Driving in the UK
Before you can drive in the UK you must have a valid licence and insurance cover. The car must also be registered and taxed and if it is over three years old, it must have a MOT certificate (you need to go to your nearest garage to obtain one). More detailed information on these requirements can be found in the guidance note produced by UKCISA: the UK Council for International Student Affairs.
Insurance cover for your car
You must have insurance to drive a car in the UK. There are three types of insurance cover available in the UK, comprehensive, Third Party, Fire & Theft or just Third Party. The compulsory Third Party insurance does not cover loss or damage to your own car caused by unknown or uninsured persons. Comprehensive insurance does, but it can be very expensive.
Taxing a car in the UK
All cars need a road tax licence before you can drive in the UK. Road Tax discs must be displayed at all times on the car windscreen and can be purchased at main Post Offices. The cost is £180 for 12 months, but less if your engine size is under 1549cc or with low CO2 emissions.
If you are a European student who has brought your car with you to the UK, providing that you are in the UK purely to study, you will not have to tax your car. There is a European Court of Justice directive of 28 March 1983 Article 5 1b which confirms this.
MOT (Ministry of Transport test)
All cars over three years old must be tested annually for roadworthiness (the test is known as the MOT and can be carried out by most garages.
Registering a car in the UK
If a car which has been registered abroad (including other EU countries) is used for more than six months in the UK, it should be registered at the DVLA. Check with them for up-to-date legislation (www.dvla.gov.uk). You will probably be asked to send:
- The car logbook
- UK insurance certificate
- MOT certificate (if car more than 3 years old)
- Completed VAT form 414 (the DVLA Office can supply this) if you come from within the EU
- Customs Form (the DVLA can supply this) if you come from outside the EU
Parking permits
If you have a car which you park on the road outside your house, you may need a resident’s parking permit to do so. You can find out if you need a permit for your street on the local council website for Treforest or Cardiff.
If you live in Treforest a permit is free but you must make an application to the council to get one.
You can get an application form by ringing 01443 424010 or emailing parkingpermits@rhondda-cynon-taff.gov.uk and asking them to send you one (make sure you give them your address).
If you live in Cardiff there is a charge of £5 for a permit and you must produce proof that you are living at the address and have a legal connection with your vehicle registration number in order to get one. The application form and list of documents you need to provide as proof can be found on the council website above. Applications can be made by post or by going in person to the County Hall, Atlantic Wharf, Cardiff Bay.
Failure to have a permit can lead to a £60 fine so it is very important that you get one. Until your permit arrives, put a visible note in your car stating: “I live at number…. and I have made a parking permit application” this should hopefully stop you getting a ticket until your permit arrives.
EEA students
If you have a full driving licence issued in an EEA country there is no need to change it for a UK licence, provided it remains valid.
International students from outside the EEA
During the first year of your stay in the UK you can drive with a valid driving licence from your own country or an International Driving Permit but after one year you must take out a Provisional UK Licence and put 'L’ plates on your car. You must then arrange to sit a full UK Driving Test. Until you pass your test, a person who holds a full UK driving Licence must sit at your side whenever you are driving and you cannot drive on a motorway (M1, M2, M3, M4 etc.).
Application forms for a driving licence and driving test can be obtained from any UK Post Office.
If your driving licence has been issued by any of the following countries, you can exchange it for a UK licence without having to take a UK driving test: Australia, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Falkland Islands, Faroe Islands, Gibraltar, Hong Kong, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland and Zimbabwe. Further information can be obtained from the DVLA website.
The Highway Code sets out the rules for driving in the UK. If you take a driving test in the UK you will be asked questions about these rules. If you have an international driving licence you should review this code before driving in the UK.
Further information for drivers including information on car breakdowns and finding your way can be accessed on the websites of the two main British Motoring Organisations the RAC and The AA.
