-The International Office

Online Handbook
Parking on and off-campus
Car parking on the campus and at off-campus residences is very limited. If you want to park you'll need a permit and you must apply for one before coming to Bath. Contact the Security Office in advance.
Do not bring a car to the University without a permit to park.
Contacts

 

Online Handbook
Exploring the UK

Driving in the UK

You and your driving licence

EU/EEA licences are valid in the UK.

Licences from Australia, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Falkland Islands, Hong Kong, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland, Zimbabwe:

You can drive a car for 12 months from your arrival in the UK. After 12 months you need a GB licence. Apply for a GB licence using form D1 from a post office or at: www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring

Licences from all other countries

You can drive a car for the first 12 months. After 12 months you can drive only if you have passed a driving test. Before you take the test you must get a ‘provisional' licence. You can apply for a provisional licence and take the driving test 6 months after arriving in the UK. To apply for a provisional licence use form D1 from a post office or visit: www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring

Your Car or motor bike

All cars, scooters and motor bikes in the UK must be registered, taxed, insured and MOT'd (see below).

Registration

The Registration certificate holds all the details of your car. Never buy a second-hand car without one – it's probably stolen.

Road Tax

You must pay road tax every six months or every year. How much depends upon the size of your car and the pollution emitted. It is illegal to drive without tax and it is illegal not to display the tax disc in the window of the car. Apply at the post office or online at: www.vehiclelicence.gov.uk.

Insurance

Your car must be insured with ‘Third Party' insurance: this protects other people in an accident. Other policies protect you against theft and damage. Some offer special deals for students.

M.O.T.

The Ministry of Transport test for cars of 3 years or older. Your car must have a test every 12 months and it must pass. Without an MOT certificate you can't buy road tax.

On the road

Before you drive read the Highway Code (from bookshops).

Car Hire

To hire a car you will need to show a valid Driver's Licence. Students holding a Driving Licence issued in China, Japan or Russia must have an International Driving Licence.