If I go to UK, can I drive a German left handed steer car there?
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From: SoCal
C350 '12
If I go to UK, can I drive a German left handed steer car there?
I am thinking about going to the UK for an extended time. If i do this, I don't want to learn how to drive right hand steering. Is there a law there that my car has to be driver-right side?
In other words, you guys all know what I want -- a CLC. (And no, I'm not considering going there just for THAT!) But if I bought a CLC in Germany, what kind of duty/taxes/bureaucratic crap might I face and could i register the car in England?
Kind of scared thinking about all those right handed roads...
In other words, you guys all know what I want -- a CLC. (And no, I'm not considering going there just for THAT!) But if I bought a CLC in Germany, what kind of duty/taxes/bureaucratic crap might I face and could i register the car in England?
Kind of scared thinking about all those right handed roads...
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No lots of ppl in England do that, they head over to the Netherlands to get a what is called a "Left Hooker" You can save tons, the drawback is when you come to sell it, you will have to take the hit. Corvettes are sold that way over there. You Shouldnt have any problem.
I can tell you that my dad's cars in Spain are all LHD bc he was tired of them getting stolen. After the second time in one year the cops found his X5 in a ferry port on it's way to Africa. He said screw this I 'll buy my car in england and bring it here.
Try buying the CLC in the Netherlands which is cheaper and closer to Bloody England anyways.
I can tell you that my dad's cars in Spain are all LHD bc he was tired of them getting stolen. After the second time in one year the cops found his X5 in a ferry port on it's way to Africa. He said screw this I 'll buy my car in england and bring it here.
Try buying the CLC in the Netherlands which is cheaper and closer to Bloody England anyways.
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No lots of ppl in England do that, they head over to the Netherlands to get a what is called a "Left Hooker" You can save tons, the drawback is when you come to sell it, you will have to take the hit. Corvettes are sold that way over there. You Shouldnt have any problem.
I can tell you that my dad's cars in Spain are all LHD bc he was tired of them getting stolen. After the second time in one year the cops found his X5 in a ferry port on it's way to Africa. He said screw this I 'll buy my car in england and bring it here.
Try buying the CLC in the Netherlands which is cheaper and closer to Bloody England anyways.
I can tell you that my dad's cars in Spain are all LHD bc he was tired of them getting stolen. After the second time in one year the cops found his X5 in a ferry port on it's way to Africa. He said screw this I 'll buy my car in england and bring it here.
Try buying the CLC in the Netherlands which is cheaper and closer to Bloody England anyways.
You also need special insurance, and probably lots of other things I can't remember. I was going to bring my C from France to the UK, and ended up decided to sell it in France, and buy another when I got here. I suspect you are going to end up regretting it. It's not that hard to go from LHD to RHD - I do it all the time!
Last edited by UK-C200; Jul 20, 2008 at 10:36 AM.
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
I've spent half my life switching between RHD & LHD. It's really very easy & a lot safer. I strongly recommend it. Overtaking etc. is awful when driving, for instance, a LHD in Britain with it's congested roads and large trucks - you can't see where you are going!
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From: SoCal
C350 '12
Yeah, after thinking about it -- and thank you guys for the posts -- if I go that route I am definitely going to just stick to RHD. I guess is is safer when on UK roads. But I won't get a manual because that would be just too much adjusting, though I'd like one!
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
If you specify a 7G-TRONIC auto box you will have a cog for every condition & you can play manually if you choose to do so. Not the same as stick shift, I know, but a good compromise
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From: London, GB
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Well, remember that in the UK you have two "classes" of basic drivers license, and the "normal" one requires that you pass in a manual. It does take some getting used to - I've bashed my knuckles on the door a couple of times trying to shift - but it seriously becomes second nature after you do it a couple of times. In any event, I think you are making the right call to get a RHD if you are in the UK. I *really* hope that they move the e-brake in the CLC from the "US on the floor" style to the EU "in the middle" style. They do you for points on your driving test if you don't use it properly, and it's a right pain in the **** having to reach down to release it.
Couple of things to keep in mind - your insurance and road tax is based on engine size, gas is currently $9 a gallon, and parking (in London) is a premium. You also pay more if you don't have dedicated parking on your insurance. Also, shop around on your insurance - some companies will accept your US driving record for a "no claims bonus", others' will not (usually the really low rate ones..) MB writes their own insurance, and were willing to take my French record into account to get no claims here.
Last edited by UK-C200; Jul 20, 2008 at 10:35 AM.
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I was driving in Australia for about a month and I got used to it within five minutes. A nice bonus was my rental was a 8 cylinder Ford Falcon which I drove from Perth to Adelaide across the country.
Here's a pic of a close encounter on Melbourne'
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Here's a pic of a close encounter on Melbourne'
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
Well, remember that in the UK you have two "classes" of basic drivers license, and the "normal" one requires that you pass in a manual. It does take some getting used to - I've bashed my knuckles on the door a couple of times trying to shift - but it seriously becomes second nature after you do it a couple of times. In any event, I think you are making the right call to get a RHD if you are in the UK. I *really* hope that they move the e-brake in the CLC from the "US on the floor" style to the EU "in the middle" style. They do you for points on your driving test if you don't use it properly, and it's a right pain in the **** having to reach down to release it.
