How long it would take me to be prepared for a UK driving test?
I'm wondering how long realistically it would take me to be prepared for
a UK driving test. To put into context, I got a US license in 1994, but
I let it lapse (after moving to the UK) and haven't driven for the last
couple of years. I don't intend to own a car, but on a few occasions, I
think it might be useful to hire one. I've driven in the UK quite a few
times in the past (hire cars), and grew up here, so I'm not completely
unfamiliar with the roads. That said, I have only ever driven automatic
transmissions- I'm also quite aware that the test here is quite a bit
more stringent than the one I would have gotten in the US. However, my
general driving skills were OK in the US, and at least in an automatic
seemed OK over here- I've driven in UK cities as well as rural areas and
the motorways. I'm intending to take lessons here obviously, but was
wondering how quickly I could get up to standard. Any rough ideas-
especially from someone who might have been in a similar situation?
After a 10 year gap gap in taking lessons (was quite competant at the
time), I resumed again. Altogether I had 21 hours of lessons this time
(at age 32) plus one practice drive directly before the test. I passed
with only 4 minor marks against me.
I would advise learning/taking test in a stick/manual car rather than an
Auto, as that entitles you to drive both, but if you take lessons and
test in an Auto, you can only drive an Auto without taking a further
test.
As you may have realised manual cars are more common in the UK
(especially among smaller cars), so it will widen your choice when
hiring.