Although traveling by public transport in a foreign land is a cost-effective way. However, having the independence and freedom of your own set of wheels can truly enhance your university experience. Therefore, international students must consider getting a UK driving licence for an easy and hassle-free stay. A licence allows access to more opportunities and can be a valuable skill for navigating the UK. So, to help you out, we have outlined the types of DL, the UK driving licence process, and the requirements to get it. Let’s begin!
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Do you know how many types of driving licence in UK are there? In the UK, there are majorly two main categories of driving licence - provisional and full. Besides, there are specific category licence as well. Read on, to learn about them.
A provisional driving licence is the first step for anyone learning to drive in the UK. You can apply for a provisional licence from the age of 15 years and 9 months in Great Britain. Besides, you will be permitted to drive under specific conditions:
The UK driving licence are also available for different vehicle categories, such as motorcycles or lorries, and comes with their own set of rules and restrictions.
After passing the required theory and practical tests, drivers are awarded a full UK driving licence. The most common is Category B among all the other types of driving licence in UK. It allows you to drive cars up to 3,500 kg with up to eight passenger seats. Besides, your full licence may also permit you to tow trailers or drive automatic vehicles only. The full licence is valid for 10 years and may include several entitlements for different types of vehicles, depending on the tests you have passed and any additional categories you have acquired.
The UK driving licence system is highly detailed, with specific categories that define what types of vehicles you are permitted to drive. Some key categories include:
To drive vehicles in higher categories (such as lorries or buses), you must apply for a provisional entitlement for that category and pass the relevant tests. Some entitlements are automatically granted when you pass certain tests, while others require separate qualifications.
The eligibility for UK driving licence is simple, you need to be a UK resident, meet the minimum age requirements, demonstrate your ability to meet certain health and vision standards. However, you also need to pass both the theory and practical driving tests. Here is a detailed overview:
- Age Requirements:
- Provisional Licence: You can apply for a provisional licence at age 17 (or 16 if you have a mobility component of PIP or DLA).
- Full Licence:You can take the practical test and obtain a full driving licence once you turn 17.
- Residency: You must be a UK resident to apply for a UK driving licenc
- Driving Lessons and Theory Test:One musttake driving lessons and pass the theory test before one can take the practical test.
- Practical Driving Test:To obtain a full driving licence, you need to pass the practical driving test.
- Medical Fitness and Vision:You will need to meet certain health and vision standards to be eligible to drive.
- Foreign licence: If you are a foreign licence holders then you may be able to exchange it for a UK licence.
These are the eligibility for UK driving licence, you must meet these requirements in order to obtain a licence.
Wondering how to apply for UK driving licence? To apply for the UK driving licence there is a step-by-step procedure that you must follow. The section covers all the steps along with the details.
You must prove your identity with a UK passport, a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP), an EU/EEA national identity card, or a travel document. Remember all documents must be originals. Besides, you will be required to provide your address history for the past three years and details of any previous provisional licence.
To apply, you must be at least 15 years and 9 months old, able to read a number plate from 20 metre, and have lived in Great Britain for at least 185 days in the past year.
You can apply online via the official GOV.UK website or using the post for D1 application form which is available at most post offices. Further, the fee is £34 if applying online or £43 by post. Online applications typically take about a week and postal applications may take up to three weeks.
Once you receive your provisional licence, you can start learning to drive with the help of driving lessons. However, the requirements for a UK driving licence are that you must be supervised by a qualified driver (over 21 and holding a full licence for at least three years) and display L plates on your vehicle.
Book your theory test online through the DVLA website once you feel prepared. The test covers road safety knowledge, hazard perception, and general driving rules. Besides, you can study official DVSA materials and take practice tests to prepare.
After passing your theory test and gaining sufficient driving experience, you can book your practical driving test online. The fee for the practical test is typically £62. The test includes vehicle safety checks, general driving ability, and independent driving.
This is how you apply for a driving licence in UK. Once you pass both the theory and practical tests, you will be issued a full UK driving licence.
Students must ensure they have valid UK driving licence and follow all UK road laws. EU/EEA students enjoy the most flexibility as they are allowed to drive freely on their home licence. However, non-EU/EEA students face stricter rules, unless their country has a special agreement with the UK. Let us look at the differences below:
EU/EEA Students
Non-EU/EEA Students
Students from EU/EEA can drive in the UK using their existing driving licence.
Non-EU/EEA students can drive in the UK with their home country’s licence or an International Driving Permit (IDP) for up to 12 months.
Their licence must remain valid or until they turn 70.
After 12 months, they must apply for a UK provisional driving licence, display 'L' plates. For supervision, they require someone over 21 who has held a full UK, NI, or EEA licence for at least three years.
There is no requirement to exchange the EU/EEA licence for a UK one.
Students from certain "designated countries" may be able to exchange their licence for a UK one.
No additional tests or provisional licence are needed.
To obtain a full UK driving licence, non-EU/EEA students must pass both the UK theory and practical driving tests.
To wrap up, the blog covered everything about how to get driving licence in UK, the steps, eligibility and requirements, and the types of UK driving licence. International students, whether living in university student accommodation in UK or living privately must consider applying for a driving licence in the United Kingdom. It offers enhanced freedom and flexibility in studies and in daily life. A license allows independent travel, and access to more opportunities, and can be valuable for navigating ways and easier exploration in the UK.
No, if you pass your UK driving licence test in an automatic car, you can only drive automatic cars. Your licence will be restricted to automatic vehicles only. However, if you want to be able to drive manual cars then you would need to pass a separate driving test in a manual vehicle.
Provisional entitlements on a full UK driving licence refer to the specific types of vehicles a driver is permitted to learn how to drive, but may not be able to drive independently until after passing the relevant practical driving test and obtaining a full licence. These entitlements are typically categorized based on the weight and type of vehicle.
To get a UK driving licence, it takes around 4 to 5 months for most learners. This includes the time spent on lessons, practice, theory, and practical tests, and obtaining the full licence.
Yes, you can upgrade your UK driving licence for a motorcycle. There are two main ways to do this: Progressive Access or Direct Access (DAS).
Yes, international students can buy cars in the UK. However, buying a car in the UK has a lot of costs, thus, it is important to consider them before making a decision. These costs involve the price of the car itself, insurance, road tax, and more. Besides, it is also recommended to obtain a UK driving licence after six months of residency.
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