Comments on: Passing the UK DSA Driving Test For Americans I: Provisional License http://americaninbritain.com/passing-the-uk-dsa-driving-test-for-americans-i-provisional-license Views from across the Herring Pond Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:32:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Francis Power http://americaninbritain.com/passing-the-uk-dsa-driving-test-for-americans-i-provisional-license#comment-10615 Francis Power Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:32:51 +0000 http://americaninbritain.com/?p=76#comment-10615 My American wife recently acquired a UK provisional licence. Just waiting for an opportunity to send her passport to Swansea for (they say) up to six weeks has taken 19 years. I have to say as a UK national I am deeply embarrassed that our driver licencing authority does not understand some people, especially ex pat professionals, do need to travel on a weekly basis, often at no notice. Offers to have said document couriered to Swansea and back in a single day at our own expense, for an administration fee to be paid to ensure a swift turn around, met with nonplussed refusal. It is of course blatant discrimination and I wish someone would take DVLC to court over it. The irony is that once one fits a normal demographic profile (once your license has been issued you probably do) the bureaucracy at DVLC can be remarkably efficient and painless. My American wife recently acquired a UK provisional licence. Just waiting for an opportunity to send her passport to Swansea for (they say) up to six weeks has taken 19 years. I have to say as a UK national I am deeply embarrassed that our driver licencing authority does not understand some people, especially ex pat professionals, do need to travel on a weekly basis, often at no notice. Offers to have said document couriered to Swansea and back in a single day at our own expense, for an administration fee to be paid to ensure a swift turn around, met with nonplussed refusal. It is of course blatant discrimination and I wish someone would take DVLC to court over it. The irony is that once one fits a normal demographic profile (once your license has been issued you probably do) the bureaucracy at DVLC can be remarkably efficient and painless.

]]> By: Yank http://americaninbritain.com/passing-the-uk-dsa-driving-test-for-americans-i-provisional-license#comment-8467 Yank Thu, 14 Jul 2011 23:49:43 +0000 http://americaninbritain.com/?p=76#comment-8467 @Peter T: Thanks very much for valuable additional information regarding NI, and welcome. @Peter T: Thanks very much for valuable additional information regarding NI, and welcome.

]]> By: Peter T http://americaninbritain.com/passing-the-uk-dsa-driving-test-for-americans-i-provisional-license#comment-8466 Peter T Thu, 14 Jul 2011 23:04:54 +0000 http://americaninbritain.com/?p=76#comment-8466 Just to say - if you are trying to get a UK licence in Northern Ireland then you need to work with DVLNI rather than the DVLA http://www.dvlni.gov.uk/dvlni.aspx Also worth pointing out that you don't need to display "L" plates for 12 months after you come into the UK so long as your US licence remains valid. More info here: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensing/DrivingInGbOnAForeignLicence/DG_4022561 Hope this helps! Just to say – if you are trying to get a UK licence in Northern Ireland then you need to work with DVLNI rather than the DVLA
http://www.dvlni.gov.uk/dvlni.aspx

Also worth pointing out that you don’t need to display “L” plates for 12 months after you come into the UK so long as your US licence remains valid. More info here:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensing/DrivingInGbOnAForeignLicence/DG_4022561

Hope this helps!

]]> By: Yank http://americaninbritain.com/passing-the-uk-dsa-driving-test-for-americans-i-provisional-license#comment-3101 Yank Sun, 01 Aug 2010 10:33:17 +0000 http://americaninbritain.com/?p=76#comment-3101 Another commenter had said there is, but we have not found that is possible. BTW, you can use your US license for a year (unless it is expired). Another commenter had said there is, but we have not found that is possible. BTW, you can use your US license for a year (unless it is expired).

]]> By: Soma Sengupta http://americaninbritain.com/passing-the-uk-dsa-driving-test-for-americans-i-provisional-license#comment-3093 Soma Sengupta Thu, 29 Jul 2010 06:46:11 +0000 http://americaninbritain.com/?p=76#comment-3093 BTW, thanks for the post! It was extremely informative & helpful to an expat like me! BTW, thanks for the post! It was extremely informative & helpful to an expat like me!

]]> By: Soma Sengupta http://americaninbritain.com/passing-the-uk-dsa-driving-test-for-americans-i-provisional-license#comment-3092 Soma Sengupta Thu, 29 Jul 2010 06:45:06 +0000 http://americaninbritain.com/?p=76#comment-3092 Is there any way to get a UK license without taking the tests if I have a US license? Thanks! Is there any way to get a UK license without taking the tests if I have a US license?

Thanks!

]]> By: Jerremy http://americaninbritain.com/passing-the-uk-dsa-driving-test-for-americans-i-provisional-license#comment-2271 Jerremy Mon, 15 Feb 2010 17:33:14 +0000 http://americaninbritain.com/?p=76#comment-2271 Thank you so much for this post, I'm an American living in the UK and I'm going through this process right now. Your post is extremely helpful, thanks for taking the time to share! Kind regards Thank you so much for this post, I’m an American living in the UK and I’m going through this process right now. Your post is extremely helpful, thanks for taking the time to share!

Kind regards

]]> By: UK driving test fee increases | An American in Britain http://americaninbritain.com/passing-the-uk-dsa-driving-test-for-americans-i-provisional-license#comment-62 UK driving test fee increases | An American in Britain Mon, 30 Mar 2009 11:02:51 +0000 http://americaninbritain.com/?p=76#comment-62 [...] know many readers of this blog find their way here via search engines and often arrive at the small series of posts about acquiring a UK driving license. In order to keep the information complete and up to [...] [...] know many readers of this blog find their way here via search engines and often arrive at the small series of posts about acquiring a UK driving license. In order to keep the information complete and up to [...]

]]> By: Passing the UK DSA Driving Test For Americans II: Driving Theory Test | An American in Britain http://americaninbritain.com/passing-the-uk-dsa-driving-test-for-americans-i-provisional-license#comment-5 Passing the UK DSA Driving Test For Americans II: Driving Theory Test | An American in Britain Tue, 03 Feb 2009 13:27:23 +0000 http://americaninbritain.com/?p=76#comment-5 [...] the first entry in this series of three on obtaining a UK driving license, I reflected on the process of obtaining [...] [...] the first entry in this series of three on obtaining a UK driving license, I reflected on the process of obtaining [...]

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