UK/US Driving License

Hi Everyone!

Well I'm about to be driving my little car around here in Manchester, and I just have a question about licensing.

I understand that my US license is valid for 1 year after my entry date into the UK (I'm here on a spouse visa since August 28 2013) and after that I have to apply to get my UK license.

My question though, is if I'm leaving again to go home for Christmas in December 2014, and then reentering the UK in January 2015, would that then make my US license valid again? I'm hoping I can exploit this loophole if there is indeed one.

Basically, I don't want to faff with the UK driving test, but I will if I have to.

Thanks everyone!

Nice try, but I'm afraid not.  You have one year from your entry on your visa, not each entry in/out of the UK.

Someone on the board continued to drive after her one year anniversary, got into an accident, and their insurance wouldn't pay as she didn't have a valid license (even though it was valid in the US).  I think it was about £8k in damage to her car and the other vehicle.

It's really not so bad.  I got on really well with my instructor and was almost sad when I passed!  Just remind yourself that you are learning to pass the test, not drive and you'll be fine.

Hi - has anyone found any good resources for getting a UK driver's license? I'm thinking a class/manual? Do you need to live in the UK a minimum amount of time to get one, and is a spousal visa sufficient documentation? Also - how much am I looking at paying?

Check out the DVLA website.

You have a year to pass from the time you entered the UK on your spouse visa.  Well, you can take longer but then you are a "learner" driver after the year and have to have an authorized driver as a passenger.

Using your US license/visa, you apply for a provisional license.  You then need to book the theory test (written test).  You'll need the Highway Code for this, but I really recommend getting the DVD's as well for the video part of the test.

Once you've passed the theory, you can book the practicical test (the driving part).  I would recommend having some lessons to learn how to pass the test.  I can't remember how many exactly I took but it was either 10 or 12 hours.  I could already drive a manual and owned a vehicle in the UK.

All in with my lessons, tests, license, etc., it cost about £600.  It'll likely take 5-6 months from start to finish to get (as the tests books so far in advance).

I can recommend an outstanding instructor in Manchester who helped me get my head around the wrong side of the road/car and got me through the test with the least amount of fuss. Stuart Taylor 07860 596947.

Get started soon, the sooner it is done, the sooner you can relax about it!

If I don't have a US license, am I in the "learner" category?

Yes.

If I don't have a US license, am I in the "learner" category?

Yes, which means that until you pass your UK driving tests and have your UK licence:

- you need a provisional UK licence in order to drive

- you must be accompanied in the car at all times by someone who is over 21 and has held a full UK licence for at least 3 years

- you must display Learner plates on the car (front and back) while you are driving

- you are not allowed to drive on motorways

Where are you located kgrace?  I'm sure someone will have an instructor they could recommend.

You could also do an intensive course versus individual lessons.

Do you need to live in the UK a minimum amount of time to get one, and is a spousal visa sufficient documentation? Also - how much am I looking at paying?

You don't have to live in the UK a minimum amount of time to get one, but as others have said, if you do have a US licence you can only drive on it for 12 months after you move here, after which, if you haven't got a UK licence yet, you can only drive as a 'learner'. If you don't have a US licence (or any other licence) at all, then you are a 'learner' from the beginning and will need a provisional licence in order to drive.

To get a provisional licence, you will need to send off your passport to DVLA (it costs £50 for the provisional licence). Then, when you take your tests you will need to show the provisional licence (and possibly other ID too - I'm not sure).

In terms of cost, it really depends how long it takes you to be comfortable with driving and to pass the tests.

Each hour of lessons costs approximately £25-30 (although you can often get discounts if you buy blocks of lessons). Some people only need a few hours of lessons to brush up on the skills required to take the test, other people need many more hours.

The theory test costs about £30.

The practical test costs around £70. Only around 45-50% of people pass their driving test on the first attempt, so be prepared to have to take it more than once.

I learned to drive in the UK from scratch age 17 and I was a nervous driver, so it took me a long time to be comfortable on the road. I had weekly lessons (1 or 2 hours per week at £14 per hour... this was in 2000) for 15 months before I finally passed my test and I also failed the practical test twice, so in total, I think it cost me about £1,200 to learn to drive!!

However, my youngest brother turned 17 in October and passed his test on his first attempt in February, so he spent only a fraction of what I did on driving lessons and tests.

Check out the DVLA website.

You have a year to pass from the time you entered the UK on your spouse visa.  Well, you can take longer but then you are a "learner" driver after the year and have to have an authorized driver as a passenger.

Using your US license/visa, you apply for a provisional license.  You then need to book the theory test (written test).  You'll need the Highway Code for this, but I really recommend getting the DVD's as well for the video part of the test.

