There are lots of unique quirks and challenges that come with driving a left-hand drive (often referred to as an LHD) car in a right-hand drive country like the UK. When everything’s flipped round, it can be disorientating – whether it’s reaching for a gear stick that’s not there or spraying your windows when you go to indicate.
Those that own a left-hand drive car in the UK — or British expats returning to the UK with a LHD car — understand that there are some major differences that take a bit of getting used to.
Luckily, you can speed up the learning process by knowing a few tips and tricks. In this guide, we’ll uncover everything you need to know to feel confident when you venture onto UK roads in a left-hand drive vehicle.
Can you Drive Left-Hand Drive Cars in the UK?
Yes, you absolutely can drive a left-hand drive car in the UK.
Although it’s seen as more difficult to do, as long as you have the proper documentation and have a valid MOT and insurance, you can drive a LHD car anywhere in the UK.
You may need a specialist insurer, as they typically cost more to insure and some lenders refuse to cover imports
What are the Challenges of Left-hand Drive Cars in the UK?
Driving an LHD car in the UK poses many challenges as UK roads are naturally more accustomed to right-hand drive cars.
If you own a left-hand drive car, you might find more difficulty:
Overtaking: Sitting on the left-hand side means you’re further away from the centre of the road, making it more difficult to judge distances when overtaking on two-lane roads.
Navigating roundabouts and junctions: On UK roundabouts, you give way to the car on the right. Sitting on the left can obstruct your view of cars coming from the right. Similarly with T-junctions, you might find you have a limited field of view, making it tricky to spot traffic approaching from the right.
Paying at toll booths: Toll roads in the UK are few and far between. But if you do happen to be driving through one, the toll booth is often located on the right-hand side of the car. You might have to get out of the car and walk around in an LHD car.
Staying within the lanes: When approaching roundabouts, corners, or narrow lanes, you might find you instinctively drift left in the lane, increasing the risk of clipping the kerb.
Parking: Limited visibility when parallel parking makes it more challenging than if you drove a right-hand drive car. Even entering and exiting roadside parking spots is more difficult as you’re sitting near the kerb, meaning you need to rely more heavily on your mirrors for visibility.
Essential Tips for Driving a Left-Hand Drive Car in the UK
Driving a LHD car in the UK can be really easy. Yes, there are more challenges, but with some extra practice and time to get used to it, it will feel like driving any other car.
To speed up the learning process, here are a few tips that can help you hit the UK roads confidently in a left-hand drive car.
1. Keep left
If you’re used to right-hand drive car, you might find you tend to drift left to keep in lane. This instinct can put you on the kerb, putting you at risk of damaging your car. It’s important to practice around quiet backstreets or at less busy times to help you get used to the roads.
2. Be aware of reduced visibility
Because you’re seated on the left-hand side of the vehicle, it can be difficult to see traffic coming from the right or pulling out from a roadside parking space. To make driving easier, make sure your side mirrors are properly adjusted to give you a wider field of view and cover any blind spots.
When driving a left-hand drive vehicle in the UK, it’s even more important to practice defensive driving. Pause longer at roundabouts and junctions and take extra time to make sure the road is clear and safe to enter if you’re ever unsure.
If you’re just starting out, it pays to have a passenger with you for the first couple of outings. They can act as a spotter, helping you to cover your blind spots and avoid incidents.
3. Avoid overtaking outside of motorways
Owning and driving a left-hand drive vehicle makes things like overtaking slow-moving traffic far more difficult, as you can’t see oncoming traffic to judge distances effectively.
While on the motorway, you can use your mirrors and check your blind spot, on narrow country roads or dual carriageways, you can’t make that call when you can’t see what’s coming.
Avoid overtaking on these roads altogether as it’s not worth the risk of an accident.
4. Adjust your headlights
You may have noticed that your car’s headlights naturally dip towards the left when you’re not on full beam, letting you see the road and not dazzle other drivers.
If you’ve imported a left-hand drive car, your lights will naturally dip to the right, potentially blinding oncoming traffic. To make sure your lights are road legal, you’ll need to install some headlight beam deflectors or get them professionally adjusted.
5. Don’t forget toll booths and drive-thrus
Drive-thrus and toll booths are built with right-hand drive cars in mind, making life difficult if you’re the owner of a left-hand drive import.
If you have a passenger, they’ll be able to help you pay toll fees or items from the drive-thru, but you may have to get out of the car – or use a long-reach tool to pay — if you don’t.
To help on toll roads, you might benefit from pre-paying with an electronic tag. Similarly to the USA, UK toll roads offer electronic payments, like Dart Charge for the Dartford crossing or Auto-pay for London’s ULEZ zones, which automatically charge your account, so you don’t have to stop and pay.
How do you Buy and Import a Left-Hand Drive Car to the UK?
When you’re buying or importing a left-hand drive car to the UK, there are a few things you should consider:
Legal requirements
There are a some important legal requirements you need to bear in mind to remain compliant with UK driving laws.
You’ll need to apply for a Vehicle Registration Certificate (V5C) when your car arrives in the UK.
To do this, you’ll need to provide documents like proof of ownership, compliance certificates, and a UK MOT. If you don’t have an MOT certificate, you’ll need to book one if your vehicle is over 3 years old.
Vehicle modifications
Your imported vehicle must comply with UK MOT standards. This means you need to check:
Headlights: As mentioned before, these must be readjusted so they dip to the left
Rear fog light: Must be readjusted so it sits on the right-hand side of the vehicle
Speedometer: Must read in miles per hour (MPH) and not kilometres per hour (KPH). If your dashboard gives you both figures, that’s okay.
Mirrors: Must be correctly positioned to give adequate visibility from the left-hand seating position.
Taxes and fees
When importing a LHD car to the UK, you might be obliged to pay certain fees to comply with UK regulations.
You may incur:
- Customs Duty: This is usually 10% of the vehicle’s value.
- VAT: 20% on the total value, including shipping and duty.
- Additional charges: For port handling, inspection, and registration fees, which may or may not apply.
What are the Insurance Considerations for Left-Hand Drive Imports?
If you’ve imported a left-hand drive vehicle and are looking to get insured, you might find that your fewer insurers offer coverage or face higher premiums.
At Keith Micheals, we specialise in providing insurance for imports, modified vehicles and rare models. With 30 years’ experience in the business, you can rest easy knowing your in safe hands and your pride and joy is covered.
Find out more about how we can help by contacting us today, or keep up with all the latest updates on our blog.