Some learner drivers seem to be unclear about the law regarding using an international licence to drive in the UK and how it affects their provisional licence if they have one.
If you are only visiting the UK for a short time, or are temporarily resident in Britain for less than 12 months, then you can legally drive a car here as long as it is insured and fully roadworthy. You therefore don't need to apply for a provisional licence and take the UK driving test. If on the other hand you are going to be resident in the UK for longer than 12 months or have permanently moved to the UK, then your international driving permit is only valid for 1 year after which you will need to obtain a UK provisional licence and only drive while being supervised by a Full British licence holder of 3 years or more and must display "L" plates.
This means that you can't be legally insured to drive a car on your international driving permit 12 months after your initial arrival in the UK, even if you have been back to your country of origin. You will also not be able to drive a car in the UK on a provisional licence even if that car is insured for you to drive with your international licence.
Your insurance policy can only cover you either as an international foreign licence holder or a provisional learner, not as both, so while your local licence is still valid, you don't need L plates and can practice for the UK driving test using that, but once you apply for your provisional licence, you will need to inform your insurance company and only drive while being supervised. If in doubt, always speak to the insurance company, and get things covered in writing, as in the event of an accident you want to be covered.
No comments:
Post a Comment