[Dr Bungle]

Hi,

I'm British but live abroad so the whole process of getting a NI card and then the driving license application process is a bit more bureaucratic for me. I turn 17 in May and I'll be coming back to Britain for the summer holidays, and I'll be sorting all of this out then.

As I understand it -

1) Get National Insurance Card
2) Apply and get Provisional Driving License
3) Take lessons
4) Theory & Practical Tests
5) Claim a pass and exchange provisional license for full license


Is that right?

Cheers!

DB

[Sam Walters]

Do the theory test before you take lessons. When i took lessons i saw other people in cars parked up with thier instructors learning theory...

[Advisor]

(Original post by Dr Bungle)
Hi,

I'm British but live abroad

If you're not resident in GB, you may not be entitled to take a test here. Of course, this depends on the country you live and whether you hold a licence in that country.

Would it not be simpler to get your licence where you live, then drive in GB as a visitor?

[ROG.]

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring...yC/DG_10035602
Residency rules

A provisional driving licence is issued in order to enable a driver to take a driving test.
To apply for a provisional driving licence, you must therefore be 'normally resident' in the UK for more than 185 days.


Applicants who are not UK citizens or citizens of another European Union or European Economic Area state (EU/EEA) will not be considered 'normally resident' for the purposes of a driving licence application if they:
•do not have leave to remain in the UK
•are in the country on a temporary basis without leave to remain either while awaiting a decision on an application to stay in the UK or following a decision refusing such an application.

To obtain a driving licence from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), you will also need to have a permanent address in England, Scotland or Wales.

[Dr Bungle]

Crap.

I can't get a license here, you have to be 18.

I do however have a permanent address in England.

Am I unable to get a license then, because even though I'm British I'm not resident in the UK?

[ROG.]

(Original post by Dr Bungle)
I do however have a permanent address in England.

Am I unable to get a license then, because even though I'm British I'm not resident in the UK?

Have you been 'normally resident' in the Uk over the past 185 days?

That is the question which needs answering YES to proceed as far as I can see

[Dr Bungle]

If normally resident over the last 185 days means actually living on a majority/permanent basis in the UK, then unfortunatley no.

I only return for holidays at Christmas, Easter and summer.

Bugger. Ah well.

[ROG.]

(Original post by Dr Bungle)
I can't get a license here, you have to be 18.

If you did get a licence at age 17 in the UK then you cannot use it where you are until age 18 as that is the law for that country

Also, depending on the rules in that country, you may have to exchange it to drive there or have to take the test for that country

Every country ia allowed to set their own driving ages and rules unless there is an agreement across many such as the EU.

[Dr Bungle]

You can drive on a British license where I live abroad.

[ROG.]

(Original post by Dr Bungle)
You can drive on a British license where I live abroad.

Forever?
At what age 17 or 18?

[Dr Bungle]

For six months, then you show it to the traffic department as proof and they give you a local one. Yeah, 17.

[tomrw]

(Original post by Dr Bungle)
For six months, then you show it to the traffic department as proof and they give you a local one. Yeah, 17.

Doubt that. You have to abide by the law there. If their age limit is 18 you must be 18 to drive.

If you're 17 here and passed your test, you cant drive over to France because that would be illegal as you would be under age(18 min), even though you hold a full licence in the United Kingdom.

[Dr Bungle]

I know you can do it for a fact mate.

[tomrw]

(Original post by Dr Bungle)
I know you can do it for a fact mate.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring...ng/DG_10023103

Get your facts straight first though mate.

You may use your GB licence for driving in other European Community/European Economic Area [EC/EEA] member states. However, you should note that while the minimum age for driving a car in GB is 17 individual member states may apply their own age restrictions for entitlements.

[Dr Bungle]

You can drive where I live in the middle east on a foreign dl for six months. As long as you have a full license age restrictions are fine.