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Driving Information

Non UK Driver

If you have never driven in Britain before, it is a good idea to take a refresher driving course with us to familiarise yourself with the road systems and traffic signs.
Here is some information about the documentation you will need:

Driving in the UK with a Non-UK Driving Licence

Subject to certain conditions, you can drive in the UK for 12 months with a valid driving licence issued in another country, and as long as you fulfil the minimum age requirement (17 for motorcars and motorcycles).

EC Driving Licences

With a valid European Community licence, you are authorised to drive in the UK. You can if you wish apply to exchange it for a UK licence.

EC and other countries

All driving licences from countries and economic areas listed below are entitled to drive for up to 12 months in the UK, provided the licence is valid.

If you want to continue driving in the UK after 12 months, you must apply to exchange your licence for a British one before the 12 month period ends.

Countries

To exchange your driving licence, complete application form D1 (available at Post Offices) and return it to the DVLA, Swansea SA99 1BT with your current licence and the correct fee.

Other non-UK driving licences

If you hold a driving licence from a country other than those listed above, you can drive any category of small vehicle shown on your licence for up to 12 months from the time you became resident in the UK, providing the licence is still valid.

If, after 12 months, you wish to continue driving in the UK, you must apply for a Provisional British licence and pass a Driving Test before the 12 month period ends.

If you receive your Provisional licence before the end of 12 months, you are not required to follow some conditions applicable to Provisional UK residents (e.g. displaying 'L' plates, being supervised by a qualified driver, prohibited from using motorways).

Be warned: if you do not apply within this time period, you must stop driving and obtain a Provisional Licence with a view to passing a Driving test and full Provisional Licence conditions will apply.

If you do not pass a test within the 12 months concessionary period, you will not be allowed to drive as if you are a full Driving Licence holder, and Provisional Driving Licence conditions will still apply.

Information.

The information above is intended as a guide only. The DVLA's information leaflet D100 gives a fuller explanation. Their leaflet INF38 covers driving in Great Britain as a visitor or a new resident. Both are available at the Post Office.

Pass Plus

Statistics shows that new drivers are more likely to have an accident in the first 2 years of driving than at any another time. Not only is this worrying for your personal safety, it also bumps up the premiums for new drivers. That's where the Pass Plus course can help!

What exactly is it?

Pass Plus is a certificate that you take as a newly qualified driver which not only enhances your skills, but guarantees discounts on your insurance - always high for new drivers.

The Pass Plus course is an opportunity for the newly qualified driver to develop his or her skills and venture out in traffic conditions which may not be familiar from the "L" driving lessons.

It will help you:

• Gain valuable experience safely
• Build on existing driving skills and knowledge
• Reduce the risk of a crash
• Boost confidence
• Save money on car insurance

How does it work?

Pass Plus consists of 6 practical modules of one hour each. Every driving lesson will cover different subjects, for example night driving, city driving, dual carriageways, motorways, difficult terrain and weather conditions.

When can I do it?

You can take Pass Plus within the first 12 months of passing your driving test.

Do I have to take another test?

No. There is no test as such. As a pupil again, your driving will be continually assessed. You must pass all the modules to an achieved or exceeded standard. You as the pupil, and the Driving Instructor, must each sign off every module and complete the Pass Plus course Progress Record and Training Report Form.

How do I get the Certificate?

The Progress Record and Training Report Form are sent the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) who will then issue the Pass Plus Certificate.

Not only will you be a safer, more confident and competent driver, but you will also qualify for a substantial discount on your motor insurance premium from companies that support the scheme.

Which insurance companies support the Pass Plus scheme?

The following companies take part, but more are joining, so check with us first.

Insurance Companies that support Pass Plus

How much will the Pass Plus Course cost?

Eco-Driving measures introduced to the UK driving test from 2008 require that new drivers have to show that they can drive with fuel-efficiency as well as safely.

Learner Drivers are expected to know the basics of eco-driving such as accelerating and braking less harshly and changing gears sooner. So, make yourself aware of safe-echo driving-and you will save wear and tear on your car, save fuel, and maybe even help save the plant.

When mooting the introduction of eco-driving-to the driving test-in 2006, the Transport Secretary Alistair Darling said, that candidates would not pass or fail on eco-driving, but that he wanted it to be "as much a part of learning to drive as the three-point turn or checking your mirrors. Small changes like this can make a big difference to the effect drivers have on the environment."

