Legitimate US Drivers License Conversion?

I have been trying to get my UK drivers license now for nearly a year, having failed the practical test more times than I would like to admit (sometimes my own stupid error, other times due to unexplainable judgments by examiners).    I recently came across the advert below:

newcomer link: http://www.jewpro.co.uk/Jewish/id/8298/-Jewish-USA-DRIVERS-LICENSE-CONVERSION-in-London.html?body=&e=$$EMAIL$$ [nonactive]

I have serious doubts as to whether it is legitimate.   If it is legitimate, I suspect they convert your license to a third country that can then be coverted back into a UK license.

Does anyone have any experience with these people?

No.  Since it is marketed to Jewish people perhaps they expect you to claim Israeli citizenship and go from there.  But Americans can't convert their US license. 

I didn't think Israeli licenses could be exchanged either, though. Is that right?

Whichever way you look at it, it's not legit. Sorry to the OP, but I think you're just going to have keep plugging away at that practical test. You're not the first person to have difficulty passing. 

It's criminal. Our Canadian friends to the north (among many others) can just fill out an application to transfer their licence and then they get their UK licence, simple as that. No lessons. No test. I'm sorry but I don't see much difference between their roads and ours? Also, the UK licence they transfer to is not conditional, it's a full UK licence, whereas we will get a conditional licence for 2 years, where we can only get 6 points on it (through tickets) - the full licence allows 9 points.

All european and commonwealth countries have the same ability to just transfer their licence. And I think even japan and a few other countries can do it as well. It's no fair. If I could transfer mine, I would.

I had my 4th lesson today. She basically said the whole process was "daft" that I'm a great driver, I just need to learn a b and c for the test, and then I can go back to the way I was driving before. But for now, for the next few weeks, it's looking over both shoulders before leaving the curb, 6 point mirror checks, finding the "biting point," handbrake at stop lights, etc etc for the test.

Why are we having to jump through these hoops when others don't?

Sorry if I am sounding contrary but surely I'm not the first person who has thought of these things? (as I imagine the OP has)

To the OP... just don't give up. Keep working on your test and you'll get there. That's the most important thing.

This has been discussed on here before. Briefly the problem of not excepting the US drivers licences is because of the the state laws in the US which are different from state to state.

I got a question. Do you think that the US military station in the UK have to take and get a UK license or is there a special arrangement for them?

Military members do not need to get UK certified.  They have not moved to the UK permanently.

Also, Canadian citizens only get an automatic license, not a manual one.

Weird, I never knew why they didn't allow Americans to transfer their licences but it does make sense if it's because of the differences in states. Still doesn't make it easier for us though when we've driven for decades...

 

Also, the UK licence they transfer to is not conditional, it's a full UK licence, whereas we will get a conditional licence for 2 years, where we can only get 6 points on it (through tickets) - the full licence allows 9 points.

Actually this is not quite true - as soon as you pass the driving tests, you will have a full UK licence (there are only 2 different licences: a provisional and a full licence)... however, because you are treated as a completely new driver in the UK, the licence will have the standard 2-year probationary period on it, in that you can only accumulate 6 points before being disqualified - every new driver in the UK has this probationary period on their full licence, not just foreign citizens (it's just that most new UK drivers are only 17 and can be more reckless than experienced drivers). I have had a full UK licence for nearly 10 years now (since I was 18), but the first 2 years had that probationary '6 points' period on them - it made no difference to me though as I never got points on my licence anyway.

Why are we having to jump through these hoops when others don't?

Unfortunately, you can blame the US for that... you can't exchange your US licence for a UK one because the US government/states will not agree to a reciprocal agreement allowing UK drivers to exchange their UK licences in the US. I believe all the other countries that can exchange their licences have reciprocal agreements with the UK.

Ksand24 what I was referring to was a probationary licence that we get for 2 years after we pass our driving tests...different from the full licence that european and commonwealth citizens get. Like it or not, being commonwealth or european gives you 3 extra points right off the bat when you get your UK licence. (and you don't even take a test for it) To me, the probationary licence therefore is pretty different. It's terrible that the US is the main problem here in preventing us from driving fully here in the UK. I really think it doesn't have to be as hard as it is. Something should change.

Ksand24 what I was referring to was a probationary licence that we get for 2 years after we pass our driving tests...different from the full licence that european and commonwealth citizens get. Like it or not, being commonwealth or european gives you 3 extra points right off the bat when you get your UK licence. (and you don't even take a test for it) To me, the probationary licence therefore is pretty different. It's terrible that the US is the main problem here in preventing us from driving fully here in the UK. I really think it doesn't have to be as hard as it is. Something should change.

In the 4 years I've been here on the forum, I have never heard of a 2-year probationary licence for US citizens - as far as I am aware, everyone here on the forum has received the same full licence that I got when I was 18 (as a UK citizen growing up here), which has a 2-year probationary period on it, allowing only 6 points in the first 2 years of driving (which is part of the New Driver's Act of 1995 and applies to all licences issued by the DVLA: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/LearnerAndNewDrivers/NewlyQualifiedDrivers/DG_4022566). However, if you have held a full licence for 2 years, you will not be subject to this 2-year probationary period (i.e. people who can exchange their foreign licences do not have to worry about it). Also, the full UK licence allows 12 points, not 9 as you mentioned in your earlier post (I've also never heard of any UK licences only allowing 9 points), which you will get after your 2-year probationary period.

Where did you hear about this probationary licence (and also the 9 points and 3 extra points for EU citizens)? I can't find anything on the government or other driving licence websites about them at all.

...as far as I am aware, everyone here on the forum has received the same full licence that I got when I was 18 (as a UK citizen growing up here), which has a 2-year probationary period on it, allowing only 6 points in the first 2 years of driving (which is part of the New Driver's Act of 1995 and applies to all licences issued by the DVLA

That's what I got in 2008 when I got my UK license.  Previously, I held a Texas driver's license for about 20 years.

Military members do not need to get UK certified.  They have not moved to the UK permanently.

US military stationed in the UK do have to attend driver training and take a test at their gaining post in order to obtain a USAFE permit to drive in the UK. They must also enter the country with a valid US driver's license.

Unless the regulations have changed the above is part of their in-processing and they cannot pick up their vehicle at port of entry (if they ship one over) without having their USAFE permit. Family members who are eligible to drive and hold a valid US driving license must attend the same classes and take the same test if they want to drive in the UK.

All I was saying is that we get a probationary licence as opposed to a full UK licence that european and commonwealth citizens get. In otherwards, we get the same licence that learner UK citizens get when they pass their tests. We are only allowed 6 points on our licences for 2 years before getting our licences revoked.

Commonwealth and european citizens get the full licences that allow 9 or 12 (as you say) points before being revoked, without having to take tests at all beforehand.

Sorry if I offended anyone for bringing this up.

I knew they needed to be certified when they arrived, but they don't need to get a UK license.  

All I was saying is that we get a probationary licence as opposed to a full UK licence that european and commonwealth citizens get. In otherwards, we get the same licence that learner UK citizens get when they pass their tests. We are only allowed 6 points on our licences for 2 years before getting our licences revoked.

Yes, that's exactly what I was saying you get.... but it's not called a 'probationary licence', because there is no such thing - it is called a full UK licence (i.e. if you are ever asked if you have a full UK licence, you say 'yes'!), it just has a stipulation that you can only get 6 points in the first 2 years because you are considered to be a 'newly qualified driver'.

There are only two types of licence in the UK: the provisional licence (i.e, a learner's permit) and the full licence (i.e. you have passed your driving test and can drive on your own).