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Ben L. — trainee ADIInternational Driver & UK Road Practice in Brighton & Hove
Moved to the UK with driving experience from another country? You may already know how to drive. We help you become confident on British roads, with one-to-one automatic driving practice in Brighton, Hove, Burgess Hill and West Sussex.
- Automatic-only driving school
- DVSA-approved instructor
- One-to-one lessons
- Brighton, Hove & Burgess Hill
Already experienced abroad? Get confident on UK roads
If you have moved to the UK, already know how to drive and want to feel comfortable on British roads, the answer to “can you help me?” is yes. We are very happy to help international drivers.
We have helped many drivers who have moved to the UK from different countries and already have previous driving experience. Our lessons can help you become more familiar with UK roads, traffic systems and everyday driving.
Years of experience in another country are a real advantage, but driving in Britain can still feel unfamiliar. Traffic keeps to the left, roundabouts work differently from many countries, road signs and markings are not the same, and busy towns bring narrow streets, bus lanes and tight parking. Professional practice with a patient instructor helps you build the habits that suit these roads.
AK Automatic Driving School teaches automatic cars only, so you can concentrate fully on the road. You can read more about our automatic driving lessons in Brighton & Hove, or send us an enquiry to talk about your situation.
Who is this service for?
International driving practice can suit many kinds of driver. These are some of the most common situations. None of them means you need a particular number of lessons.
International and overseas drivers
If you learned to drive in another country, UK road practice can help you adapt to how driving works here.
Drivers who have moved to the UK
A new country means new roads, new rules and new habits. We help you settle into driving where you now live.
Experienced drivers from abroad
Previous driving experience is valuable. We build on it and focus on what is different in Britain.
An eligible foreign licence
You may hold an eligible licence from a designated country or territory and be thinking about exchanging it for a GB licence.
Exchanged your foreign licence
Once you have a GB licence, practice can help you become comfortable using it on everyday UK roads.
Preparing to exchange
While you are preparing for the changeover, practice can help you feel ready for everyday driving.
Unfamiliar with UK roads
Roundabouts, junctions and narrow streets can feel very different from what you are used to.
Nervous about driving in Britain
Plenty of confident drivers feel nervous when the rules and roads change. Calm, patient practice helps.
UK signs, roundabouts and junctions
If signs, roundabouts or junctions are your main worry, we can focus on those first.
Parking practice
Parallel parking, bay parking and busy car parks are among the most common things drivers want to practise.
Motorway and dual carriageway practice
Faster roads can feel daunting in a new country. Practice is available where appropriate.
Night driving practice
Night driving lessons help you get used to UK roads in the dark, including headlights and reduced visibility.
Independent driving
Our aim is that you can plan journeys and drive on your own with confidence.
A new automatic, hybrid or electric car
If you have bought a new automatic, hybrid or electric car, we can help you get used to driving it.
Foreign licence exchange: what to know
If you have moved to the UK and hold an eligible driving licence from one of the designated countries or territories, you may be able to exchange it for a GB driving licence without taking another GB driving test. Once you have your UK licence, or while you are preparing for the changeover, we can help you become more confident and familiar with driving on UK roads.
Whether you can exchange your licence depends on your individual circumstances, such as the type of licence, where and how it was obtained, how long you have lived in Great Britain and DVLA requirements. In some cases, a licence earned in an automatic car leads to a GB licence limited to automatic vehicles.
Please check your own eligibility with GOV.UK and the DVLA before making any decision. We are a driving school, not the DVLA, and this page is general information only, not legal advice.
Things to check on GOV.UK
- Whether your country or territory is on the current list
- Whether your licence type and category can be exchanged
- Where and how your licence was obtained
- Your residency in Great Britain and any time limits
- Whether any restrictions would apply to your GB licence
- The current DVLA process, documents and fees
Countries and territories with eligible licences that can be exchanged for a GB driving licence
Eligible licences from designated countries and territories may be exchangeable for the corresponding GB driving licence, subject to DVLA rules and individual eligibility.
