To buy a vehicle you'll need an address where it will be registered. There are no immigration requirements for buying a vehicle in the UK.
You can buy a second-hand vehicle through a local dealership, which may mean you get a warranty. Another option is buying second-hand from a private owner, which is usually cheaper, but can be more risky, especially if the warranty on the vehicle has run out.
Vehicles need to pass a test called an 'MOT' every year. If the vehicle has problems, they may tell you that you need to get these fixed before it can pass. The MOT is necessary before you can get tax for a vehicle.
All vehicles need to be taxed and insured. If you don’t have both tax and insurance, you will receive an automatic fine.
If you do not plan to use your vehicle and want to store it off road, you will need to inform the DVLA.
All vehicles need to be taxed and insured. If you don’t have both tax and insurance, you will receive an automatic fine.
The minimum level of insurance is called ‘third party’, which will cover expenses if you have an accident causing damage to other people or other people’s vehicles,
At a petrol station, you can pay for fuel at the pump if there is a card reader. Before you fill up, insert your debit or credit card, and enter your pin. You can then fill your car and leave.
If there is no card reader, you will need to fill your car first. Leave your car parked where it is, look to see what number your pump is, and then go into the petrol station. Tell the cashier the pump number, and then pay.
You can use this fuel cost calculator to estimate how much a particular journey will cost.
If you’re involved in a vehicle accident that has caused damage or injuries, here is what you need to do.
The law says that you must stop as soon as it’s safe to do so, even if it seems like a small accident.
Turn off the engine, and then turn on your the car’s hazard lights to show other road users that they need to be careful
Check whether you or anyone involved in the accident are injured. If there’s a medical emergency, call 999.
Dial 999 on a phone to speak to the emergency ambulance, police or fire services.
999 calls are free and you do not need credit on your phone.
Yes. If you can't speak English, try saying the word ‘help’ in your own language, or say the name of your language. Stay on the line and don't hang up. The operator will try to identify your language and connect you to an interpreter service.
If there is someone nearby who can speak English it may be best to try and show them what has happened and get them to call.
Call 999. After you have connected, press ‘55’ on your phone. You will be transferred to the police. They will ask you simple yes or no questions, which you can respond to by tapping number buttons on your phone.
If you're using the Relay UK app, type the 999 button. If you're using a textphone, call 18000. You'll then be connected to a Relay Assistant. Tell them which emergency service you need.
The emergencySMS service is for people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have speech impairments, letting them send SMS messages to 999. You need to register with this service before you can use it.
If the accident is blocking the road, dial 999 and ask for the police.
Dial 999 on a phone to speak to the emergency ambulance, police or fire services.
999 calls are free and you do not need credit on your phone.
Yes. If you can't speak English, try saying the word ‘help’ in your own language, or say the name of your language. Stay on the line and don't hang up. The operator will try to identify your language and connect you to an interpreter service.
If there is someone nearby who can speak English it may be best to try and show them what has happened and get them to call.
Call 999. After you have connected, press ‘55’ on your phone. You will be transferred to the police. They will ask you simple yes or no questions, which you can respond to by tapping number buttons on your phone.
If you're using the Relay UK app, type the 999 button. If you're using a textphone, call 18000. You'll then be connected to a Relay Assistant. Tell them which emergency service you need.
The emergencySMS service is for people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have speech impairments, letting them send SMS messages to 999. You need to register with this service before you can use it.
Give your name and address to the other people who were involved. The law requires this, but you don’t have to give your phone number.
Ask for their name and address. If they won’t tell you, dial 101 on your phone to speak to the police.
If you have hit a parked car and the owner isn’t there, write your details on a piece of paper and slide this under the windscreen wipers so they can find it.
At this stage, it’s usually best not to admit that the accident was your fault. The police or insurance companies will decide that later.
If possible make a note of the following:
If there are other witnesses, you could ask for their contact details now.
You should report the accident to the police within 24 hours if you couldn’t exchange contact details with the other driver, or if anyone was injured. You can do this online, or at a police station.
If you want to make an insurance claim, contact the insurer as soon as you can. If there is very little damage, such as a small mark or scratch, you might not want to make an insurance claim.
You must have a valid drivers licence, a valid MOT certificate for your vehicle, vehicle insurance and vehicle tax.
You can check whether your licence is valid using this tool:
All vehicles drive on the left hand side of the road, and all speed limits are in miles per hour. Everyone in a car must wear a seatbelt, and the law requires that young children must be in a child seat by law.
You can read the full rules of the road here:
There are schemes that offer discounted or free travel for people with disabilities.
Most public transport is accessible to wheelchair users, but it’s best to contact the travel company before travel to check if your planned journey will be possible and to reserve a space.
Transport for West Midlands offer advice for people travelling with accessibility needs, including free accessibility products.
If you have a disability you might be able to get a travel card. This will give you free or discounted travel on public transport.
If you’re travelling by taxi, tell them when you book if you will need a wheelchair-accessible taxi. If you can't get out of your wheelchair, the taxi needs to have a ramp and restraints to hold the wheelchair while driving.
You may need to contact a few different taxi companies, as not all of them will have a suitable vehicle available.
Most buses are accessible to wheelchair users, with featuers such as a low floor, ramps, and dedicated wheelchair spaces. But this does vary by area and the specific bus route, so you may want to contact the bus company before you travel to make sure.
There is support available at train stations for people with mobility needs, or who need help with luggage or getting around the station. This is called the 'Passenger Assist' service. The facilities at each station varies, so it's best to book this in advance.
Many coaches are accessible to wheelchair users, with lifts, ramps and dedicated wheelchair spaces. But it's safest to contact the coach company in advance to check if this is available, and to reserve a space. If you use a powered chair, be ready to tell them the dimensions and weight of the chair, as there may be restrictions.
Coach companies probably won’t accept mobility scooters unless they can be folded up.
Many areas have community transport schemes which help people who have difficulty using public transport. These schemes might include a minibus or volunteer drivers.
This is a national scheme that lets people with mobility problems park close to where they need to go. Often you will be able to park for free, but not always.
The Blue Badge lets you park for a limited time in some areas where it's normally not allowed, such as on double yellow lines. But there are still some places where Blue Badge holders aren't allowed to park, including bus lanes, taxi bays, and areas where loading or unloading isn't allowed.
A disabled parking bay is a reserved area on the road for people who have a Blue Badge. If you would like to have a disabled parking bay near your home, you can apply through your council.
You can borrow mobility aids like walking sticks and wheelchairs from the NHS. Speak to a GP or hospital staff about your needs.
The Red Cross also let you borrow or rent mobility aids.
Shopmobility also rent mobility aids out for people to do shopping or visit leisure facilities in a town or shopping centre.