Whether you’re in the UK as a visitor or have made the move here permanently, driving in the UK can be intimidating for Americans. Roads are small and here you are on the wrong side of the car and road! It can be tough to get started. This guide will get you ready to hit the not-so-open UK roads.
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Driving Alternatives
First of all, don’t assume that you need a car to get around. If you’re visiting or living in London or another large city, you absolutely do not need a car. In fact, driving in London is one adventure I never plan to have. I live in a smaller town in West Sussex where having a car is convenient and even necessary for some outings. However, I still drive much, much less than I ever did in the US. I’m extremely thankful for the trains and buses that help me get around. Driving in the UK is challenging for Americans and may not be worth the trouble if you’re only here for a short visit.
Not having a car is also a good way to save money if you’ve moved to the UK.
Driver’s License Requirements for Visitors
If you are planning to drive as a visitor in the UK, then the driver’s license issued by your US state will be enough to rent a car and get going. If you’ve moved to the UK, you will eventually need to apply for a UK license. See my guide to that process further down.
🚘 I recommend and use Discover Cars for finding the best rates and convenient pick up points for rental cars in the UK. Don’t miss my post on renting a car in the UK for a step-by-step guide
The Hardest Part of Driving on the Left
When driving in the UK your first time, take it slow, keep left, and always yield to the traffic on your right when entering a roundabout. This makes it sound straightforward, but expect it to take some adjusting.
I found that the hardest part of driving in the UK wasn’t driving on the left side of the road. Instead, it was being sat on the right side of the car. All of my built-in perception of how much room I have on each side of the car was based on sitting in an American vehicle. Suddenly I was sitting on the opposite side of the car and needing to adjust for spacing completely differently.
Making the mental adjustment will take time, but even a visitor to the UK will start feeling more comfortable with a little practice. Practice will, of course, be less stressful if you’re able to avoid the tiniest roads.
Tiny Roads in the UK
In case getting used to where you’re sitting in the car wasn’t enough, it’s important to remember that many roads in the UK were not designed for modern cars. You will not find many straight line freeways like in the US, and you will need to drive in much narrower lanes when you head out to the country.
After our road trip out to Cornwall, I began to joke that a dashed line down the middle of the road was truly a luxury. It is common to find roads that would be one-way only in the US used in the UK for two-way traffic.
The Different Road Types
In general, driving on an “M” road such as the M25 outside London will be similar to freeway driving in the US. Keep in mind that the right lane is now the fast lane as you enter and exit from the left. Other than that, these roads will likely be the most familiar to American visitors.
The larger country highways are often “A” roads. These are major roads connecting cities across a region. They will be narrower than M-roads, have speed limit variations as you enter and leave towns, and will be broken up by roundabouts more often. However, they are still likely to be multi-lane in each direction and have lane widths that don’t feel too narrow.
The toughest roads for American drivers to cope with are “B” and “C” roads. These are the small country roads between towns. Small is probably an understatement. I’ve been on roads that I’d be more likely to call a hiking trail a few times. I’m talking able to easily touch the hedges at the roadside from either side of the car (and this was still for two-way traffic!) Apple Maps and Google Maps absolutely do not avoid the smallest of these roads. Take care when relying on any type of GPS to reach your destination.
How to Drive in a Narrow Spot
Navigating in narrow lanes often means stopping at a wide space or behind a parked car to allow an oncoming car to pass. In the narrowest of roads, one vehicle will have to reverse to where there is enough space for two cars passing. This can be nerve-wracking when you are new to it, but keeping a calm head is the best way to figure out your options. If you’re on a short visit and reading this gives you heart palpitations, then consider sticking to trains and buses or hiring a driver for country excursions.
Space for Luggage in UK Cars
Considering all of these narrow roads, it should come as no surprise that most cars in the UK are smaller than those in the US. The largest you typically encounter are similar to a mid-size SUV in the US. For context, I’ve thinking the size of a Nissan Rogue. I’m pretty happy with our smaller hatchback for our road trip family of 3 plus dog.