- Andorra
- Australia
- Barbados
- British Virgin Islands
- Canada
- Cayman Islands
- Falkland Islands
- Faroe Islands
- Gibraltar
- Hong Kong
- Japan
- Moldova
- Monaco
- New Zealand
- North Macedonia
- Republic of Korea (South Korea)
- Singapore
- South Africa
- Switzerland
- Taiwan
- Ukraine
- United Arab Emirates (UAE)
- Zimbabwe
This is not a guarantee of eligibility. A licence from a country on this list may not automatically be exchangeable, and not every licence category can be exchanged. Lists can change, so always check the current official guidance on GOV.UK before you rely on it.
Why UK driving can feel different
Even excellent drivers find that Britain asks for new habits. Here are some of the differences international drivers often notice, and that our lessons can help with.
Driving on the left
Traffic keeps to the left in the UK. Your position, your turns and the way you judge other vehicles all change.
Speed limits
UK speed limits are in miles per hour, and the national speed limit sign works differently from signs in many countries.
Road signs
Many UK signs use shapes, symbols and words you may not have seen before, and they affect decisions quickly.
Road markings
Give Way lines, hatched areas, box junctions and bus lane markings all tell you what to do.
Roundabouts
Roundabouts are very common, and each one asks you to choose a lane, give way and signal correctly.
Junctions
Major and minor roads, Give Way junctions and filter lanes follow UK priority rules.
Traffic lights
UK traffic light sequences and signal-controlled junctions can differ from what you know.
Pedestrian crossings
The UK has several types of pedestrian crossing, and each has its own signals and rules.
Bus lanes
Bus lanes are common in towns and cities, with times and rules shown on signs.
Narrow and busy roads
Parked cars, narrow streets and heavy traffic ask for patience, judgement and good observation.
Lane discipline and mirrors
Choosing the correct lane early and using your mirrors well helps you stay safe and predictable.
Parking
Parallel parking, bay parking and parking restrictions are part of everyday UK driving.
The Highway Code
The Highway Code explains the rules of the road in the UK, and reading it alongside practice helps.
British driving habits
Every country has its own driving conventions. Practice helps you learn how drivers here behave.
Understanding UK road signs and markings
UK road signs fall into groups: signs that give orders, warning signs, information signs and signs about direction. Each group has its own shape and colour, and the sign you see determines what you need to do next.
Road markings matter just as much. White lines, Give Way lines, hatched areas and box junctions tell you where to position yourself, when to wait and when you must not stop. We practise reading these in real traffic, so that you recognise them instantly instead of pausing to interpret them.
The official GOV.UK guidance and the Highway Code are good places to read more. Lessons turn that reading into quick, confident decisions on the road.
What we can practise
- Recognising common UK road signs
- Understanding what signs mean for your driving
- Reading road markings and lane arrows
- Box junctions and Give Way lines
- Bus lanes and restricted areas
- Speed limit signs
UK roundabouts and junctions
Roundabouts and junctions are common areas for international drivers to practise. We can work through each part of the approach with you.
Roundabouts
- Approaching a roundabout
- Choosing the right lane
- Giving way
- Observation
- Signalling
- Positioning
- Changing lanes safely
- Exiting correctly
Junctions
- T-junctions
- Crossroads
- Major and minor roads
- Give Way junctions
- Traffic-light junctions
- Turning left and right
- Observation
- Positioning
Road positioning and lane discipline
Driving on the left changes where you sit in the road and how you judge the space around you. Many experienced drivers say their instinct for position is the last thing to adjust.
We help you find the right place in the lane, keep your position steady, use your mirrors at the right moments and check your blind spots before you move. When you are ready, we practise changing lanes safely and positioning correctly for turns and roundabouts.
Practice areas
- Correct lane position
- Staying safely within lanes
- Lane discipline
- Mirror checks
- Blind spots
- Safe lane changes
Parking and manoeuvres
Parking can be stressful when you are still learning how much space your car needs on the left, and UK parking restrictions and space sizes may be unfamiliar. We practise in real conditions, in the kind of places you will really park.
Lessons can cover parking near shops, in busy car parks and on residential streets, building the observation, control and judgement that make parking feel manageable.
