Driving

Driving comes up regularly on the Life in the UK Test, and the questions tend to focus on specific numbers and legal requirements rather than general road safety. Here's what you need to know.

Minimum driving age

You must be at least 17 to drive a car or motorcycle on public roads in the UK, and you need a valid driving licence to do so. Mopeds have a lower age limit of 16. Larger vehicles, such as lorries and buses, have their own separate age requirements and tests, which are stricter than the standard car test.

To get a full UK driving licence, you have to pass a driving test made up of two parts: a theory test that checks your knowledge of the Highway Code and hazard awareness, and a practical test that assesses your ability to drive safely on the road.

How long a licence lasts

Once you hold a full licence, it remains valid until you turn 70. After that age, licences are renewed every three years rather than issued indefinitely.

Northern Ireland has an extra rule for new drivers: anyone who has just passed their test must display a red 'R' plate (standing for "restricted driver") on their vehicle for a full year afterwards.

Driving on a licence from another country

If you already hold a driving licence from outside the UK, you're allowed to use it here for up to 12 months after you arrive. To keep driving legally beyond that point, you must apply for a full UK licence. Whether you can convert your existing licence directly, or need to take a UK test from scratch, depends on which country originally issued it — gov.uk has a checker tool for this.

Registering and taxing a vehicle

Anyone living in the UK who owns a car or motorcycle must register it with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). Registered vehicles are subject to an annual vehicle tax. This tax stays with the registration, not the owner — it cannot be transferred or carried over when a vehicle is sold to someone else; the new owner has to tax it themselves.

If a vehicle is going to sit off the road and unused for a while, the owner must notify the DVLA using a Statutory Off Road Notification, usually shortened to SORN. Like the tax itself, a SORN doesn't transfer automatically if the vehicle changes hands — a new declaration is needed.

Insurance

Valid motor insurance is a legal requirement for driving on UK roads, with no exceptions. Driving without insurance is treated as a serious criminal offence, not just a minor infraction, and can lead to significant penalties.

The MOT test

Any vehicle more than three years old must pass an annual roadworthiness inspection known as the MOT test (named after the Ministry of Transport). Driving without a valid MOT certificate once your vehicle qualifies for one is also a criminal offence. You can check tax and MOT status, and book a test, through gov.uk.