has advice for the driving test or can list things they had to do for the test, that would be great!

Hey

On the test...

I left the test center, and went driving thru a residential area, and did lots of corners and mini roundabouts.. he asked me to pull over, so I did, put it in neutral, and parking break, then he asked me to pull off, did that 3 times, on down hill, up hill, and flat.  I backed around a corner, and did parellel parking.  Also did an emergency stop plus a few larger roundabouts.

Do you have your American license?  I think it helped me driving my first year, then riding a scooter the 2nd year.. I really went nearly a year without driving a car, then did 6 lessons, and took the test..

Well done, DW has had the opposite experience, failed twice so far and thinks she is being marked down on everything because she is an experienced driver!
She's not driven over here now since she last failed in October.