Couple of things to keep in mind - your insurance and road tax is based on engine size, gas is currently $9 a gallon, and parking (in London) is a premium. You also pay more if you don't have dedicated parking on your insurance. Also, shop around on your insurance - some companies will accept your US driving record for a "no claims bonus", others' will not (usually the really low rate ones..) MB writes their own insurance, and were willing to take my French record into account to get no claims here.
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2005 C230K Sport Sedan, 6 speed manual
You should be able to adapt to a RHD car fairly fast. The only real difference is you must shift with your left hand; and most cars are manual transmission (unless you pay the up-charge for an automatic). Fortunately, the pedals, and most other controls are similar to LHD cars.
Driving on the left side of the road is a bigger challenge. How to make a right turn? How to go around a traffic circle? How to enter and exit the motorway (freeway)? How to pass? All of these are backwards from what you are accustomed. Oh, and don't forget the traffic cameras.
You will notice signs placed on some major roadways that say "Drive left, pass right". This may be in response to the opening of the Channel Tunnel from France.
Driving on the left side of the road is a bigger challenge. How to make a right turn? How to go around a traffic circle? How to enter and exit the motorway (freeway)? How to pass? All of these are backwards from what you are accustomed. Oh, and don't forget the traffic cameras.
You will notice signs placed on some major roadways that say "Drive left, pass right". This may be in response to the opening of the Channel Tunnel from France.
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
You should be able to adapt to a RHD car fairly fast. The only real difference is you must shift with your left hand; and most cars are manual transmission (unless you pay the up-charge for an automatic). Fortunately, the pedals, and most other controls are similar to LHD cars.
Driving on the left side of the road is a bigger challenge. How to make a right turn? How to go around a traffic circle? How to enter and exit the motorway (freeway)? How to pass? All of these are backwards from what you are accustomed. Oh, and don't forget the traffic cameras.
You will notice signs placed on some major roadways that say "Drive left, pass right". This may be in response to the opening of the Channel Tunnel from France.
Driving on the left side of the road is a bigger challenge. How to make a right turn? How to go around a traffic circle? How to enter and exit the motorway (freeway)? How to pass? All of these are backwards from what you are accustomed. Oh, and don't forget the traffic cameras.
You will notice signs placed on some major roadways that say "Drive left, pass right". This may be in response to the opening of the Channel Tunnel from France.
The Channel Tunnel actually works well. If you want to see a real spaghetti junction you must see the Hong Kong border with Mainland China to move people from driving on the LHS of the road to the RHS of the road!
Last edited by Glyn M Ruck; Jul 20, 2008 at 05:55 PM.
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RHD C200 Sport Coupe, RHD SLK-55, LHD SLK-350
The "Drive left, Pass right" for Britain & it's old colonies (& old areas of influence like Thailand) and it's reverse in continental Europe, Francophone Africa, Australasia & Latin America is normal freeway demarcation to stop people from travelling in the fast lane of a multi-lane highway. The fast lane is supposed to be an overtaking lane.
The Channel Tunnel actually works well. If you want to see a real spaghetti junction you must see the Hong Kong border with Mainland China to move people from driving on the LHS of the road to the RHS of the road!
The Channel Tunnel actually works well. If you want to see a real spaghetti junction you must see the Hong Kong border with Mainland China to move people from driving on the LHS of the road to the RHS of the road!
I agree on the Chunnel - get on, park car, get off, drive car - it works very well indeed. Visited Hong Kong a couple of times, but never tried to drive - looked a bit insane! I'd never see bamboo scaffolding before either - simply crazy!
Last edited by UK-C200; Jul 20, 2008 at 06:28 PM.
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2005 C230K Sport Sedan, 6 speed manual
The "Drive left, Pass right" for Britain & it's old colonies (& old areas of influence like Thailand) and it's reverse in continental Europe, Francophone Africa, Australasia & Latin America is normal freeway demarcation to stop people from travelling in the fast lane of a multi-lane highway. The fast lane is supposed to be an overtaking lane.
The Channel Tunnel actually works well. If you want to see a real spaghetti junction you must see the Hong Kong border with Mainland China to move people from driving on the LHS of the road to the RHS of the road!
The Channel Tunnel actually works well. If you want to see a real spaghetti junction you must see the Hong Kong border with Mainland China to move people from driving on the LHS of the road to the RHS of the road!
Slow drivers in the fast lane? I thought we had a monopoly on that here in the US. It is especially great when they are driving large motorhomes pulling cars, trailers, boats, etc. Average age of driver: 80. Perhaps they should be required to display a special sign on the vehicle; "Road Train" comes to mind.
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
Don't know if you watch Top Gear Glyn, but I love Clarksons' "Undertakers must DIE!" quote.
I agree on the Chunnel - get on, park car, get off, drive car - it works very well indeed. Visited Hong Kong a couple of times, but never tried to drive - looked a bit insane! I'd never see bamboo scaffolding before either - simply crazy!
I agree on the Chunnel - get on, park car, get off, drive car - it works very well indeed. Visited Hong Kong a couple of times, but never tried to drive - looked a bit insane! I'd never see bamboo scaffolding before either - simply crazy!
Bamboo scaffolding !!!!! The whole of China builds skyscrapers with bamboo & twine scaffolding - I suppose we can't knock it - strong, renewable and never seems to fall down - just strange to see this glass & ceramic monster with bamboo & green netting all over it
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
