My boyfriend Jarl and I were renting (or “hiring” as the English say) a car to move from the temporary flat we had been living in for the last couple of months since arriving in London, across the city to a new flat.
Since moving to London, I had almost stepped out in front of oncoming cars too many times when crossing the street, forgetting to look left. Walking down the sidewalks and through the tube tunnels I was struggling to adjust my instincts and stay to the left. Trying to change all my deeply engraved driving instincts to the reverse side, like shifting gears with my left hand, was more than I was interested in only six weeks after arriving in England.
“You drive,” I said.
Since moving to London, I had almost stepped out in front of oncoming cars too many times when crossing the street, forgetting to look left.
There was a moment where Jarl and I debated getting the insurance. I emphasized how all the driving was going to be on the leftside of the road and we decided that insurance would be worth it.
Turning out of the parking lot, the narrow road went between the curb and cement islands that are put in the middle of the road and used to herd pedestrians, like cattle, across the streets. These cement crossing islands force people to only cross the road at the striped “zebra crossing” by putting up wrought iron fencing blocking the rest of the sidewalk from being able to be crossed. As we rounded the next curve between the “herding” cement islands I heard it–a “kathunk” sound coming from my left passenger side. Then the car started wobbling.
“I hit the curb. The wheel is pulling. I think the tire’s gone flat.”
“That’s what keeps us in business. People who aren’t used to driving on this side of the road hitting the curb.”
A large amount of swearing followed. We were only a block away from the car rental agency. Pulling over we got out to look; the tire was completely flat and looked like it had been sliced with a knife. The curb (or “kerb” as it is spelled in England) was a rather sharp 90 degree angle, unlike the nicely rounded American curbs, which cut right through the tire.
Calling the rental agency, Jarl asked how to deal with the flat tire, and if the insurance we had just purchased would cover it. Giving us a number for a company that would come and replace the tire, the rental company promised the insurance will cover the cost.
The repair people said it would take an hour or more for a tow truck to come and replace the tire. When the repair man did finally come (I had gone for a foray into the unknown landscape of West London looking for food, while Jarl waited with the car, wandering past all of the posh embassy buildings and the infamous Harrods department store, finding nothing to eat), he looked at the flat tire and chuckled.
“That’s what keeps us in business. People who aren’t used to driving on this side of the road hitting the curb.”
Currently, we’re just not driving.
This only made us feel slightly better. The rest of the time with the rented car went without incident. Unless you count having to navigate through London streets that change name every block, faster than the GPS map on my phone could keep up with, causing some moments of panic. A few weeks later we received a bill for £100 for the cost of changing the tire.There’s a reason that flat tires from hitting curbs are what keeps the car repair companies in business; the insurance doesn’t cover it.
There have been several other cars rented in the United Kingdom, but luckily no more flat tires. Now, just because Jarl and I have lived in the United Kingdom for over a year, our American drivers licenses are no longer considered valid and we are no longer allowed to drive or rent a car in the United Kingdom without getting a British license. This process entails a provisional test, a written test, an eye exam, a driver’s test, and £600 of driving lessons. Currently, we’re just not driving.
About Alethea Alden
Alethea Alden is a Minnesota native who currently lives in London.
Passing the theory test at the time you got your car licence is sufficient for recreational trailer towing. If you plan to drive commercially, however, you will need a commercial driving licence that includes a theory test as part of the CPC training and licencing regimen.
Park it in a locked garage and never leave it out or about without someone in it. There is no way to block it in or lock it down outside so that a tow truck cannot get to it. They can't tow it if someone is in it, and if you have a securely locked garage it complicates the retrieval.
What changed on 16 December 2021. If you passed your car driving test from 1 January 1997, you're now allowed to tow trailers up to 3,500kg MAM . Check your car's handbook to find out its gross train weight (GTW). This is the total allowable weight of the car plus the trailer plus the load.
You should have a Valid UK car license. However, if you coming from abroad, you should get your license transferred to the United Kingdom and be ready to work. The time to relocate to the UK is now that the country wants more skilled and unskilled workers in its different sectors.
Check your policy before you head out on the road. Car insurance is a legal requirement, but insurance for a towed unit isn't mandatory. However, if you have an accident as a result of towing your caravan or trailer, it can be very costly if you're not insured.
Anyone with a licence is permitted to tow a trailer on UK roads, including motorways. Since the change in the law driver licence holders can do this without a prior test. But do check the weight restrictions, as these are different depending on when you obtained your licence.
Yes. The recent rule changes mean that anyone with a full driver's licence is now allowed to tow a trailer or caravan up to a maximum authorised mass (MAM) of 3,500kg. The previous towing limit for those who completed their driving licence after 1 January 1997 was 750kg.
If the vehicle is on a dolly, put the vehicle in first gear and tow. If all four wheels are on the ground, put the vehicle in neutral and tow. Vehicles with manual transmissions can typically be towed without the car running, with no risk of transmission damage.
Always check the tire pressure on the tow vehicle, tow dolly and vehicle-in-tow before towing. (Inflate tow dolly tires to max. of 50 psi.) Reduce to 10 psi when towing the dolly empty.
Most automatic transmissions cannot be towed or pushed with the drive wheels on the ground — even if the transmission is in neutral — because automatics rely on an engine-driven pump to supply lubrication to the transmission to avoid damaging clutch packs and seals and other components.
The Associated Press reported that "unlike previous carjackings, in which thieves would strip vehicles for parts or sell them in other states, the recent wave perplexed law enforcement officials because almost all appeared to be done by thrill-seeking young men who would steal the cars for a few hours, drive them ...
An Immobilizer is an electronic device that arms automatically when the vehicle is switched off and prevents unauthorized moving or starting of the vehicle, accomplished through disengagement of engine operating circuits or vital engine control units. Learn More.
How long does it take to become an HGV lorry driver? Typically between 6-8 weeks. A lot of the time can be spent waiting for the DVLA to put the provisional entitlement on your licence and then returning your new licence. Sometimes 3+ weeks for a variety of reasons.
Getting a license. It usually takes an average of 6-8 weeks to get a license to drive a HGV truck. Just like every official ID processing, the first stage is going through a medical exam. This part is very important, considering that you need to be in perfect shape before you can undergo any practical training.
Depending on the sort of licence you are looking for, HGV training can range from £1,400 to £7,000 and can involve a variety of classroom-based and practical training. However, there are options available to help you spread the cost of your training and make it more manageable.
Introduction: My name is Kareem Mueller DO, I am a vivacious, super, thoughtful, excited, handsome, beautiful, combative person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
We notice you're using an ad blocker
Without advertising income, we can't keep making this site awesome for you.
Alethea Alden is a Minnesota native who currently lives in London.