Parking practice
- Parallel parking
- Bay parking
- Reverse parking
- Parking in busy areas
- Parking near shops
- Parking in residential streets
Busy Brighton & Hove driving
Driving in a busy seaside city is a real test of confidence for any newcomer. Your lessons can include the roads you actually use.
Central Brighton and Hove have busy streets, bus lanes, one-way systems, taxis, cyclists and pedestrians. Brighton is also hilly, and roads in areas such as Kemptown, Whitehawk, Woodingdean, Coldean and Withdean have steep sections, so moving off on a slope and parking on a gradient are worth practising.
Residential streets in Hove, Portslade and Southwick often have tight parking and narrow gaps. On larger roads, you may meet the A23 London Road through Patcham, the A27 near Falmer and the A259 coast road through Ovingdean, Hove, Portslade, Shoreham-by-Sea and Lancing. Places such as Brighton Marina add large car parks and parking bays, and the area around Preston Park adds its own mix of traffic.
Lessons can cover whichever of these you need. If you have a particular route, junction or car park that worries you, tell us and we will build it into your plan. You can also read about our automatic driving lessons in Brighton & Hove or our refresher driving lessons.
Busy city streets
Bus lanes, one-way systems, taxis, cyclists and pedestrians in central Brighton and Hove.
Hills and tight parking
Steep roads in parts of Brighton, plus narrow residential streets with parked cars on both sides.
Faster main roads
The A23, A27 and the A259 coast road, for drivers who want to be comfortable at higher speeds.
Dual carriageways and motorways
Faster roads are introduced where appropriate and only when you feel ready.
Dual carriageways
Practice can help with the skills that make faster two-lane roads manageable.
- Joining
- Lane discipline
- Speed
- Observation
- Safe overtaking
- Exiting
Motorways
Where appropriate, we can cover the skills that make motorway driving feel less daunting.
- Joining a motorway
- Slip roads
- Lane discipline
- Safe following distances
- Speed awareness
- Changing lanes
- Leaving the motorway
Night driving lessons
Yes, we offer night driving lessons. Driving after dark feels different on unfamiliar roads, and it is a common worry for drivers who are still getting used to the UK.
Night lessons can help you feel more comfortable with reduced visibility, headlights, road markings, other road users, junctions, roundabouts and different traffic conditions. As with every lesson, we move at a pace that suits you and cannot promise a particular outcome, but practice with an instructor beside you can make a real difference to how you feel.
Night practice can include
- Reduced visibility
- Using headlights
- Road markings after dark
- Other road users
- Junctions and roundabouts
- Different traffic conditions
Automatic driving practice in the UK
AK Automatic Driving School is an automatic-only driving school. All of our lessons are taught in an automatic car, so international drivers can receive their UK road practice with an automatic driving instructor and without a clutch or gears to think about.
That leaves more of your attention for observation, road signs, positioning and the traffic around you. It is also helpful if you drive, or plan to drive, an automatic car in the UK, including a hybrid or electric automatic vehicle.
We can help you get used to an automatic car and give general help with hybrid and electric automatic vehicles. Our automatic refresher lessons are a related option if you want to rebuild confidence after a long break.
Automatic practice includes
- Automatic driving lessons
- Automatic driving practice
- Automatic refresher lessons
- Automatic vehicle familiarisation
- Hybrid automatic familiarisation
- Electric automatic familiarisation
Building confidence on UK roads, step by step
You may have years of driving experience and still feel uncomfortable in Britain. That is completely normal. Lessons are tailored to your individual needs, and we do not promise a fixed number of lessons or a particular result.
Discuss your previous driving experience
We start by talking about where you learned, what you have driven and how long you have been driving.
Understand what you are nervous about
We ask what worries you most about driving in Britain, whether it is roundabouts, speed, parking or something else.
Assess your current confidence
In a relaxed first lesson we see how you drive today, so that we can plan around real information.
Practise quieter roads where appropriate
Starting somewhere calm lets you focus on driving on the left without heavy traffic adding pressure.
Introduce UK road layouts
We introduce the layouts, signs and markings you will meet, step by step.
Practise roundabouts and junctions
We work through the approach, observation and positioning for each, until they feel routine.
Build confidence in busier traffic
When you are ready, we move on to busier roads, town traffic and heavier conditions.
