Hi guys, I need some advice about retaking my driving license. Why, you might ask? Long story short I lived in Denmark for 10 years and took my license out there. In Denmark if you speed or drink drive excessively you get banned AND you have to retake your test (theory and practical) when the ban is up. I moved back to London before I had a chance to retake it and even though I use public transport to get in to the city I need it back for visiting kids in Denmark and making life generally easier. Now the question. How quickly can I get it done over here? Theory and practical. I'm way out of touch as I only know the Danish system. Can I practice theory online, do I require a certain amount of hours, is there any pitfalls to be aware of? Any recommendations of places to do it with in the South East London area (Lewisham)? I've been struggling to find these details written in a concise way so I'm turning to the mecca of advice - B-T.
My partner failed her theory test (just) on her first attempt on the dreaded hazzard perception. I bought her the bundle of this http://store.steampowered.com/app/307740/ and she aced it on her next attempt. She said that the hazzard perception part was very close to how the test is.
Theory waiting time can be days to weeks depending on how busy your local test centres are (and how far you're willing to travel). Practical test waiting time can be a few months, but you may get lucky with cancellations. You must have passed the theory test before booking the practical. Theory test practice is easy: read the Highway Code. Most 'driving test assistance' books/software/etc miss out on a bunch of questions that turn up in the actual test. Hazard perception has gotten easier now they've replaced the cruddy VHS videos with HD partially-CG footage you can actually see things in. With the waiting lists for practical tests being so long, it's definitely a good idea to do a refresher course with a driving instructor to make sure you don't fail on a preventable mistake.
As you no longer hold a license in Denmark you are considered the same as any other non-license holder in the UK so you'll need to apply for a UK provisional licence first. This will enable you to drive a car as a learner driver, there are certain restrictions to this like L-plates and being supervised. You will need to have a provisional license to be able to take the theory test. Knowledge of the highway code is required to pass the theory test, there are books and interactive computer based resources available to help. There is no minimum number of hours of lessons (or driving at all!) before taking a practical test, you just need to have passed the theory test first. I would recommend getting the theory test done first then contacting a local driving instructor and booking some lessons. Explain that you previously held a license in Denmark so know how to drive a car (this will make things much easier for them) and that you are looking for instruction on UK roads before taking a UK driving test. The instructor will also be able to advise on the current wait for taking a practical test and also if they think you are competent enough to pass it. The other option that might be easier (not sure how hard the test in in Denmark!) is to regain your Danish license, you could then exchange your european license for a UK license. If you want to do this do not apply for a provisional UK license, you cannot exchange a European license once you have a UK provisional license.
Got my provisional renewed. Funnily enough it just expired as I returned! Thanks for the rest of the advice.
I will second the notion of a few refresher lessons, especially if it has been a while. When I imported my wife from The Netherlands, although she had a full license, we booked her in on a couple of lessons just to brush up on the differences between there and here. She didn't really need them from a technical point of view but it helped immensely with the confidence on potentially tricky bits like islands and slip roads.
