Getting a UK driving license
Aug 23rd 2018, 6:53 pm
#1
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Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 67
Getting a UK driving license
My wife is moving back to England with me, the visa and plane tickets are all sorted, what's the deal with her driving over there? I've heard she can drive for up to 12 months with her American license, is this right? Does anyone have a resource/website I could look at?
Can she take driving lessons in the UK with her American license? Or does she need to get her English temps?
Thanks, Ian
Can she take driving lessons in the UK with her American license? Or does she need to get her English temps?
Thanks, Ian
Aug 23rd 2018, 7:54 pm
#2
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Joined: Aug 2013
Location: Athens GA
Posts: 2,134
Re: Getting a UK driving license
My wife is moving back to England with me, the visa and plane tickets are all sorted, what's the deal with her driving over there? I've heard she can drive for up to 12 months with her American license, is this right? Does anyone have a resource/website I could look at?
Can she take driving lessons in the UK with her American license? Or does she need to get her English temps?
Thanks, Ian
Can she take driving lessons in the UK with her American license? Or does she need to get her English temps?
Thanks, Ian
Aug 23rd 2018, 8:27 pm
#3
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Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 67
Re: Getting a UK driving license
Exactly what I was looking for, that's the real deal. Thanks.
Aug 23rd 2018, 11:48 pm
#4
Joined: Feb 2012
Location: Not in Paris
Posts: 18,193
Re: Getting a UK driving license
12 months on her US licence, after which she needs to hold a full UK licence or give up. She should apply for her UK provisional licence straight away and start driving lessons as the UK test will be far more difficult than the equivalent US test and she may need multiple attempts to crack it.
Aug 24th 2018, 10:59 am
#5
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Re: Getting a UK driving license
Note that she can take the theory test any time after receiving her provisional licence but for the practical test she must have been resident here for at least 6 months. Our son recently passed his practical test first time but he did take driving lessons shortly before he put in for the test with an instructor who took him on typical test routes and trained him specifically on how to pass the test (he had been driving in the USA for 15 years so knew how to handle a car)
https://www.gov.uk/driving-nongb-licence
https://www.gov.uk/driving-nongb-licence
You must have lived in England, Wales or Scotland for at least 185 days in the last 12 months before the day you take your test.
Aug 28th 2018, 3:19 pm
#6
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Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 78
Re: Getting a UK driving license
does this apply to a british citizen wishing to apply? as theyv been out of the country for 3 yrs... does the 6months apply to them too?
Aug 28th 2018, 3:49 pm
#7
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Re: Getting a UK driving license
You can send a message from the website or email them at
[email protected]
Below is the reply I received from them earlier this year
Dear Mr xxxxx
Thank you for your email dated 7 February.
I can confirm that they must have lived here for at least 185 days in the last 12 months before the day they take their test. This is regardless of which country they have moved from.
You can view that here.
The examiner will also make them sign a declaration before the test commences to confirm this.
How did we do? Please take a few moments to complete our customer satisfaction survey by clicking here.
Yours sincerely
Marie Hawkins | Customer Support Representative
Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency
Phone: 0300 200 1122
[img]blob:https://britishexpats.com/e6358df9-a...8-083a0aeb09d3
Find out more about government services at www.gov.uk/dvsa
Follow us: facebook.com/dvsagovuk | youtube.com/dvsagovuk |twitter.com/dvsa_helpme
From: xxx
Sent: 07 February 2018 14:03
To: CSU <[email protected]>
Subject: Residency requirements when arriving from the USA to get a driving licence
Thank you for your email dated 7 February.
I can confirm that they must have lived here for at least 185 days in the last 12 months before the day they take their test. This is regardless of which country they have moved from.
You can view that here.
The examiner will also make them sign a declaration before the test commences to confirm this.
How did we do? Please take a few moments to complete our customer satisfaction survey by clicking here.
Yours sincerely
Marie Hawkins | Customer Support Representative
Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency
Phone: 0300 200 1122
[img]blob:https://britishexpats.com/e6358df9-a...8-083a0aeb09d3
Find out more about government services at www.gov.uk/dvsa
Follow us: facebook.com/dvsagovuk | youtube.com/dvsagovuk |twitter.com/dvsa_helpme
From: xxx
Sent: 07 February 2018 14:03
To: CSU <[email protected]>
Subject: Residency requirements when arriving from the USA to get a driving licence
Last edited by durham_lad; Aug 28th 2018 at 3:52 pm.
Aug 28th 2018, 10:19 pm
#9
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Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 78
Re: Getting a UK driving license
I had a provisional license but never too the practical test there as I moved to the UAE ended up passing my driving test in the UAE. Now that me and my spouse are shifting we r both looking to get our drivers license as soon as we can.
Aug 28th 2018, 11:23 pm
#10
Joined: Feb 2012
Location: Not in Paris
Posts: 18,193
Re: Getting a UK driving license
Sounds like you’ll be waiting six months as well then.
Aug 29th 2018, 3:52 am
#11
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Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 78
Re: Getting a UK driving license
Thank you for lettin me know.
Aug 29th 2018, 9:15 pm
#12
Joined: Apr 2005
Location: Milwaukie, Oregon
Posts: 9,965
Re: Getting a UK driving license
It is 365 days, not a full year if a leap year comes into play. That was my practical traffic law exam at Hendon Police College and the "driver" had been resident 366 days, but on dates exactly one year. Jan 28th 1976 to Jan 27th 1977 strange how things stick in your mind even after many years.
Aug 29th 2018, 9:21 pm
#13
Joined: Feb 2012
Location: Not in Paris
Posts: 18,193
Re: Getting a UK driving license
It is 365 days, not a full year if a leap year comes into play. That was my practical traffic law exam at Hendon Police College and the "driver" had been resident 366 days, but on dates exactly one year. Jan 28th 1976 to Jan 27th 1977 strange how things stick in your mind even after many years.
Aug 31st 2018, 3:14 am
#14
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Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 55
Re: Getting a UK driving license
What if my US driving license is expired couple months after I arrive England? Does it mean I can’t drive at all?