Converting a brazilian licence to UK

[AleCoco]

Hi, I am quite new in the UK, and sorry if this sound a bit basic but here it goes: I’ve been riding under my full brazilian bike and car license valid until 2011. Apparently I can only do it for a year after first entering the UK, which is due next January.

Looking at the DirectGov website, I was a bit confused on how to obtain a UK license. Does anyone know if it is possible to convert the license, or if I would have to apply as if it was my first license?

Do I have to go though bike (and car) training? If so, does anyone have a suggestion of where in South London?

Cheers
AleCoco

[mole]

If Brazil is on their list, you just exchange it…sending it with a form (don’t know which one, the post office will tell you) and a fee.

If it’s not on their list, you’ll have to redo your test.

I did my DAS with http://www.aceridertraining.co.uk/
They were fantasic, really good people…you can also pay a bit more and do it on a Harley if you fancied…though wouldn’t fancy doing a u-turn on one, lol!

[mole]

Edited…I misunderstood…proper post below.

[mole]

Hang on…this is on another bit…

Residents

If you are the holder of an ordinary driving licence (car, moped, motorcycle entitlement) and provided your licence remains valid, you can drive any category of small vehicle shown on your licence for up to 12 months from the time you became resident. To ensure continuous driving entitlement a provisional GB licence must have been obtained and a driving test(s) passed before the 12-month period elapses. If you obtain a provisional licence during this period, you are not subject to provisional licence conditions eg displaying ‘L’ plates or being supervised by a qualified driver or being precluded from motorways.

However, if you do not pass a test within the 12-month concessionary period you will not be allowed to drive as a full licence holder and provisional licence conditions will apply. If you do not apply for a provisional licence within the first 12 months you must stop driving and obtain a British provisional licence with a view to passing a driving test. Provisional licence conditions will then apply.

If you are the holder of a vocational licence (minibus, bus, lorry entitlement) and a new resident, you must not drive large vehicles until you have passed the relevant GB driving test. Driving test candidates are required to pass a motor car (category B) test first before applying for provisional entitlement for larger vehicles.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensing/DrivingInGbOnAForeignLicence/DG_4022561

Hope this all helps.

[Giuliano]

If your 12 months is up in January you have a lot of hoops to jump through quickly. Get some trianing - Elite in Wimbledon have a good reputation.

To get a bike license -

You need to apply for a provisional license - 2-3 weeks - before you can do anything.

You need a CBT - that can be done almost any weekend once you have a provisional license - taken on a 125 - you can hire a bike through most trainers.
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Now you can ride a 125.
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You need to take the theory and hazard awareness test - seperate tests for car and bike - booking time three to four weeks - almost certainly you will need to spend the time practising using one of the £10 DVDs you can buy in Tesco and Woolworths.

Once you have the provisional license, the CBT and the theory certificate you can book a practical test - another three or four week wait. Then you have your full license, but restricted in hp for two years unless you took a DAS test.

To get a car license it is exactly the same but you don’t have to do the CBT stage and there are separate theory and practical tests.

[AleCoco]

Thanks a lot. The system is very different from home. I had read the descriptions before, but was confused between provisional, limitations etc. I will apply for the provisional license asap. Cheers. AleCoco