Practise parking
We practise the parking situations you find hardest, in real conditions.
Dual carriageways and motorways, where appropriate
Faster roads are introduced when you feel ready.
Build independent driving confidence
The aim is that you can plan journeys and drive where you need to go on your own.
You set the pace. Some drivers move through these stages quickly, while others spend longer on one of them. Your plan can change at any time.
How international driver lessons work
A simple, flexible process with no fixed number of lessons.
Get in touch
Send an enquiry or call us. Tell us where you are from, how long you have lived in the UK and what you would like help with.
Talk through your experience
We ask about your driving background and what feels different about driving in Britain.
Your first lesson
You drive, we watch and talk, and together we work out what to focus on.
A plan around you
You choose what you want to practise, and we suggest priorities from what we see.
Practise and build up
Each lesson moves forward at your pace, from quieter roads to busier ones where appropriate.
Review and decide
We look back at your progress and you decide whether to continue. We would rather you book what helps than more than you need.
Our Brighton & Hove and West Sussex service areas
We teach in Brighton and Hove and across the surrounding area, including Portslade, Southwick, Kemptown, Preston Park, Patcham, Whitehawk, Woodingdean, Coldean, Withdean, Falmer, Brighton Marina and Ovingdean. We also teach in Shoreham-by-Sea, Lancing, Hassocks, Burgess Hill, Haywards Heath and elsewhere in West Sussex.
Because our lessons are one-to-one, we can build them around the roads you actually use, whether that is your commute, the school run or the way to the shops. Read more about AK Automatic Driving School.
UK road practice in Burgess Hill
International drivers in Burgess Hill can have the same one-to-one practice. Quieter residential streets help you settle in, while the town centre, local roundabouts and main roads such as the A273 give realistic practice when you are ready. We offer automatic driving lessons and refresher driving lessons in Burgess Hill, and you can read more about our automatic driving lessons in Burgess Hill.
If you are preparing for a practical test, we can use practice routes around the Burgess Hill test centre. These are sample practice routes only and are not official DVSA test routes.
International practice in Burgess Hill
- International driving practice
- Automatic driving lessons
- Refresher driving lessons
- Driving confidence
- UK road practice
International drivers from different countries
We have helped many drivers who have moved to the UK from different countries. Every driver arrives with different habits, from the side of the road they are used to, to the way roundabouts, speed limits and parking work back home.
Because we start with your own experience, we do not assume what you know or what you find difficult. A driver coming from a country that drives on the left will need different support from one who is used to driving on the right, and we plan lessons accordingly.
If you hold a licence from one of the countries or territories listed above, or from anywhere else, you are welcome to get in touch. Whether your licence can be exchanged is a question for the DVLA, but how comfortable you feel on UK roads is something we can help with.
What we will ask you
- Where you learned to drive
- How long you have driven
- What feels most different here
- What worries you most
- What you would like to be able to do
How many lessons might I need?
There is no set number. Some drivers feel at home after a short amount of practice, while others prefer longer to build confidence. We would never suggest a number just to fill a diary.
An initial lesson is the best way to find out. After seeing how you drive and listening to your goals, we can tell you honestly what support seems suitable. We cannot promise that you will feel confident after a certain number of lessons, and we will not pretend otherwise. If you are unsure, get in touch.
What affects it
- How long you have been driving
- Where you learned and what you are used to
- How confident you feel now
- How comfortable you are driving on the left
- The kind of driving you want to do
- How soon you need to drive on your own
- Which areas you most want to practise
International driver lessons: your questions answered
Straightforward answers to the questions we hear most often. If yours is not here, just ask.
Can you help international drivers who have moved to the UK?
Yes. We are very happy to help drivers who have moved to the UK from other countries and already have driving experience. Lessons are one-to-one, in an automatic car, and planned around you.
Can I have lessons if I already know how to drive?
Yes. Lessons are not just for beginners. We start from your existing experience and focus on what is different in the UK.
Can you help me get used to UK roads?
Yes. We can help with driving on the left, road signs and markings, roundabouts, junctions, lane discipline, parking and busy traffic.
Can you help me understand UK roundabouts?
