When we return to the UK, my son will have (hopefully) passed his driving test in Australia. Will he have to retake a driving test in the UK or will the UK accept his Oz licence and he will just have to change it for a UK one?

I think it is the same as Canada. When I go to the Uk I will be permitted to drive for a year with my Canadian licence and I can trade it in for a British licence valid for automatics only. If you want to drive a manual transmission car, you have to take the UK driving test which is quite a tough test.

I think the automatic/manual distinction is only for Canada - even though most cars in Australia nowadays are automatic too.

Thanks for that. We used to live in the UK so all took our tests there and still have our UK licenses however, our son is taking his test in Australia in an automatic. I am hoping that it will be valid in the UK, he will just continue to drive an automatic there until he feels ready to move onto a manual. I just don't want to get there and then find out he has to take another test.

Here's an interactive page from the official government website regarding licences in the UK - http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Diol1/Mo...rive_in_gb.dsb

Plug in your son's details and see what it says...

He wont have to retake his test but I suggest quite seriously that he learns to drive properly, by that I mean learn lane discipline and courtesy.

Yes, I thought that when we get back, even though he probably will have passed his test in Oz by then, I was going to buy him some Uk driving lessons.

I really don't have to tell you how bad drivers are here so some proper lessons would be great for him. I have seen learners in driving school cars driving under the limit in the right hand lane and having to be undertaken, what chance have the got ?

Thanks Rebs, that link is good. He won't have to take another test, just change his licence over within 12 months.

Chris9555, I know. I wouldn't feel happy about my son driving in the UK without additional lessons. I'm not comfortable in all honesty about him driving in Australia but you are so restricted unless you drive. At the moment we are his private driver. In Melbourne where I am you have to drive for 120 hrs before you can take your test. I don't understand why then a lot of driving is just so bad.

Apparently a lot of people doctor the logbook you have to fill in for your hours, they get family and friends to fill them in. I'm not sure exactly how it works in Victoria.

I have heard of that. Yes same thing in Victoria. You write down the number of hours you have driven for and the km's then it is supposed to be checked prior to taking your test that it all adds up to 120 hrs. It seems so easy here from what I can make out to pass your test. Obviously why there are so many bad drivers.

I was looking into this for our son who has gone back to university in the UK, but as we live in the US he will have to take the test and is not able to exchange his license. Which sucks for him ... but oh well. We are going to get him to take some lessons to get him used to the UK roads.

One thing we did in anticipation of his move was teach him to drive a manual so at least he is off to a running start, and he's been driving a manual over here for the last two years

He will only be allowed to drive an automatic in that case and will need to do a full test in a manual to be able to drive a manual if he wishes.

I would suggest that anyone going to another country should read the equivalent of the "highway code" to learn the difference in road rules for the new country, as they can differ quite a bit.

Excellent idea. Some hours at about £25 an hour (when we were there) with a driving instructor would be worthwhile.

My understanding is that, if you're a British citizen, you cannot drive in the UK on a non-UK license for any period of time.

I'm still a bit irked that I have driven a manual all my life, since I was 16, had a driving licence in the UK which is gone because the records were changed over in 1970, and will have to drive an automatic there. I am going to try and fight it with proof of my driving a manual here. We'll see.