A question about UK drivers?

Question

I'm a Yank, but is it really as complicated as people are making it out to be from the questions asked on Y!A to get a drivers license & register a vehicle on the other side of the pond?
People keep asking the same license questions, MOT, DVLA, road tax, what is the cheapest car to license, etc. From the questions asked, if I ever move to the UK, it appears I'd be better off taking a taxi or bus instead of attempting to get a license or buy a car there.

Answer 1

Hi there.



You should be able to use your American licence over here, at least for a while. If you are moving here permanentely you will probably have to exchange your American one for a British licence eventually. I don't think you'll have to take a driving test. (though I could be wrong).

As for the cheapest car to licence... you don't licence the car, the licence covers you. However we have some very strict rules here for cars. These come under the MOT test which is a test to make sure that the car is road worthy. If it fails this test you can't take it on the road.If you do it invalidates your insurance and you get into a lot of trouble.

DVLA is the govering body that deals with all things motoring. They should tell you everything you need to know about putting a car on the road here in the UK.

We also have a road tax. How much you pay is determined by the age,model and make of car you have. EG. I drive a 2ltr diesel Peugot and it is on a 1999 plate or a 'v' reg. And because of it's age I still pay the higher road tax. BUT, if you were to buy one of the new small diesel cars... you probably would have little or no tax to pay at all! Some are as little as £35 per year.

Then... I also have a 1970 Morris minor and I don't pay tax on this at all because it is classed as a pre 1973 classic car.

Public transport can be as expensive here as running a car, and because our government don't seem to care how we get around it is getting worse. (and that's coming from a bus driver!).



Hope this helps...Good luck.

Answer 2

In the UK we have a system as every country has, an MOT is just a test of your vehicles road worthiness done for a fee at a local garage where on your vehicle passing you receive a certificate for a year, the Road Fund (Tax) is decided by the emissions from your vehicle, as far as your license goes it may well just be a simple exchange to a UK license of similar standing. Sitting a test is like any country , if you are proficient you will pass.And you wouldn't like to pay too many cab fares in the UK lol, Buses are not too bad depending which city you live in, Metro is often the best. Hope this sheds some light or helps you out.

Answer 3

Maybe it's because some of the words and acronyms are a little different - but really the system here in the UK is very very similar to what you have in the States.



MOT is short for Ministry of Transport Test - it is just the vehicle safety checks which have to be carried out each year - brakes, lights, exhaust etc. to make sure your car is not a danger to others - all cars over three years old have to have one of those. The amount of tax (licence) fee you pay each year is based on the emissions from your car - you decide whether you want to drive a small 'green' car or a big 4 wheel drive gas guzzler based on what you can afford.



DVLA is the Driver and Vehicle Licencing Authority - the people who issue individual licences to people to drive cars and also on payment of the road tax (licence fee) to issue a tax disc to display on the vehicle - just as you have a sticker on your 'licence plate' except our discs are displayed inside the windshield.



As for getting your own licence to drive - it really is quite simple - you just take a theory (desktop) test and also go for a drive with an examiner - if you can do the basics and they think you drive safely enough you get your licence.



Any one with the minimum of common sense can do it very easily - although from the way some people drive after they have passed the test I do wonder if they have any common sense.





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Answer 4

Everyone else's answers are right,

I just wanted to add, on the subject of your license,

with you being American,

if you passed in an automatic and it says that on your license,

then you would only be able to drive automatics in the UK.



Have changed licenses in Europe and the time limit there for driving on a foreign license was 1 year.

All this talk of a European license only covers you so far and then you need a license issued from the country your residing in.

Going back to your home country for an holiday and coming back does not give you another year to drive,

good luck.

Answer 5

It could get very expensive if you don't drive on the left.



You will pay much more for petrol but it has a higher octane rating so you'll find your car going faster!

Answer 6

Further to answer from MK 2368 higher octane fuel does not make a car go faster...