UK Driving License Questions...feel silly

I feel silly because i've read all the threads and looked online and am STILL confused.

I've been here a few months.  I have a valid US liscence.  To be able to take the practical and theory tests (and driving lessons) i have to apply for a UK provisional, right?

I know i can drive here for a year on mine, but DH wants me to get a UK one to lower insurance costs (well if you wanted to lower those you shouldn't have pranged the car after owning it 3 days i felt like saying.    )

Thanks, i don't want to pay the £ and file the paperwork if i can take the lessons and tests on mine already.

 

Yes, just fill out the application which is quite lengthy by the way...dont forget to send in a photo and they will send you a provisional licence. It will have an "L" on it. lol   After you receive it you can then make your appt for your theory test. They will ask you the provisional licence number when you book. After you pass that (VERY easy) book your practical test as soon as you are ready as there may be a few months wait. There was a 4 month wait in Coventry but I got lucky and called the minute they had a last minute cancellation

thanks!

i'm going this weekend to get my pic signed, (on the back?) from hubbs family friend who's a teacher. 

Yes the pic has to be signed on the back but also there is a place on the application that they need to fill out.

aaaahhh. definately need to pick it up.

one more thing, i don't have to give up my US licence do i?

I need to do this... so do they have a website?  

I am taking the easy way out and doing automatic only.  Our car is automatic and I am going to have enough issues parallel parking, reversing around a corner and backing into a space.  Let me say that depth perception or anything geometry related is not my strong suit.  Oddly enough I am the queen of flat pack .  Strange but true.  

www.dvla.gov.uk

i HAVE to take manual as that's what my knucklehead husband bought.  HMPH.

No you can keep your US licence

I went through this same thing a year or so ago. You can take 2 different sample test on line for your theory test - I would recommend this as the wording on some questions was different than I expect & what was covered. But it was basically pretty easy - you also have to take another test - one where you click when you see a potential hazard.

I took about 3 driving lessons before I did the road test & was VERY glad I did. They definitely had a different way of doing things here then in the states.

I just signed up for some UK lessons in automatic   I finally decided to forget the bad expirences I had with taking lessons in standard,, and am going to just go for it. My provisional expires in July, but my new instructor says I will be ready for the practical exam way before that. I got a female instructor, and am so excited about that! She has grown kids in the US, so is familiar when US driving, and came highly recommended for my needs. First lesson is Saturday, so wish me luck guys. I have the biggest butterflys in my tummy!

Amy, tell hubby to stuff it, if you feel you will be  more comfortable taking the test in automatic, then do it.  You can always go back later, after you feel more comfortable driving on UK  roads, on the wrong side of the road, sitting on the wrong side of the car,,,lol. 

On the issue of applying for your provisional, do you still have to send your passport to Swanage along with the application? I had to, but I am not sure if everyone has to.

I also had to send my passport but they sent it back like in two weeks. They work pretty fast.

Amy, tell hubby to stuff it, if you feel you will be  more comfortable taking the test in automatic, then do it.  You can always go back later, after you feel more comfortable driving on UK  roads, on the wrong side of the road, sitting on the wrong side of the car,,,lol. 

I was under the impression that a license granted on an automatic could only be used to drive automatics.  Is that true?  If not, then I'll be soooo happy because I really don't want to learn to drive a manual!

If you test on an automatic then your licence will be restricted to automatic cars only.

If you test on an automatic then your licence will be restricted to automatic cars only.

Yep.  There's a box the examiner will tick when you pass the practical that says you passed on an automatic.  Your license will designate that you are only legal to drive an automatic.  If you wish to drive a manual, you will need to re-take the practical in manual car.

Unless you hold a British or EU passport, you'll have to send it away to Swansea to get a provisional driving license, but it's super fast, and I had mine sent back Special Delivery. 

Hang on to the paper part of your license that comes with the photocard one!  You'll need to bring both parts with you to your first driving lesson, the theory test, the practical, and to resubmit to the DVLA upon passing the practical and change to a full license. 

She has grown kids in the US, so is familiar when US driving, and came highly recommended for my needs.

That's good.  If they understand that, they sort of "get into your mind" and understand that you have developed habits, and help you "convert", so to speak.

And it's not all doom and gloom for the practical test either.  I had a very nice gentleman who's daughter lived in California.  He was so, so nice and said he knew what it was like to learn to drive in a new country because he heard all of the woes of his daughter...

I think that helped a lot on testing day ! Not to say I'm a bad driver, but I think he was sympathic to my situation.   )

Good luck everybody!