Whereas the COVID-19 pandemic rages on, the UK pushes out the BNO (British Nationwide Abroad) visa and extends the LOTR (Go away Outdoors the Guidelines). Thus, numerous Hongkongers determined to leap the gun and moved to the UK previous to the reopening of borders. In keeping with the Census and Statistics Division, the online outflow of individuals alone for final 12 months was 39,800 individuals. It is no shock that this broke the report as the best variety of individuals leaving Hong Kong. Britain’s House Workplace additionally recorded 34,300 BNO visa functions within the first season of 2021. As soon as Hong Kong reopens its borders, this emigration pattern will solely proceed.
In comparison with right here, the huge expanses of land within the West signifies that you may be in hassle and not using a automobile. That is why getting a driver’s license is important to keep away from turning into a chicken with out wings abroad.
On this collection of INO articles, we’ll discover 4 of the most well-liked emigration locations amongst HongKongers: the UK, Canada, Australia, and Taiwan. We’ll make clear the regularly requested questions, together with the way to alternate your international driving license, get a license within the UK, purchase automobile insurance coverage, and the way to switch your NCD/NCB.
1. Exchanging your international driving license
Do you know? There is a driver’s license alternate settlement between the UK and Hong Kong. So long as you will have your Hong Kong license, you do not want a world driving license. Inside 1 12 months of your entry into the UK, you may legally traverse the roads there. Nonetheless, previous that timeframe, you will have to undergo the next course of:
You’re eligible for exchanging your driving license if you happen to…
- Are a UK resident (contains holders of a Residence Visa)
- Have a purposeful deal with within the UK
- Have a Hong Kong driver’s license
- Have lived within the UK for no less than 185 days
The appliance course of for exchanging your driving license
- Signal into and register on the DVLA (Driver and Car Licensing Company) web site. Request for a “D1 utility pack” to be mailed to you.
- After receiving the shape (included within the pack), fill in your private data, similar to your BNO passport quantity, and so forth. Subsequent, mail this again together with all of the required paperwork, together with:
- GBP £43 for the license alternate + {a photograph}
- Authentic copy of your Hong Kong driver’s license, Hong Kong’s Certificates of Driving License Particulars, or the TD320 type (to show that you’ve got obtained your driver’s license in Hong Kong and the size of time/years you’ve got had your license. That is greatest utilized for earlier than you depart for England. After you’ve got accomplished your type, mail this to the Transport Division collectively along with your automobile license copy and a HKD $160 cheque. This course of ought to take round 10 working days.)
- BRP (Biometric Residence Allow)
- Inside 3 weeks, you’ll obtain your UK driver’s license. That stated, your Hong Kong license is not going to be returned to you. Its processing time may take even longer due to the intense COVID-19 pandemic scenario.
Observe that the UK continues to be within the Brexit transition interval, so adjustments may be made on quick discover to the present driving license alternate coverage.
Can the Hong Kong probationary license be exchanged for a provisional driving license within the UK?
Sure, the appliance course of is identical as above.
2. Getting a driving license within the UK
We might suggest acquiring your license in Hong Kong if you happen to’re planning to maneuver to the UK however do not have already got one. That is as a result of exchanging it for a British one is far simpler. The UK, together with South Africa, Singapore, Japan, and extra, are infamous as nations which might be probably the most tough to get your license in. For instance, the cross price for the driving take a look at has remained at 40% within the UK for years. Nonetheless, if you happen to’re prepared for the problem, let’s check out the way to get your license within the UK!
You’re eligible for a UK driver’s license if you’re…
- A UK resident (contains holders of a Residence Visa)
- No less than 15 years and 9 months outdated
- Capable of learn street indicators 20 meters away
- Already dwelling within the UK for no less than 185 days inside the previous 12 months
The appliance course of for getting a driving license within the UK
- Head to the DVLA web site to register for studying the way to drive. The payment is GBP £34.
- A few week later, you’ll obtain a bodily copy of the registration type. Full this kind and alongside along with your BRP, mail these again to the DVLA.
