Path to UK Driver's license???

Hi everyone. I've been here in the UK for about 2 months now. I have not driven yet because I want to get a UK license first (and I don't know how to drive a manual). My husband wants to teach me soon. I was wondering if someone could detail the process of getting a UK license for me? I've been through the threads and have picked up pieces of info, but I am not sure the sequence or the websites I go to or anything. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

You can drive for 12 months on your US license, and I would advise that you get out there and practice, practice, practice as soon as possible. Driving a manual car is not difficult - I taught my teenage son how to do this in a couple of hours in a parking lot, after he passed his US test in an automatic.

There's another recent thread on taking the UK test, I think it details the process.

Hi everyone. I've been here in the UK for about 2 months now. I have not driven yet because I want to get a UK license first (and I don't know how to drive a manual). My husband wants to teach me soon. I was wondering if someone could detail the process of getting a UK license for me? I've been through the threads and have picked up pieces of info, but I am not sure the sequence or the websites I go to or anything. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

You can drive on your US licence for a year but you'll need a UK provisional to take the tests. The official organisation for everything car-related is the DVLA.

First, send off for your provisional. You'll need to send away your passport or BRP.

Apply for your provisional licence here: https://www.gov.uk/apply-first-provisional-driving-licence

After you've got your provisional, you can take the theory test. This is something you'll need to study for, even if you've driven in the US for years. You'll need to know UK driving laws, road signs and other stuff that US driving hadn't prepared me for.

Theory test info: https://www.gov.uk/book-theory-test
A practise theory test on the DVLA website: https://www.gov.uk/practise-your-driving-theory-test
Theory test centres: https://www.gov.uk/driving-theory-test-centre

The last step is the practical test. Even though I'd driven in the US for 10+ years, driving lessons helped. My instructor gave me lessons around the test centre (so I was familiar with the routes when it came time for my test) and he taught me things the 'British way'. Unless your husband knows specifically what's different between the US and the UK (like how manoeuvre need to be done for the test) and what you need to know to pass the test, I'd suggest taking some driving lessons. I had about 10-15 hours of lessons. If you're in London, I can give you the name of my instructor - he was good at knowing what was different and teaches a lot of non-UK drivers. He has a home in Spain so is used to driving outside the UK and making the switch himself.

Info on the practical test: https://www.gov.uk/practical-driving-test-for-cars
Practical test centres: https://www.gov.uk/practical-driving-test-centres

Be prepared for it to be long process. It took me about 5 months from initial studying to passing. The tests can be booked out quite far in advance, so be prepared for a wait (or be flexible to take a cancellation).

Remember that everyone is different. For some, it's easy to learn to drive in the UK. For others, it's really tough going. I had some difficult lessons where I just could not get it the 'UK way' but I had a (mostly) patient instructor and that helped.

Hi Everyone

what a timely post for me! I've been in the country since May 2014 and have been driving with my US drivers license. I have been working since July and hadn't even thought about my UK license until a few weeks ago when I received a speeding ticket in the mail. Now I'm reading this and having a melt down.

I will take the provisional test online to see how bad it might be for me but I chose to attend a class so that points wouldn't be added to my license once I do get one.

My concern is, should I wait to get a provisional closer to when my US license expires? or do it now and hope I can get a class and pass my test before May?

Hi Everyone

what a timely post for me! I've been in the country since May 2014 and have been driving with my US drivers license. I have been working since July and hadn't even thought about my UK license until a few weeks ago when I received a speeding ticket in the mail. Now I'm reading this and having a melt down.

I will take the provisional test online to see how bad it might be for me but I chose to attend a class so that points wouldn't be added to my license once I do get one.

My concern is, should I wait to get a provisional closer to when my US license expires? or do it now and hope I can get a class and pass my test before May?

It can take a while to get the tests booked and learn the material (it's not testing your common sense, it's testing your knowledge of UK road rules).

I think I was able to book my theory test a month out and the practical test 4-5 weeks out (but I was able to get a earlier test since my instructor had a cancellation). You can't book the practical until you've passed the theory. Also take into consideration that not everyone passes the first time. You could be a great driver but still take a few tries to pass both tests. In general, it's a tougher test than in the US.

I'd suggest getting started now. If you need to drive, you'll need a UK licence after you've been here for a full year in May.

Also consider doing a few lessons with a UK driving instructor to be sure you can pass the test. Obviously you can drive, but you need to know how to do the manoeuvres a certain way to pass the test.

I'm not sure, but could they put points on your UK licence if you don't have it already? Seems like if you're driving on a non-UK licence they'd have nothing to put points on....