The move followed a similar initiative in the Netherlands, where the "New Driving" programme claims that eco-driving can potentially reduce their fuel consumption by up to a third.

Research in the UK has shown that eco driving can save between 5 and 17 percent of fuel - and also cut emissions.

The Department of Transport estimates that if all drivers followed the tips, CO2 (carbon dioxide) emissions from cars could be reduced by 8 per cent - or more than 5.5 Million tonnes of CO2 (carbon dioxide) a year.

Eco Driving Tips:

All you need to do is be aware of a few simple rules:

- Eco driving means: look ahead, drive smoothly and avoid acceleration and heavy braking. This saves wear and tear on the car and makes for a more economic use of fuel.

- Keep an eye on your gear-changing: When eco driving, revs should as far as possible kept at 2,500 rpm for petrol and 2,000 rpm for diesel vehicles.

- Use the air conditioning sparingly.

- When you start the engine, don't keep it idling to heat up the engine. This wastes fuel and should not be necessary if you drive off gently and smoothly. Eco driving encourages basic good driving practice. It might mean you use your car a little bit less, but you save fuel on the way you drive as well as cutting out unnecessary journeys.

- Remove anything from the vehicle which increases 'drag'. Roof boxes and roof racks should only be in place when they are being used. And don't use the boot as a permanent storage space! Eco driving is lighter driving.

- When eco driving, consider sometimes avoiding short journeys, or link together several necessary journeys - cold engines use almost twice as much fuel as heated ones and catalytic converters can take up to five miles to become effective.

- Before your journey: plan the route to avoid local works, congestion or losing your way. If you do hit a traffic jam - turn the engine off.

- For eco driving, the most efficient speed for fuel consumption has been shown to be 55-65 mph.

- Have your tyres checked regularly - under-inflated tyres use more fuel.

- And one of the most effective ways of eco driving: consider car-sharing for some journeys.

Consider buying an 'eco friendly' vehicle:

As with any purchase, do your homework. Keep eco driving at the front of your mind? Check to see if the car you want has a hybrid or diesel version; you can find information about the lowest CO2 emission cars on the Department of Transport's website in the 'ACT ON CO2' section.

All new cars should have an environmental label which grades the car from A (the cleanest) to G (the most polluting).

If you want to find out about a particular car's emissions, the Vehicle Certification Agency has a database of cars with their fuel economy and CO2 emissions data. It also has a section dealing with cars going back to 2000. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders has a database going back to 1997.

Manufacturers are now obliged to publish CO2 emission information by law in their adverts.

Fuel:

As eco driving becomes more popular and necessary, there are now a range of cars and fuels to help you:

Diesel vehicles have less CO2 emissions than their petrol equivalents, but they still produce harmful emissions. Choose one with a diesel particulate filter (DPF).

Hybrid vehicles have a conventional engine in addition to an electrical motor and battery which is recharged as you drive. They are available from several manufacturers and are becoming increasingly popular.

Electric vehicles produce no exhaust emissions and are exempt from road tax. Most have a range of 40-50 miles and a top speed of 50mph, so are perfect for urban driving. New designs are being worked on all the time. For eco driving, this has to be the most obvious choice.

Biodiesel vehicles use fuel produced from plants or less commonly waste cooking oil. The government has said that by 2010 all diesel sold in the UK will contain 5 percent biodiesels.

All diesel cars can run on B5 (a blend of 5 per cent and 95 per cent conventional diesel).
Using more than 5 percent biodiesel could invalidate your car's warranty - so check with the manufacturer before trying it. And never use untreated plant oil as this could damage the engine.

Eco driving doesn't mean you have to compromise on your vehicle or your journeys. You keep the CO2 emissions down and you can feel good that with eco driving, you're not creating unnecessary pollution.

Useful Links

We have collected a lot of useful links below - we think we have managed to cover pretty much everything but if we have missed anything let us know and we will add it!

The Highway Code - For information on the Highway Code.

Driving Test Centres - The DSA list of test centres across the country.

DVLA - Apply for your Driving Licence.

Think! - The Governments Road Safety Website.

Brake - The Road Safety Charity.

RoSPA - The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents.

Young Drivers - Lots of advice to keep yourself and others safe on the road.

Drugs and Driving - A page about the dangers of driving and taking drugs.

For My Girlfriend - An organisation dedicated to driving safety for young drivers.