- Almost one week later, you’ll obtain a provisional license.
Idea take a look at
- A number of-choice questions – it’s essential to rating accurately on 43 out of fifty questions, that are based mostly on fundamental driving information, similar to driving guidelines and eventualities.
- Hazard notion take a look at – watch 14 simulated driving video clips. Level and click on along with your mouse the areas of attainable hazards. You possibly can rating as much as 5 factors with every merchandise; the passing rating is 45 factors. Needless to say the quicker you reply and the extra correct you’re, the upper the rating.
Driving classes
- Among the hottest driving colleges within the UK embrace BSM, AA, Crimson, and extra. On common, an aspiring driver takes 40 hours’ price of driving classes – handbook driving classes price on common GBP £24 per hour, whereas automated driving classes are round GBP £27-28 per hour.
Driving take a look at
- Scoring standards: There should not be any Harmful Faults or Critical Faults. As for Minor Driving Faults, don’t go over the utmost of 15 faults.
- The take a look at takes 70 minutes and the gadgets are as follows:
- Eyesight take a look at. Learn the license plate quantity from 20 meters away; if you happen to misinterpret it, you can be disqualified.
- ‘Present me, inform me’ questions. The examiner will choose 2 out of 19 questions, primarily to check your information on a automobile’s construction and its operate. For instance, the way to test the gas stage. A mistaken reply right here is barely considered a Minor Driving Fault.
- 40-minute driving. That is divided into two elements, 20 minutes every. The primary is to comply with the GPS’ directions to succeed in your vacation spot. Having stated that, there are additionally a fifth of candidates who do not possess a GPS. Of their case, they have to learn the street indicators to succeed in the vacation spot on their very own. Although driving examiners would often have one on the day to supply too. The second half contains following your examiner’s directions to succeed in the vacation spot.
- Parking. Carry out one of many following manoeuvres: parallel parking (S place), bay parking (L place), and pull up and reverse.
3. Shopping for automobile insurance coverage within the UK
British automobile insurance coverage may be costly or cost-effective. The premiums vary from tens of kilos to lots of of kilos a 12 months. Plenty of emigrated HongKongers claimed that purchasing native automobile insurance coverage whenever you already maintain a British license is cheaper than if you’re holding a license issued elsewhere.
Thus, it is best to instantly alternate your driving license after dwelling within the UK for 185 days. You may additionally obtain the added comfort of utilizing your new native license rather than your proof of deal with and identification. After which, you may go forward and safe a long-term automobile insurance coverage plan.
As well as, automobile insurance coverage insurance policies within the UK are insured to comply with individuals, not automobiles. Solely the named driver can be insured. Different individuals driving the identical automobile is not going to be insured. It is vital to notice that the UK has stricter street security guidelines than Hong Kong, and the penalties and fines are additionally greater.
4. Transfering your NCD/NCB to the UK
Ask your insurance coverage firm in Hong Kong to problem a No Accident Letter, stating how lengthy you’ve got not had an accident and declare compensation. Relying in your insurer, it could cost you a payment of HKD $500. Current the certificates to a neighborhood insurance coverage firm whenever you arrive within the UK. In fact, whether or not British insurers are prepared to just accept this certificates, or whether or not they are going to deduct sure NCDs are as much as the corporate’s practices.
Contact INO to your insurance coverage options
Apart from automobile insurance coverage, are you interested by studying extra about different kinds of insurance coverage insurance policies (medical, accident, and life insurance coverage) for emigration? Take a look at considered one of our earlier articles on an identical subject: Is my insurance coverage nonetheless legitimate after migrating to a different nation?
INO has over 20 years of expertise within the automobile insurance coverage trade in Hong Kong. Our mother or father firm, Pacific Prime, additionally supplies automobile insurance coverage (third get together and complete), in addition to complete medical insurance coverage within the UK!
Contact our staff of insurance coverage advisors immediately for a free UK automobile insurance coverage plan comparisons and quotations!
