QuestionQUESTION: I'm from India and have got a drivers license since the age of 18 .
Im 31 now and married .
My license carries my maiden name , where as my passport carries my name after marriage .
becose of this disparity . i will have to get a totally new license to apply for an international license .
as this procedure will take time . i am not keen on doing this as i am due to reach the UK in a few weeks .
What i want to know is if by going to the UK without a international drivers would it make it more difficult for me to get the drivers license there ?
or is the procedure all the same whether i have the international license or not .If by having a IDP makes getting the actually UK drivers easier, then I'm willing to try to get it here .
I would also like 2 know how i should go about to get the license .
We will be going to the UK in may ,
I read somewhere that a few previous addresses should be furnished . We will not have that as it is the first time we will be actually living/ working in the UK .
thanks !!
ANSWER: if it were me i'd have someone send a uk driving licence application form to india so you can fill it in and sign it asap. since the provisional licence takes a few weeks to arrive... you will also need a passport photo that has been signed by a uk resident who has known you for 2 years and also give their contact details for ID\verification. when posted to the dvla with the 27.50 fee this will produce a provisional licence. you still need then a theory test, a hazard perception test and finally a practical test. ps a uk licence is best to keep insurance low. many companies charge more to international licence holders. check the dvla's website dvla.gov.uk for more info
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QUESTION: Thanks much for the reply .
I wanted to confirm with u a few details .
By performing the procedures u mentioned , i would get a provisional lisence . can i drive with this ?
Or do i have to go in for the 3 tests u mentioned before i get the provisional license ?
i am told i can only apply for a UK license after living in the UK for atleast 6 months . and hence i was asked to get the internati0nal licesnse so as to avoid finding myslef unable to move around the city i will be staying at .
AnswerBy performing the procedures u mentioned , i would get a provisional lisence . can i drive with this ?
No you need to do the tests to be allowed drive unsurpervised but you can at least legally take lessons or sit the tests.
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i am told i can only apply for a UK license after living in the UK for atleast 6 months.
Nope, you can get it straight away, it's not like a passport, just a license, anyone from anywhere can just send in the application form, prove who they are and where they're from and voila - license. (proving who you are and where you're from may be an annoying task, requiring documents from afar.. maybe)
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As for an international license, you'd have to sit a test - the indian license cant be exchanged for an int. license.
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and hence i was asked to get the internati0nal licesnse so as to avoid finding myslef unable to move around the city i will be staying at
The int. license would be fine for 12 months, but you can only drive for 12 months on the int. license, you then have to get your provisional then sit and pass the 3 tests to continue driving in UK.
hope this helps.