Once you've passed the theory, you can book the practicical test (the driving part).  I would recommend having some lessons to learn how to pass the test.  I can't remember how many exactly I took but it was either 10 or 12 hours.  I could already drive a manual and owned a vehicle in the UK.

All in with my lessons, tests, license, etc., it cost about £600.  It'll likely take 5-6 months from start to finish to get (as the tests books so far in advance).

You don't have to live in the UK a minimum amount of time to get one, but as others have said, if you do have a US licence you can only drive on it for 12 months after you move here, after which, if you haven't got a UK licence yet, you can only drive as a 'learner'. If you don't have a US licence (or any other licence) at all, then you are a 'learner' from the beginning and will need a provisional licence in order to drive.

To get a provisional licence, you will need to send off your passport to DVLA (it costs £50 for the provisional licence). Then, when you take your tests you will need to show the provisional licence (and possibly other ID too - I'm not sure).

In terms of cost, it really depends how long it takes you to be comfortable with driving and to pass the tests.

Each hour of lessons costs approximately £25-30 (although you can often get discounts if you buy blocks of lessons). Some people only need a few hours of lessons to brush up on the skills required to take the test, other people need many more hours.

The theory test costs about £30.

The practical test costs around £70. Only around 45-50% of people pass their driving test on the first attempt, so be prepared to have to take it more than once.

I learned to drive in the UK from scratch age 17 and I was a nervous driver, so it took me a long time to be comfortable on the road. I had weekly lessons (1 or 2 hours per week at £14 per hour... this was in 2000) for 15 months before I finally passed my test and I also failed the practical test twice, so in total, I think it cost me about £1,200 to learn to drive!!

However, my youngest brother turned 17 in October and passed his test on his first attempt in February, so he spent only a fraction of what I did on driving lessons and tests.

Thank you for the great info KFdancer & ksand  though, ugh, 600 pounds  oh yaaaay more money to spend because of this move
I am actually going to book my theory test online today, get lessons booked and get this thing done!

Way back in the dark ages of 1993 when I booked my test for my UK license,  I had been driving for 30 years in the US. I took 6 lessons with a great instructor who said from the beginning that he was NOT teaching me to drive, he was teaching me to pass the test. He knew all the usual routes for the practical, and that's where we drove. This was in Chorley, Lancs., so pretty simple back then.

I got rid of a couple of bad habits, learned the 'English way' and passed on the first time. Based on my observation of the current system, I would say don't take the theory test for granted. DH's cocky grandson failed it because he couldn't be bothered to even read the manual. So read and forget anything that contradicts what you may have thought/learned - just do it by the book.

Another benefit for me back in the day was taking the test in the instructor's car, which was common then. DH's car was a big automatic Jag, and mine was a LHD Triumph Spitfire - totally inappropriate for the practical. Interestingly enough, when I took the test, the examiner started off by saying "you're probably only used to driving big cars with an automatic transmission." I said, "no, my parents always had a manual, so that's what I learned to drive, and I've always preferred small cars." That broke the ice, and we were on a good footing.

Find an instructor you are comfortable with, and concentrate on learning to pass the test. Chances are, you'll do fine. GOOD LUCK!!!

Way back in the dark ages of 1993 when I booked my test for my UK license,  I had been driving for 30 years in the US. I took 6 lessons with a great instructor who said from the beginning that he was NOT teaching me to drive, he was teaching me to pass the test. He knew all the usual routes for the practical, and that's where we drove. This was in Chorley, Lancs., so pretty simple back then.

I got rid of a couple of bad habits, learned the 'English way' and passed on the first time. Based on my observation of the current system, I would say don't take the theory test for granted. DH's cocky grandson failed it because he couldn't be bothered to even read the manual. So read and forget anything that contradicts what you may have thought/learned - just do it by the book.

Another benefit for me back in the day was taking the test in the instructor's car, which was common then. DH's car was a big automatic Jag, and mine was a LHD Triumph Spitfire - totally inappropriate for the practical. Interestingly enough, when I took the test, the examiner started off by saying "you're probably only used to driving big cars with an automatic transmission." I said, "no, my parents always had a manual, so that's what I learned to drive, and I've always preferred small cars." That broke the ice, and we were on a good footing.

Find an instructor you are comfortable with, and concentrate on learning to pass the test. Chances are, you'll do fine. GOOD LUCK!!!

Thanks vadio, I like that, not teaching you how to drive, but teaching "the English way" to pass the test 

Oh Jaguar, Spitfire.... Jealous!!!! 

I am in London KFDancer. Camden, specifically. I have to travel back to NYC next week for a few weeks but would like to start reading/learning the manual so I can begin learning in April.

LOL Stephanie303.....that was many MANY moons ago.....now we have a 2008 Nissan Micra - an automatic - the town car of choice for wrinkled OAPs.