The worry usually sounds like this: the car is perfect, but it's on the wrong side, and surely that will be a nightmare in the UK. We hear it often, and we understand it. You have spent years driving on the right, and the thought of doing it from the wrong seat on a narrow B road is not appealing.
Plenty of people drive left-hand drive cars in the UK every day. This guide covers what the law says, what has to change on the car, and what living with it is like.
Left-hand drive is legal in the UK
There is no rule that a car on UK roads must be right-hand drive. A left-hand drive car can be registered with the DVLA, taxed, insured and driven here like any other.
You don't need to convert it to right-hand drive, and for most Gulf cars that would be neither practical nor sensible. What the car does need is a handful of changes so it suits driving on the left and meets UK standards.
What has to change on the car
A car built for driving on the right is set up for that in a few specific ways. These are the changes we make on almost every left-hand drive import.
- Headlights adjusted so the dipped beam falls to the left. A right-hand traffic car dips towards the kerb on the right, which would dazzle oncoming drivers here.
- A speedometer that reads in mph, or shows mph alongside km/h. UK speed limits are in miles per hour, and the car needs to show them.
- A rear fog light. UK rules expect one in the right position, and many Gulf cars, built for a climate that rarely sees fog, don't have a suitable one.
All three are done in-house at our site in Castle Donington, Derby. The car then goes straight into testing on the same site, because we are the first privately owned IVA testing centre for passenger vehicles in the UK.
Exactly what is needed depends on the car and its age. Cars under 10 years old take the IVA test, and cars from 10 to 40 years old take the MOT plus the modifications. We tell you which route your car takes, and what it needs, when we quote. Our page on IVA, MOT and registration has the detail.
Window tint is stricter here
This one catches people out. Dark tint is everywhere in the Gulf, and for good reason when the sun is doing its worst. UK law is stricter on the front of the car.
| Glass | Minimum light let through in the UK |
|---|---|
| Front windscreen | At least 75% |
| Front side windows | At least 70% |
Heavy front tint that is perfectly normal in Dubai or Doha usually lets through far less light than that. In practice, it means the film on the windscreen and front side windows will often need to come off.
If you are buying a car in the Gulf with the UK in mind, factor this in. The tint you like out there may not be staying, so judge the car with clear front glass in your mind's eye.
Living with it day to day
The first week feels odd. By the end of the first month, most people barely think about it.
Overtaking
Overtaking is the one that needs the most care. Sitting on the kerb side, you can't see past a lorry as easily as you could in a right-hand drive car. The answer is to hang back further than you would normally, which gives you a wider view down the road, and to simply overtake less. On motorways and dual carriageways it is barely an issue.
A second pair of eyes
If you have a passenger, they are sitting where the driver usually sits, and they can see what you can't. Many couples quickly settle into a routine where the passenger calls out when the road ahead is clear. It works well, though the final decision always stays with the driver.
Toll booths, car parks and drive-throughs
Anything built for a driver's window on the right is a small stretch. Ticket machines at car parks, the odd toll booth and drive-through windows all sit on the wrong side. A seatbelt off, a lean across, or a passenger who handles the paying: you will find your own method within a few visits.
It becomes normal
People who drove in the Gulf for years already have the habit of sitting on the left. What changes is the side of the road, and that is the bit your brain adjusts to quickly. Within weeks, it feels like your car.
Insurance and resale
Insurance is available for left-hand drive cars in the UK. Tell your insurer the car is left-hand drive and an import when you ask for a quote. Being upfront means the policy covers the car you actually drive.
Resale is worth thinking about too. Left-hand drive narrows the pool of UK buyers, because some people won't consider one. For a car that was never sold new here, or a rare one, the right buyer is often happy to have it. For an everyday model that is widely available in right-hand drive, it can count against it.
That is part of a bigger question, and our guide to ship it or sell it walks through it.
Getting a left-hand drive car home
If the steering wheel was the only thing holding you back, it needn't be. Send us the car's details through the quote form and someone at My Car Import will tell you which test route it takes and what it will need.
Your quote covers the shipping, the UK import, the modifications, the testing and the registration, so you can see the whole job in one place before you decide.
Questions people ask
Is it legal to drive a left-hand drive car in the UK?
Yes. Left-hand drive cars are legal to register and drive in the UK. The car does need a few changes to suit UK roads, such as headlights that dip the right way, a speedometer that reads in mph and a rear fog light, and we do that work in-house.
Will my window tint have to come off?
Often, yes, on the front. UK law requires the front windscreen to let at least 75% of light through and the front side windows at least 70%. Heavy front tint that is normal in the Gulf usually falls short of that, so it has to be removed.
Can I insure a left-hand drive car in the UK?
Yes. Insurance is available for left-hand drive cars. Tell your insurer the car is left-hand drive and an import when you ask for a quote, so the policy covers the car you actually own.