Thank you Travelingfrog, I was told the points "sit" on your name, date of birth,address and once you do get a UK license, they add them on. This was by someone I work with who had a family member experience this with a spouse (Canadian)

I will work on this within the next two weeks to get my theory study going then get booked in with some instruction.

Just took a theory practice test and failed, got 39 out of 50 questions. I see now that I need to study every single day for the next month to get this done.

I would highly look into a one week intensive course.  They cost a few hundred pounds and you'll have to take off work but you can get this sorted in time if you do it.

I will definitely look into this, I knew nothing about pelican crossing or FORD hazard etc
Thank you!!

I will definitely look into this, I knew nothing about pelican crossing or FORD hazard etc
Thank you!!

I had a tough time keeping the pedestrian crossings straight until I was told why they have the names they do:

Pelican: PEdestrian LIght CONtrolled crossing (the pedestrian has to press the button)

Puffin: Pedestrian User-Friendly INtelligent Crossing (still a button in place but also detectors to sense where the pedestrian is if they cross early or if the signal can be cancelled)

Toucan: two can cross (bikes and pedestrians with Pelican-like controls)

Zebra: looks like zebra stripes (with Belisha beacons flashing at either side - no lights but traffic must stop if a pedestrian is waiting)

I hope that helps! I'm sure it's in the study material somewhere but I hadn't seen it until someone told me.

I had a tough time keeping the pedestrian crossings straight until I was told why they have the names they do:

Pelican: PEdestrian LIght CONtrolled crossing (the pedestrian has to press the button)

Puffin: Pedestrian User-Friendly INtelligent Crossing (still a button in place but also detectors to sense where the pedestrian is if they cross early or if the signal can be cancelled)

Toucan: two can cross (bikes and pedestrians with Pelican-like controls)

Zebra: looks like zebra stripes (with Belisha beacons flashing at either side - no lights but traffic must stop if a pedestrian is waiting)

I hope that helps! I'm sure it's in the study material somewhere but I hadn't seen it until someone told me.

This is REALLY helpful. My UK side didn't know it either. haha.

Traveling Frog that was an awesome explanation!

Can't say thank you enough! Now to memorise

I am so excited! I've been successfully passing the DVLA portion of the theory tests on the link above and will begin driving instruction in the area I am taking the test at which I might add has zero wait time! Now, I just need to do well to get my license before June when my US license expires due to me being here for a year.

Thank you so much for the help above! I'm finally feeling confident

I had a tough time keeping the pedestrian crossings straight until I was told why they have the names they do:

Pelican: PEdestrian LIght CONtrolled crossing (the pedestrian has to press the button)

Puffin: Pedestrian User-Friendly INtelligent Crossing (still a button in place but also detectors to sense where the pedestrian is if they cross early or if the signal can be cancelled)

Toucan: two can cross (bikes and pedestrians with Pelican-like controls)

Zebra: looks like zebra stripes (with Belisha beacons flashing at either side - no lights but traffic must stop if a pedestrian is waiting)

I hope that helps! I'm sure it's in the study material somewhere but I hadn't seen it until someone told me.

You forgot Pegasus crossings (I only know of the one at Hyde Park Corner) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pegasus_crossing

Also take into consideration that not everyone passes the first time. You could be a great driver but still take a few tries to pass both tests. In general, it's a tougher test than in the US.

Indeed. I was third time lucky. And never mind that I had been driving in the UK for decades. First on a diplomatic license http://tinypic.com/r/333jvd0/8 valid 3 years and renewable so long as one retains status, and then on a French license. What I didn't know, for some years, was that a license from another EU country is only valid in Britain for use (until age 70) or exchange if you took an EU practical test to get it (or one you exchanged for it).

I could have exchanged a valid Canadian license I have. But as I took that test in 1961 I can no longer prove I took it on a standard-shift car.

No wonder it is said that many people go to Romania to get their EU licenses: http://www.croatiantimes.com/news/Around_the_World/2013-04-22/33077/DRIVING%20FRAUD%20-%20Boom%20In%20Bribes%20For%20Romanian%20Driving%20Licences (You could exchange a US license for a Romanian one, as you can in France and some other EU countries, but that wouldn't be exchangeable or valid in the UK after 12 months: http://odessatoma.blogspot.ro/2011/08/waiting-for-man.html?m=1 )

(For anyone who cares: Yes, I have to travel back to Canada every 4 years to renew it and have a new photo taken. Why I bother to do that I have no idea, except that back in 1961 one didn't need to be a landed immigrant to get a Canadian provincial license, and now mostly you do. And a Quebec license costs about C$100 a year because it includes insurance.)