GETTING YOUR BRITISH DRIVERS LICENSE

If you have any intention of staying in the UK for longer than one year then you might as well get your British drivers license as soon as you can after you've arrived.  Getting you British drivers license is a relatively simple process because the South African drivers license is acceptable for direct conversion to a Brtish drivers license.  You will be allowed to drive using your South African drivers license for the first 12 months in the UK.  After 12 months you will have to stop driving until you have converted your license.  For some reason you have 5 years in which you can do this.

In the UK all motor vehicle and driver licensing is controlled by the DVLA - Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency.  Go to their website, find the office nearest to you and take the following along;

• passport
• proof of address
• South African drivers license
• 1 x passport size photograph
• £50

Once there you can complete the necessary forms.  Be aware however that you will have to forfeit your South African drivers license and you will have to leave your passport at the DVLA.  They do return it, but suggest you allow them one month.  I had mine back in under two weeks.

The card drivers license that you will be issued with is a handy thing to have.  It has both your photo and address on it so can be used as proof of identity in most circumstances.

You will also be issued with a paper version.  This is best kept in your personal files.  It will be needed for changes of address.  It is illegal not to register a change of address with the DVLA and as soon as you do you will be issued with a new card license with the new address.  Don't worry this is a free service.