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Legal Requirements
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The
DVLA
(Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) website contains an enormous
amount of information relating to driving in the UK.
This page provides a summary of what you as a driver will
need to do to obtain a UK Driving Licence for the period that you
will be living and working in the UK, as well as essential information
on the documentation required for owning a vehicle. Click here
to visit the "Drivers" section of the DVLA web site.
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Drivers
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Drivers
must comply with British minimum age requirements.
Generally, these are:-
17 years for cars and motorcycles
18 years for medium sized vehicles
21 years for large lorries and buses
UK
Driving Licence - Within your first year in the UK you may
have to take a UK driving test before a full UK licence can be
issued. You may, however, only need to exchange your current licence
within 3 years. The rules vary according to your country of residence
where your current licence was issued.
Our
page UK Driving
Licence provides a summary of the procedures.
In some cases you will be required to take a
UK Driving Test.
Medical Conditions - All existing and new major medical
conditions must be notified to the DVLA using form D1 obtainable
from post offices.
Click here for information on what conditions need to be reported
and how to notify the DVLA.
Section 17 of leaflet D100 ‘What you need to know about
driving licences’ (obtainable from post offices) also
provides information on medical conditions.
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Vehicles
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Click
here to visit the "Vehicles"
section of the DVLA web site
All
cars must have a Vehicle Registration Document, a current Road
Tax disc (Vehicle Licence) and be insured before you can drive
it. If the car is more than 3 years old you will also need an
MOT certificate (certificate of road worthiness).
The V5
Vehicle Registration Document is issued by the DVLA with your
name and address when you register with them as the legal owner
of a vehicle.
The
registration document is also used to advise the DVLA when you
sell your car and they will then re-issue it to the new owner.
Your Road
Tax disc (Vehicle Licence), which must be displayed on your
windscreen, is usually obtained from post offices and can be paid
for a 6 month or 12 month period. A valid insurance certificate
and MOT certificate (if the car is over 3 years old) must be presented
with your payment. Click here
to find out the current road tax rates (Vehicle Excise Duty).
The
DVLA will send you a renewal form when your road tax is due specifying
the tax applicable for your car. To renew your road tax at a post
office you will need to present this tax renewal form with the
payment (cheque or cash), a current motor insurance certificate
and an MOT certificate (if necessary).
Cars
over 3 years old must also be checked annually for roadworthiness,
commonly known as the MOT test.
Most garages carry out these extensive tests and if they can be
timed to coincide with a service interval any potential problems
can be fixed to ensure a pass certificate is issued.
Are
you driving legally ?
Driving without a valid Driving Licence, Vehicle
Licence (Road Tax Disc), a valid MOT Certificate for vehicles
more than 3 years old, or Motor Insurance is illegal.
3.6.1 - v2.0
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