The Law and Driving
Before you drive in the UK you must be aware of what you need to drive and what legal documents you need for your car.
If you buy a vehicle, you must register it with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).
To drive legal in the UK you must:
- Be sure your car is safe to drive on the roads and has been tested.
- Drive on the left side of the road.
- Always wear a seat belt. All drivers and passengers, including those in the back seat, must wear a seat belt.
- Drive carefully and keep to the speed limit.
- You must not drive while using a hand-held mobile phone.
According to the law, you must have the following documents before you drive:
- Driving licence that is valid in the UK.
- Insurance cover for each driver.
- MOT test certificate for the vehicle from an approved MOT garage.
- Road tax disc for your car. Tax discs are available from post offices or online. You will need to show your insurance certificate and MOT certificate in order to get a tax disc. When you get your tax disc, you must put this on the front window screen of all vehicles you drive. www.taxdisc.direct.gov.uk/EvlPortalApp
If a police officer asks you to produce any of these documents, you must do so at the time he asks or take them to a police station within 7 days. This is the law.
The law sets out heavy legal penalties if you drink and drive:
- You must not drive if you have been drinking alcohol or taking drugs – including some drugs that your doctor gives you.
- If a court of law finds you guilty of driving a vehicle under the influence of alcohol, you will be banned from driving for a minimum of 12 months.
- You could also go to prison for 6 months, be fined up to £5,000, lose your job and have to pay much higher car insurance costs.