What's the process for an American driver to get a British driving license?

I think the hardest part of my lessons and test was learning things the 'right' way and unlearning some habits I'd developed since my US lessons 13 years ago. Sometimes it's harder to relearn thing you already know than learn something the first time. :-)

Although I was careful in the test to drive the "British" way, I have reverted to using a combination of tools and am actually quite glad I learned a few new things. I feel like a better driver now.

I didn't agree with everything I was taught. I remember in my lessons being told that I was looking "the wrong way first" when pulling out to make a right hand turn. I was looking to the right. My instructor told me I should be looking to see if the lane I would be entering was clear but I pointed out that I had to cross over the other lane first and that it didn't matter how clear my lane-to-be was if there was traffic coming the other way. He thought about it and said I had a point. 

Good luck to the OP's wife.

I have a question... I'm currently living here on visa and I'll be moving home in January when it expires. There's a strong possibility that I'll come back to the UK on a different visa in mid 2014. I've been here for over a year and I don't have a provisional license yet. My question is: can I obtain a PL before I need to move back to the USA, and then (when I come back to the UK on the different visa) continue where I left off in getting my British license? Or does the path to getting a license need to be consecutive with no gaps in between?

Or does the path to getting a license need to be consecutive with no gaps in between?

A provisional licence is valid for a number of years and you can take as long as you like to pass your test.

In fact, some people get a provisional licence just for ID purposes so they don't have to carry around a passport, even if they have no intention of ever learning to drive.

I believe you have 2 years to take your practical test after you have passed the theory test, otherwise it will expire and you will have to re-take the theory, but that's the only stipulation I know of.

I'd been driving for 25 years and I thought it was much harder than the test I took in the US. Much much much harder.

It might have been, as these vary by state anyhow.  But, here's the thing:  it's also 'much, much, much harder' than the test that UK citizens took 25 years ago.  Things change.  Certainly, the process my little sister has to go through to get her license is much more involved than what I did 20 years ago, and there are more restrictions on the provisional license.

But at the  end of the day, I still think it's largely a matter of perception.  I know I was much more nervous on the UK test, because I had something to lose.  And I think some driving instructors here make a meal out of making the test seem impossible to pass unless you do everything 100% by their book.  But I don't think it's actually true.  

At the end of the day, with the exception of the required maneuver (which was optional on my original test, but which I did anyway and passed), I'm hard-pressed to find anything I had to do on the UK test, that I hadn't had to do on my original test:  drive for half an hour without breaking the law.  It's just not that complicated.  The thing that makes it hard for people to pass isn't that it's the 'British' test, it's that after years of driving, we all stop thinking about it and develop bad habits.  If we all had to re-test in our home states, I think we'd see the same amount of nerves and similar failure rates.

One thing that might make it harder for some people is the differentiation better automatic and manual licence. I took my US test (13 years ago) in an automatic but both my cars since then have been manual. Here, I needed to learn how to pass the test with a manual in order to drive anything besides an automatic.... In my US test the examiner wasn't critiquing my shifting skills which made me quite nervous here... And I was In a diesel here so that was something different as well. :-)

This is what everyone tells you, but honestly, I don't think it was.  At least, it wasn't any harder for someone who's already an experienced driver.

Nah, the British test is definitely harder. I've done both....the US test was a joke. The test lasted about 5 mins in a deserted suburb. There was no traffic. No traffic lights - just a couple of Stop signs. Obviously no roundabouts either. Never had to do an emergency stop or reverse round a corner. No gears of course, cos it was automatic - learning clutch control for parking maneuvers is probably the hardest part of driving, IMO, but you don't need to learn that in the US. Without gears, driving is really just "point and go".

The roads were typical suburban roads - so wide that, even with parked cars on either side, you could still comfortably fit two cars side-by-side in each "lane" if necessary. When I the examiner asked me to do a 3-pt turn, I remember thinking "Seriously? The road is so wide I could do a u-turn!"

The only even mildly challenging part was reverse-parking (because obviously everything is mirrored to how I learnt it on the other side of the road in the UK, so it didn't come so naturally).

In short, I reckon if I re-took the UK test tomorrow, I would possibly fail. Whereas I couldn't even imagine failing the US test.

She can get a licence to drive automatic transmission only .

Wait, so can she get a license for "automatic transmission only" without even taking a test? That would be convenient.

remember in my lessons being told that I was looking "the wrong way first" when pulling out to make a right hand turn.

That's interesting....I think I agree with you (looking first at the lane you're going to cross makes sense), but I don't remember ever being taught anything that specific. I can't imagine an examiner looking out for that - as long as you thoroughly look in both directions, I doubt it matters whether you look left first or right first.

Thanks for the good luck wishes!

Wait, so can she get a license for "automatic transmission only" without even taking a test? That would be convenient.

No, she has to take all the tests no matter what.

She'll need to get a provisional licence, pass the theory and hazard perception tests and then take the practical test.

If she's not comfortable with driving a manual she can take the test in an automatic, however, that means she will only be licenced to drive automatics and will have to take the test again in a manual if she wishes to drive one.

But if she takes the test in a manual, she will be licenced to drive both manual and automatic vehicles.

So, it's probably better if she can take the test in a manual since manuals are still much more common here and it gives her the option of driving either, but if she really can't do it, then she has the automatic test option.

Nah, the British test is definitely harder. I've done both....the US test was a joke.

I agree. Although to be fair, the US test varies considerably by state - some are much harder than others. Still, the fail rate is pretty high in the UK whereas most kids pass their US driving test the first time around. You don't have to take a hazard perception test in the US either.

1- apologies for not reading through it all... its late, I played rugby today and am tired

2- I did not do this correctly, crashed the car, insurance invalid, cost us 6000GPB and I had to go to court to get let off the charges

3 (ANSWER)- Within 12 months of your entry to the UK you must
1- take a written test with a hazard perception at a test centre
2- "learn" to drive (I rented cars as my hubby was only 24 and then we bought one)
3- pass a driving exam (then you rates will go up on insurance bc you are a new driver instead of a foreign experienced one)

3- pass a driving exam (then you rates will go up on insurance bc you are a new driver instead of a foreign experienced one)

Probably depends on the insurer...  my rates went down £80/year as soon as I had my full UK driving license.