Yes. We practise approaching roundabouts, choosing a lane, giving way, signalling, positioning, changing lanes and exiting correctly, until they feel routine.
Can you help me understand UK road signs?
Yes. We practise recognising common signs and markings in real traffic and understanding what each means for your driving. The Highway Code is also a useful reference.
Can I practise parking?
Yes. Parallel parking, bay parking and reverse parking can all be practised, including in busy areas, near shops and on residential streets.
Can I practise motorway driving?
Yes, where appropriate and when you feel ready. We can cover joining, slip roads, lane discipline, following distances, speed awareness, changing lanes and leaving the motorway.
Can I have night driving lessons?
Yes. We offer night driving lessons to help you feel more comfortable with reduced visibility, headlights, road markings, other road users and different traffic conditions.
Can I have lessons in an automatic car?
Yes. We are an automatic-only driving school, so all our lessons are in an automatic car, with an automatic driving instructor.
Can you help me get used to a hybrid or electric automatic car?
Yes. We can give general help with getting used to automatic, hybrid and electric automatic vehicles. We do not give model-specific technical training.
Can I have lessons after exchanging my foreign licence?
Yes. Once you hold a GB licence, practice can help you become comfortable driving on UK roads. Our lessons do not depend on how you obtained your licence.
Which countries have licences that may be exchanged for a GB licence?
The countries and territories currently listed include Andorra, Australia, Barbados, the British Virgin Islands, Canada, the Cayman Islands, the Falkland Islands, the Faroe Islands, Gibraltar, Hong Kong, Japan, Moldova, Monaco, New Zealand, North Macedonia, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland, Taiwan, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates and Zimbabwe. Eligibility depends on your circumstances, so please check the current GOV.UK guidance.
Do I need to take another driving test if my licence is eligible for exchange?
If your licence is eligible, you may be able to exchange it for a GB licence without taking another GB driving test, but this depends on your individual circumstances and DVLA requirements. Please check the official GOV.UK guidance.
How do I check whether my foreign licence can be exchanged?
Use the official GOV.UK tool to exchange a non-GB driving licence, and read the guidance on driving in Great Britain with a non-GB licence. We are a driving school and cannot confirm your eligibility.
Can you help me if I am nervous about driving in the UK?
Yes. Many experienced drivers feel nervous when the roads and rules change. Lessons are calm, patient and one-to-one, and we start with what feels manageable.
How many lessons will I need?
It varies from driver to driver. It depends on your experience, your confidence and what you want to achieve. An initial lesson is the best way to see what support is suitable.
Can I choose what I want to practise?
Yes. You decide what to work on, whether that is roundabouts, parking, motorways, night driving or the route you drive every day. We may suggest priorities after your first lesson.
Do you provide international driver lessons in Brighton?
Yes. We teach in Brighton, including areas such as Kemptown, Preston Park, Patcham, Whitehawk, Woodingdean, Coldean, Withdean, Falmer, Brighton Marina and Ovingdean.
Do you provide international driver lessons in Hove?
Yes. We teach in Hove and nearby areas including Portslade, Southwick, Shoreham-by-Sea and Lancing.
Do you provide lessons in Burgess Hill?
Yes. We offer automatic driving lessons, refresher lessons and UK road practice in Burgess Hill, and in nearby areas such as Hassocks and Haywards Heath.
Lesson prices and booking
Our current lesson prices are on our pricing page. If lessons are financially challenging, we are always happy to talk about your circumstances.
Our refresher driving lessons are priced on the same page and are a related option for rebuilding confidence on the road.
Before you book
- Lessons are one-to-one
- All lessons are in an automatic car
- You choose what to practise
- Night driving lessons are available
International Licence to Full UK Licence
See how an international driver can prepare for driving in the UK and work towards a full UK driving licence.
Watch on YouTubeGet confident on UK roads
If you have moved to the UK and want to feel comfortable driving in Brighton & Hove, Burgess Hill or West Sussex, AK Automatic Driving School is here to help. Send an enquiry or call us to talk through your situation.
- Practise UK roundabouts, junctions and signs
- Build confidence on busy roads
- Learn in an automatic car
- One-to-one lessons at your own pace