Britsh/UK Driving License Info

[Steve]

Just discovered the UK Dept. of Vehicle and Licensing Agency.

http://www.dvla.gov.uk/welcome.htm

For what it's worth a Provisional License in the UK is £38.00 plus and
additional £9.00 to convert Provisional to full for a total cost of
£47.00 or at an exchange rate of 1.8 = US$84.60. (actuall rate = 1.789)

You can't imagine the outrage that would occur if a license cost that
much in the USA.

For those interest or those with far too much time on their hands-

The UK Driving Standard Agency which administers the written and
driving tests-

http://www.dsa.gov.uk/

To pass the written test you need at least 44 out of 75 (59%).

Both sites, I believe, include sample written test. Just took one of
the sample tests; scored 24, failed. (test had 35 questions but some
questions had multiple answers as in pick two from the list)

Fees for actually taking the test are as follows-

Written Test-
Standard fee for Car, Motorcycle, and Vocational = £20.50 (US$36.00)
Potential / Approved Driving Instructor (not sure what this is) 
£50.00 (US$90.00)
 
Practical Test - Weekdays
Car = £39.00 (US$70.20)
Motorcycle = £48.00 (US$86.40)

Practical Test - Saturday and Weekday Evenings
Car Test = £48.00 (US$86.40)
Motorcycle = £57.00 (US$102.60)

Driving lessons- (Confidence School of Motoring)

Beginner drivers will need approximately 24 x 2 hour lessons
(48 hours) to reach the required standard to take the driving test.

Cost 48 hours @ £26 per hour = £1248 

Most young drivers take the additional 'Pass Plus' which includes
motorway training and helps reduce insurance rates. ...for an
additional fee of course.

That's nearly $200 just to get the license, plus the additional $800
to $1200 for lessons. 

Seriously, if it cost that much in the USA, we would have rioting in
the streets in outraged protest.


Just for fun.

bboy_mn