Getting a UK driving license

tulipz

Hi All,
DH is planning to get a UK driving license. He has about 10yrs of driving experience in India (driving style is similar to UK).
I understand that its a 3 stage process:

1. Apply for provisional License (50GBP)
2. Pass theory test (how much does this cost?)
3. Pass practical test. (how much for this one?)

I've been googling for info since afternoon, but couldnt find answers to some of my questions. Could you please help me friends?

1. Is it mandatory to take driving lessons? (We see no point, DH has a valid Indian license and has driven for over 10yrs)..if yes, how many min?

2. Can he pass the test with (dedicated) self study?

3. Do we need to buy some insurance ? (we dont have a car yet)

4. Do we need our own car for passing the practical test?

5. How long will the whole process take?


Any other info about this process is highly appreciated.

Thanks,
Tulipz

Rossy.

tulipz wrote: »

Hi All,
DH is planning to get a UK driving license. He has about 10yrs of driving experience in India (driving style is similar to UK).
I understand that its a 3 stage process:

1. Apply for provisional License (50GBP)
2. Pass theory test (how much does this cost?)
3. Pass practical test. (how much for this one?)

I've been googling for info since afternoon, but couldnt find answers to some of my questions. Could you please help me friends?

1. Is it mandatory to take driving lessons? (We see no point, DH has a valid Indian license and has driven for over 10yrs)..if yes, how many min?

2. Can he pass the test with (dedicated) self study?

3. Do we need to buy some insurance ? (we dont have a car yet)

4. Do we need our own car for passing the practical test?

5. How long will the whole process take?


Any other info about this process is highly appreciated.

Thanks,
Tulipz

Sorry but We don't drive with a death wish lol

To your question.

I don't think he can convert his license but i may be wrong.

Look on DVLA for all the answers you need

Gene_Hunt_2

tulipz wrote: »

Hi All,
DH is planning to get a UK driving license. He has about 10yrs of driving experience in India (driving style is similar to UK).
I understand that its a 3 stage process:

1. Apply for provisional License (50GBP)
2. Pass theory test (how much does this cost?)
3. Pass practical test. (how much for this one?)

I've been googling for info since afternoon, but couldnt find answers to some of my questions. Could you please help me friends?

1. Is it mandatory to take driving lessons? (We see no point, DH has a valid Indian license and has driven for over 10yrs)..if yes, how many min? No, but he should.

2. Can he pass the test with (dedicated) self study? Which part?

3. Do we need to buy some insurance ? (we dont have a car yet) When you get a car, yes.

4. Do we need our own car for passing the practical test? No.

5. How long will the whole process take? How long is a piece of string. It could take one day, yet again he may never pass.


Any other info about this process is highly appreciated.

Thanks,
Tulipz

...................................................................

tulipz

Some clarifications

tulipz wrote: »

Hi All,
DH is planning to get a UK driving license. He has about 10yrs of driving experience in India (driving style is similar to UK).
I understand that its a 3 stage process:

1. Apply for provisional License (50GBP)
2. Pass theory test (how much does this cost?)
3. Pass practical test. (how much for this one?)

I've been googling for info since afternoon, but couldnt find answers to some of my questions. Could you please help me friends?

1. Is it mandatory to take driving lessons? (We see no point, DH has a valid Indian license and has driven for over 10yrs)..if yes, how many min? How many are recommended?

2. Can he pass the Theorytest with (dedicated) self study?

3. Do we need to buy some insurance ? (we dont have a car yet)

4. Do we need our own car for passing the practical test?

5. How long will the whole process take? On average


Any other info about this process is highly appreciated.

Thanks,
Tulipz

Gene_Hunt_2

bigjl wrote: »

An International Driving Permit will allow him to drive for twelve months after entering the UK and validity is linked to the entry stamp on the passport, but if he leave the UK then in theory the 12 months is reset, but not if the UK becomes his permanent place of residence.

His Indian licence allows him to drive in the UK. The 'international permit' just translates the licence and is useless on it's own.

tulipz

That bit made me chuckle, he could always drive in East London as most don't have a licence either, the driving style will also be very similar to what he is used to.

whats so funny about the above statement? Anyway, what I meant was, he knows how to operate a car (as a machine). Also, driving in India is similar to the UK in the sense that the driver sits on the right side and cars are driven on the left side of the road. He needs to understand and practice driving rules here.

No thanks for the 'East London' tip. Neither do we live there nor do we have plans to drive without a license

He may be able to get an International Driving Permit but he would need to check that out as not all countries can get one, I know Ghana drivers can.

I don't know if they will exchange his Indian licence for a UK one like they do for SA or Aus, NZ.

An International Driving Permit will allow him to drive for twelve months after entering the UK and validity is linked to the entry stamp on the passport, but if he leave the UK then in theory the 12 months is reset, but not if the UK becomes his permanent place of residence.

You could email BSM or similar as they will have dealt with this subject many, many times before.

He had an international driving license (its now expired though). He never used it though.

Thanks for the advice

tulipz

Gene_Hunt wrote: »

His Indian licence allows him to drive in the UK.

Could you please elaborate ? How does his Indian License allow him to drive here?

Rossy.

tulipz wrote: »

whats so funny about the above statement? Anyway, what I meant was, he knows how to operate a car (as a machine). Also, driving in India is similar to the UK in the sense that the driver sits on the right side and cars are driven on the left side of the road. He needs to understand and practice driving rules here.

what he means is that even though the car set up is identicle and you drive on the same side as us, the driving standard in India is lets face it a shambles in regards to lane discipline/awareness etc.

Every man for himself in India

bengalknights

An indian licence is not valid in the uk once the international permit has expired.

He would have to apply for a provisional and take all the tests before he is legally allowed to drive.

I would recommend he does the application and then just contacts a driving instructor and if his driving is ok he will pass in no time.

mark5

My advice would be to 1st get the provisional licence

Then book a few lessons with a driving instructor, they will tell your husband if he is ready to do the test.

The driving instructor will then have the details/phone numbers/prices etc to apply for both parts of the test plus your husband can then use the instructors car for the test.

I would have thought the provisional licence would take 2-3 weeks to arrive.
2-3 weeks to complete lessons.
1 month to get a theory test.
6 weeks to get a practical test.

The above is based on time scales when I passed my test.

Two minor endorsements or one major offence during the first 2 years of passing and he will need to do it all again.

tulipz

Rossy. wrote: »

what he means is that even though the car set up is identicle and you drive on the same side as us, the driving standard in India is lets face it a shambles in regards to lane discipline/awareness etc.

Every man for himself in India

yes agreed. A lot of ppl lack lane discipline/awareness in India and some of them have their own rules. Does that mean ALL Indians create havoc on UK roads?? How many drunk UK citizens get killed/kill others in accidents?

My take on this is, lane discipline or any discipline is a matter of personal principle. Awareness yes. But thats the reason driving tests exist !

FYI, a lot of us with driving experience in "less developed" countries find driving in the UK much more relaxed and enjoyable because of the rules and road discipline. Dont assume everyone from a "less developed" country lacks/detests discipline. We have no council housing no free NHS. We work very hard to come up in life (fighting strong competition at every stage of education) and it obviously needs a lot of discipline.