Travelling in the UK

To drive in the UK there are certain requirements you must follow. You must have a valid driving license and you must inform the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) if you change your address or name.

If you have a non-European driving license then you are able to drive with it for up to 12 months from the date you became resident in the country. To prevent losing the ability to drive in the UK a provisional license must be obtained and a driving test passed before the 12 months is up.

If you are the holder of a license from a country where it has been elected for license exchange then you must exchange it for a British one.

Cars and motorcycles must pass an annual MOT test to remain on the road. Usually this applies three years after the car was registered and then every year after that.

Please note that driving a vehicle without an MOT may invalidate your insurance.

The exception to this is you can drive to prearranged test or appointment or to a garage where repairs for the test are being carried out.
As a car driver according to the DVLA you are legally required to ensure your car is roadworthy and safe.

In order to drive a car on the road you must have a valid insurance policy. This must be at least third party and must be an adequate cover. The three types of insurance are: third party, third party fire and theft and comprehensive insurance. Comprehensive is the most expensive but provides you with the most overall cover, as well as covering other people and their vehicle it also covers your own (up to the market value) and any damage or injury that you sustain.

It is illegal to drive without insurance on your vehicle and the police now have the ability to detect uninsured drivers on roadside cameras and these vehicles can be confiscated, taken away and crushed.

Please also be aware that even if an accident was not your fault you may still be held responsible by the insurance company.

These are issued for motor vehicles on the road where the vehicle is described (make, model etc.) and the details of the registered keeper. You must inform the DVLA if you buy or sell a vehicle or if you change your name or address.

All motor vehicles must display a valid Vehicle Exercise Duty also known as a tax disk.

You must be able to produce your driving license and counterpart, valid insurance certificate and a valid MOT certificate when requested to by a police officer. If you fail to do this you will be required to take them to a police station within seven days.

If you are a learner you must have a valid provisional license, be supervised by someone who is at least 21 years old and who holds a full license (EC/EEA license) for the type of car you are learning in.

When learning to drive in England you must display red L plates. These plates should be removed or covered when the vehicle is not being driven by a learner.

As part of the driving test you may be required to take a theory test and then a practical test for the type of vehicle you are learning in.

For more information please see government information .

To keep up to date with the traffic conditions please see the Highway Agency. The roads in the UK are of high quality and are maintained regularly.

Please see transport direct for route planning on a number of public transport networks.

Buses are very popular in the UK and in Southampton the Unilink provides a service from the two main train stations (Airport Parkway and Southampton Central). The bus route can take you from the train stations to the University and the Southampton General Hospital as well as a number of other places.

Southampton has a vast number of train connections to many areas of the country. For more information please see national rail enquiries for train planning services.
Taxis are another form of transport in Southampton with companies such as Radio Taxis, West Quay cars and Streamline Taxis being popular.