Driving in the UK | Birmingham College

Before driving in Great Britain (GB) as an international student, it is important that you make sure that you fulfil the legal requirements and are aware of the correct procedures. These are outlined below:

Registration: If you buy a brand new car, the dealer will usually arrange for the car to be registered for you. If you buy a used car, you need to transfer the keepership into your name and address. Usually you will be given the Registration Document to do this. This gives the car's registration number to its owner. You must re-register the car in your name soon after buying it. There is a form to fill in attached to the registration document and an address to send it to. If you do not get a Registration Document you can get the form from the Post Office.

Road Tax: In the UK drivers are charged a tax which is used to repair and build roads. You must ensure that road tax for your car is paid before you drive it. You can obtain a tax disc by completing an application form (V10) that is available at the Post Office, and presenting it with the Registration Document, proof of valid car insurance, and an M.O.T. certificate for cars over 3 years old.

Car Insurance: British law states that you must insure a car before driving it. There are three types of insurance that you can buy for your car; comprehensive (the fullest cover), third party, fire and theft, or third party only (the minimum cover). You will find a wide range of insurance companies listed in the local telephone directory, many of which will offer special policies for students.

M.O.T. test: This is the Ministry of Transport test, which exists to make sure that all vehicles are safe to be on the roads. All vehicles over three years old must pass this test every year. When you buy a car you should receive an M.O.T. certificate, or when your car is more than three years old you must take it to a garage for the test. The M.O.T. test can be done at many garages. However, prices vary, so check a few, and make sure that they are Ministry of Transport approved (they will display a sign which says this).

You must drive on the left-hand side of the road and overtake the right.
If you are riding a motorcycle or a moped, you must wear a crash-helmet.
The driver and front seat passengers must wear seat belts. Rear seat passengers must wear seat belts where they are fitted.
You must not drive whilst under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
You must observe speed limits: 30 or 40 mph (miles per hour) in towns and built up areas, 70 mph on motorways and 60 mph on all other roads. Remember that speed limit signs are shown in miles per hour and not kilometres per hour.
You must observe the minimum age requirements: the minimum age for driving a car or riding a motorcycle up to 25 kW is 17 years of age; the minimum age for driving a medium sized goods vehicle is 18 years of age..
You must have a licence that allows you to drive in GB.

Read a copy of the Highway Code before you drive a vehicle. This is available from most newsagents or bookshops.

If you wish to drive in GB, you must find out whether or not you can use your existing licence and for how long. This will depend on where your licence was issued.

If you have a valid full driving licence issued in a European Economic Area country you do not need to exchange it for a GB licence.
If you have a full valid ordinary licence issued by any one of the following countries: Australia, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Gibraltar, Hong Kong, Japan, Kenya, Malta, New Zealand, Republic of Cyprus, Singapore, Switzerland, Zimbabwe.
You can drive small vehicles for 12 months from the date of entry into the UK. If you want to continue driving after the initial 12 month period, then you must obtain a British licence by the end of the 12 month period. To do this you should obtain form D1 from a Post Office, and send it to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) in Swansea, with a fee of Ã‚Â£21. Your foreign licence must also be sent, and this will be returned to the original issuing authority. If you do not exchange your licence before the end of the12 month period then you must stop driving. You can apply to exchange your licence at any time between 6 months and 5 years of your arrival in GB.
Students from all other countries may drive on your full valid foreign licence or an international driving permit for a period of 12 months from the date you first arrived in GB to take up your studies, as long as your licence or permit remains valid during that time. If you want to continue to drive after the 12 month period you must obtain a provisional GB licence and pass a driving test before the 12 month period elapses. You can apply for a provisional licence (on the D1 and D750 forms that are available from the Post Office) once you have been resident in GB for 6 months. If you do not apply for a provisional licence within the first twelve months of your stay you must stop driving until you have obtained a provisional licence. Until you have passed the driving test you must comply with the conditions that apply to provisional licence holders. DVLA, Customer Enquiries Unit, Swansea SA6 7JL. Tel: 01792 772151;www.open.gov.uk/dvla