If you’re planning your own road trip, consider the space you will have available for luggage. This is not the time to assume having your own car gives you space for lots of large suitcases. It’s also not a great idea to rent the economy-size vehicle if you have 4 adults plus luggage to carry along.
One final note for rental cars specifically: you can rent an automatic car here, but it will cost more than renting a manual. Trust your own judgment and driving ability, but I personally would rather have one less thing to stress over when driving somewhere new. I would always just pay extra for the automatic.
UK Service Stations
When you’re driving on an M-road, you will see plenty of signs for lay-bys and for services. A lay-by is a very simple stretch where you can pull off the main road. There’s typically not much there beyond maybe a bin to toss your trash, but they can be handy when you just need to stop for a few minutes.
Service stops in the UK are actually pretty great. They often have underpasses so that service shops on both sides of the freeway are easily accessible. It’s also usually a collection of petrol stations, quick stop restaurants like Starbucks, and small shops. Many are even nicer, with small groceries, picnic and play areas, and walking trails for dog owners.
On our trip to and from Cornwall, we stopped at Teals on the A303. In addition to a well-stocked farm shop, there is a restaurant and an open field that was perfect for stretching our legs and giving our dog a run around.
Service stations like this featuring local produce are dotted across the country. Tebay in the Lake District is even the focus of a Channel 4 television show that highlights the farmers, food producers and crafters whose work is sold at Tebay Service Station.
Petrol / Gasoline Prices
A quick note that petrol in the UK is sold by the litre rather than the gallon. Prices are rising drastically here just as they are in the US. This is all the more reason to carefully consider how much you need to drive while here and opt for the smallest car that makes sense for your needs.
Applying for a UK Driver’s License
When you move to the UK as an American, you can initially drive on your US license. Your US license is valid for driving in the UK during your first 12 months in country only. I bought a car, set up insurance, and began driving while only having my California driver’s license. To get a UK license, though, requires a new application the same as if I were a brand new driver.
When to Apply
To be eligible for a UK provisional license, you must have legally lived in the UK for at least 185 days total in the past 12 months. This means that you’ll want to apply pretty quickly after reaching 185 days in country to ensure you can obtain a UK license before your US license becomes invalid.
How to Apply
To apply for a provisional license, you will go through the DVLA. You will have to send off your residence permit with the application. It’s a good idea to make a copy of your residence permit back and front before sending it off as backlogs can make the wait time to get your document back several weeks. It’s also a good idea to be mindful of any planned travel out of the country for the same reason. I’ve heard of travellers returning to the UK with just the photocopy of their permit, but don’t have any first hand experience of this working or not.
Theory Exam
Once you have a provisional license in hand, you still need to book a theory exam. The theory exam consists of 50 multiple choice questions, of which you must answer at least 43 correctly to pass.
Practical Exam / Driving Test
Once you’ve passed the theory exam, you will then need to book and pass a driving test. This is a hands-on test with an evaluator riding along with you. It is actually very common for applicants to fail this test. This is even true for experienced drivers back in the US.
There are numerous YouTube videos showing common skills to be tested and road hazards to watch out for. You can also book a few hours of lessons with a driving instructor in the area where you will test. This will give you confidence in the spots where you’re likely to be tested. It will also give you practice with someone who can point out faults you may not be aware of.
While needing to pass multiple exams to obtain a UK driver’s license is a lot of work, I do appreciate the strong emphasis on good driving here. Unlike the US, roads here are often challenging and pedestrians and cyclists are plentiful. A little more training to ensure safety for everyone can’t hurt.
Driving in the UK can be scary for Americans. However, there are many beautiful places here that are difficult to impossible to visit without the benefit of a car. Take your time (and take a deep breath) and I’m sure you’ll be hitting the roundabouts like a pro before you know it!
