Monika J
We have one car in our family as it makes it easier to drop my kids to school but we had to weigh up the costs against public transport - the costs can add up with things like road tax, insurance and parking
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Scroll down the page to view the next sections: 'Getting & parking a car' and 'Staying safe and legal'.
Key information
1. Cars drive on the left-hand side of the road in the UK
It can take some time to adjust so take care when you’re on the road:
- Give way to the right at roundabouts
- Right-hand turns are the most dangerous as you cross oncoming traffic
- Look to the left for oncoming traffic as you emerge from a side road
2. You can drive in the UK with a valid driving licence issued by your EU country of origin
If you don’t have a licence and wish to get one, you need to apply for a ‘provisional’ driving licence and pass a theory and practical test
3. Join a car club to hire a car per journey
It’s becoming more popular to ‘pay as you drive’ rather than own a car! It’s more convenient as the costs of car insurance and maintenance are included in the hire fee.
4. You must have a valid driving licence and car insurance
Driving without a valid driving licence and car insurance is a criminal offence and you may be fined.
5. Wearing a seatbelt is a legal requirement for the driver and all passengers
It’s the drivers’ responsibility to make sure that they and all passengers are wearing seatbelts, or they may risk a fine of up to £500. Young children need to be seated in a child car seat / booster seat with their seatbelt.
6. If you get a parking fine, take action!
You can appeal the decision or negotiate payment terms within a certain time frame, but do not ignore it or you risk having to pay more or go to court.
Getting & parking a car
Buying a car
Owning a car in the UK can be expensive. Aside from the cost of the car and fuel, you need to consider some additional outgoings:
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Vehicle road tax
- What is it? It allows you to park and drive on UK roads (this is a legal requirement)
- How much does it cost? From approximately £125 depending on the size of your vehicle
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MOT
- What is it? An annual service and check that your car is safe on the road (this is a legal requirement)
- How much does it cost? From approximately £30 but prices will vary and this does not include the cost of car repairs
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Car insurance
- What is it? It protects you in the event of an accident (this is a legal requirement)
- How much does it cost? The average cost of comprehensive cover is £485 a year
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Parking costs
- What is it? A fee to park your car in certain areas - it’s more expensive in central London
- How much does it cost? Prices vary depending on the type of parking and where you live
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Congestion & Ultra Low Emission Charges
- What is it? To enter central London Monday to Friday, between 07.00 and 22.00, you need to pay a daily ‘Congestion Charge’. You may also need to pay a daily ‘Ultra Low Emission Zone’ fee if your car does not meet low emission standards. You can check by entering your car details online here.
- How much does it cost? The ‘Congestion Charge’ is currently £15, and the ‘Ultra Low Emission Charge’ starts from £12.50
Renting a car
It’s becoming more popular to ‘pay as you drive’ rather than own a car in London! It’s convenient and money-saving as the costs of car insurance and maintenance are included in the hire fee. You usually need to pay a monthly membership fee in addition to an hourly/ daily driving charge. The options in Haringey include:
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Roundtrip car clubs
- Where a car is picked up and returned to dedicated parking bays (with pre-booking)
- Popular companies include Zipcar and Enterprise Car Club
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One-way (flexible) car clubs
- Where a car is picked up and parked in any legal parking bay (without pre-booking)
- Popular companies include DriveNow
Parking a car
Many people get caught out by parking somewhere where it is not allowed or without a valid ticket. Check the signs carefully to avoid being fined or taken to court if you do not pay it.
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Places you should not park
- On roads with double yellow or red lines
- On the pavement, although there are some exceptions marked with white boxes
- In areas with a yellow or white zig-zag line
- In taxi ranks or bus lanes during restricted hours
- On roads with a single yellow line, during restricted hours
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Resident Parking Permit
- What is it? A permit to park in a bay outside your home during operating hours. Find out if you need to buy a permit online here.
- How much does it cost? Prices vary depending on the size of your car and where you live
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Controlled Parking Zones
- What is it? Areas where you need to pay an additional hourly fee to park, such as on Tottenham Stadium event days. This is regardless of whether you have a ‘Resident Parking Permit’. You can find out if you live in a ‘Controlled Parking Zone’ by entering the postcode of your address online here.
- How much does it cost? Prices vary between £1.30 and £3.30 depending on the location
Staying safe and legal
Accidents are common in any busy city so make sure you stay safe and keep to the rules
Before you drive
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Check you have a valid driving licence
A full driving licence issued by your EU country of origin is legal to use in the UK
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Check you have valid car insurance
To cover the cost of vehicle damage or injury to other people should you be involved in an accident
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Check your car is roadworthy
Most cars need an annual MOT test to check they are safe on the road
- It must be done every year if your car is older than 3 years or you have a used car
- If your car fails the test, you cannot drive it until works are carried out to make it safe
On the road
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Wear your seatbelt
- This includes the driver and all passengers
- Children under 12 years or less than 135cm tall must have a special child seat / booster seat
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Follow the road rules
- If you break the rules such as driving through a red light, using a mobile phone in your hands, or driving while over the legal alcohol limit, you risk getting a fine (£100) and ‘penalty points’ on your licence
- You risk losing your licence if you build up a certain number of points
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Keep to the speed limit
Look out for the speed signs and keep to the limit - many roads have speed cameras
- In local areas - the speed limit is usually 30mph, but limits can be lower in certain areas
- On ‘M’ motorway roads - the speed limit speed is 70mph
- On ‘A’ roads - the speed limit speed is usually 60mph unless otherwise stated
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Mind the pedestrian
There are several types of pedestrian crossings with odd names like ‘zebra’ and ‘pelican’
- Zebra crossings (white and black stripes painted on the road) - you must stop if a pedestrian is on the road
- Puffin or pelican crossings - you must stop if the traffic light is red, or if someone is crossing while the light is solid or flashing amber
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Drive on the left side of the road
- Give way to the right at roundabouts
- Right-hand turns are the most dangerous as you cross oncoming traffic
- Look to the left for oncoming traffic as you emerge from a side road
After you drive
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Look carefully for parking signs
You may need to pay a fee
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Don’t ignore parking or speeding tickets
You will end up paying more and risk being taken to court! If you need help, reach out to organisations in ‘Other local help & support’ (e.g. ‘Citizens Advice’).