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#1 |
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Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 478
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A bit of background:
I swapped my Canadian licence for a UK licence a little over a year ago. Because I wasn't able to prove that I had taken my test (way back in 1986) on a manual and had been driving one incident-free for 23 years since, I've been stuck drivng an auto (full UK licence with restriction code 7 ![]() Anyhow, my question: Until I get around to taking the manual test, under what circumstances am I allowed to drive a manual for the purpose of "practicing"? For example, am I OK if my wife (who holds a manual licence) is in the car with me? (I don't actually need practice, but it'd be handy if I could drive her car when we're out) I've tried ringing the DVLA who didn't have an answer, and they've tried to pass me off to the DSA, but they're not open on the weekend. As an aside- The whole concept of having to test on a manual seems a little pointless: If you're unable to drive a manual, then surely by default you're not going to get very far down the road. Also they've let me keep my motorcycle entitlement, so why not recognise that I understand how to operate a clutch and gearbox? ![]()
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#2 |
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Your auto licence should give you provisional entitlement to drive a manual in which case, as long as you have a suitably qualified accompanying driver (ie, your wife has held her licence for more than 3 years and is over 21) AND you display L plates, then you will be ok.
Edit... AND you inform the insurance company that you are driving with a provisional licence. |
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#3 |
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Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Chester, UK
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Not 100% on this, but as far as I know your automatic licence acts as a provisional manual licence, so if you displayed L-plates and have someone in the car who's 21 or older with a manual licence held for 3 years or more you'll be fine.
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#4 |
Captain Awesome
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I think your full auto license is also your provisional manual license, so you must adhere to the restrictions of a learner driver if you are driving a manual, ie:
L plates front and rear Supervised by someone over 21 who has held a full manual license for 3+ yrs Not allowed to drive on the motorway unless they've changed the L regs lately?
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#5 |
Captain Awesome
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That'll teach me to start replying before going and researching...
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#6 |
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Oh yeah, before you take a manual test, get some lessons.
Being able to drive without incident (even with 23 years experience) and being able to pass the test, are two very different things. Woz Approved Driving Instructor who sees this kind of thing all the time. Last edited by Woz; 08-05-10 at 02:16 PM. |
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#7 |
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Yep, confirming the above.
Just make sure you let your insurance know that you are driving that car on a provisional licence. |
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#8 |
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Join Date: Mar 2009
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Thanks guys. Any idea if I'd have to notify the insurance company if the vehicle is already insured in my name (my wife is the named driver on the car)? I can just imagine confusing them and making things worse...
Odd about no motorway -the one place you'd be doing the least amount of shifting gears ![]() I suppose I should just make time to take the test and avoid the hassle.
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- K9 SV650S: Hel brake lines, carbon end can - SZR660: The project... - K5 SV650S: K7 GSXR750 front end, ZX6RR shock, GB Moto rearsets, Hel brake lines, Renthal risers, Tuono bars, V-Rod headlamp, "JMV" belly pan ~SOLD~ (wonder where it is now) |
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#9 | |
Captain Awesome
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I thought Ins companies generally require you to have a license to drive the category of vehicle you're insuring...
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Official "Dumbass of the Year" 2011 (•_•) ( •_•)>⌐■-■ (⌐■_■) Deal with it... |
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#10 | |
Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 478
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Whaddya think would happen if I double-clutched and heel-toed my way through the exam? ![]()
__________________
- K9 SV650S: Hel brake lines, carbon end can - SZR660: The project... - K5 SV650S: K7 GSXR750 front end, ZX6RR shock, GB Moto rearsets, Hel brake lines, Renthal risers, Tuono bars, V-Rod headlamp, "JMV" belly pan ~SOLD~ (wonder where it is now) |
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