Getting a drivers license in the UK

Today I also went to apply for my provisional drivers license (although here they spell it “licence”). My Florida license enables me to drive in the UK for just 12 months after arrival, so my time is almost up. Even though Paul has been doing most all of the driving, I still need to get my UK license before the one year is up. Otherwise I’ll be required to go through driver education and I definitely don’t want to suffer through that. Not only does it cost a small fortune and take many weeks to complete, but you are required to take lessons in a car emblazoned with big red “L”s all over it (meaning you are a LEARNER). No doubt people definitely steer clear of the learners on the road and for good reason!

Anyway, the whole process of obtaining a drivers license here is laborious. For starters, I had to go in person to the closest DVLA office (some 20 miles away) to make the application. This is because I hold a non-British passport and they have to confirm my identity. Otherwise, had I held a British passport, I could have gone to any post office, showed them my passport, and they could have confirmed my identity and sent my application off to Swansea (in Wales) where all new license applications have to get processed. Instead I had to hand over my passport, which had to be sent along with all my other paperwork and a photograph to Swansea. It can take up to 7 weeks to get my passport and provisional license sent to me. (Let’s just hope I don’t meanwhile need to leave the country urgently!)

Once I have the provisional license in hand, I can then book an appointment at the nearest driving testing office (even further away than the DVLA office I went to) to take the “theory test” (or written test). It is comprised of multiple choice questions along with a real-time hazard test whereby you watch hazardous road situations on video and identify the hazards. This theory test takes about an hour to complete.

Once you have successfully completed the theory test, you can then apply to take the “practical test” (or driving test). This too takes about 45 minutes to an hour. Once you pass this test, you can then apply for your permanent license. The whole process takes months to complete, but at least you are home-free once you have the license in hand!

Now you can see why I have procrastinated for so long on getting my UK license. (Not to mention I’ve been a bit nervous about manipulating the roundabouts!). Oh well…stay tuned to see how this one turns out.