Driving in England - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

**MolsonGirl** · 03-28-2004, 06:17 PM

Hey Guys... Well I leave for England In just over a month now and I'm wondering a couple things...

1) I have my Full Canadian Drivers Licence.. can i drive over there? I'm 22 but I won't need to rent a car.. I'll be using my cousins... if I'm allowed

2) I actually forget my other points but the car one was the main question so no worries

TUI · 03-28-2004, 07:09 PM

you shouldnt have any problems at all

**MolsonGirl** · 03-28-2004, 07:14 PM

really? Like I can just drive around with another country's Drivers Licence,,, even though they drive on the wrong side of the road

TUI · 03-28-2004, 07:17 PM

yep. I remember when I first did, god have mercy it was a trip!

driving tip- never turn right on a red!

**Canadian Dude** · 03-28-2004, 07:17 PM

Yes you can drive in England, you just need one of these Internation dirving permits. its good in tons of countries and is a peice of cake to get! I used mine in OZ, and I was glad I had it! Watch though, you will drift to the left when you drive on the other side of the road!!!

**MolsonGirl** · 03-28-2004, 07:33 PM

How do I get one of these aforementioned Int.DP's?

**ED Larry** · 03-28-2004, 07:34 PM

I personnally don't think I could do it... they drive on the wrong side of the road.... i would get in an accident for sure. But if you think you can doi it, i say got for it.

when i was in Alcapulco last year as bunch of us rented jeeps and my english buddy and i were the only ones with licence on us so we had to drive... he drove all day on the opposite side he's use to and the jeep was standard so he had to shift with the different hand... i don't know who he did it. I don't think I could do it....

**Canadian Dude** · 03-28-2004, 07:34 PM

Go to your local CAA, they have them, cost a few bucks maybe like 15$, sign a form and your good...at the bottom of that link i posted there are locations of CAA offfices

**MolsonGirl** · 03-28-2004, 07:43 PM

Beauty! thanks so much.

**LiveFreeorDie** · 03-28-2004, 08:19 PM

The problem with driving in the U.K is all the damn roundabouts. If you just had to drive normal city grids....wouldn't be too bad. However, every intersection is a roundabout - trying to figure out how to negotiate those are beyond me (of course I am mildly dyslexic). To all those who have the guts to do it....Good Luck!!

**Ozpacka** · 03-29-2004, 12:27 AM

Doesnt the good ol USofA have roundabouts?

Rule of thumb, give way to the right!, at least thats how we do it ozzy style.

But yeah, $15 here in oz too for an internation Drivers permit. They just whip it up on the spot.

**worldwidemike** · 03-29-2004, 03:29 AM

I thought the whole International Drivers License was a scam, really. Maybe one of our UK members (Posie?) could call their local "magistrates" or "constabulary" (gotta love those British words!) and doublecheck if it is actually necessary. I real long ago that it really wasn't, and the whole thing was a way to make people feel less worried and score some profit.

I've driven (mopeds, mind you) in a handful of countries, and automobiles in a couple, and never had an international drivers license. I'd show them my US one and passport, if asked (which I've never been).

So, I'd seriously look into whether it is really necessary before plunking $15 of beer money, er travel money, down on one...!

worldwidemike

**LiveFreeorDie** · 03-29-2004, 05:15 AM

I think I remember reading somewhere that you are able to drive in the U.K. on your home country's license for a certain period of time, say a month or a couple of months. If you plan on staying in country longer than that, you need to go through the UK licensing process. I remember the point of the article was how difficult it was to pass the U.K. driving test because they have all of these arcane rules, so most foreigners who move there usually never bother and just continue to drive illegally.

Ozpacka - yes we have roundabouts, but we travel counter-clockwise around ours on the right hand side........so for me, trying to stay to the left, and drive the opposite way around, and exit the roundabout on the opposite side is too much for my brain to handle