If you have moved to the UK from another country or are visiting or studying here, you may be wondering whether you are allowed to drive using your foreign driving licence.
Unfortunately, there is no single set rule for how long you can drive in the UK for, it will come down to which country you have moved from or are visiting from and where you obtained your driving licence.
Here, we look at the rules and regulations so you can know for definite whether you are safe to drive in the UK, or if you need to change your licence.
Can I use a non-GB driving licence in the UK?
The good news is, you can use a non-GB driving licence in the UK. However, there are strict rules that you must adhere to in order to do so.
These include knowing the different licence types that are available in the UK, and making sure that you only drive the vehicles that correspond to the licence you obtain. There are age restrictions as well. In this country, you must be at least 17 years of age to drive a car or motorbike and may also need to be 24 and over to drive some buses or lorries dependant on their weight and if you have a Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC). And, of course, you will need at least third-party insurance before you can get behind the wheel.
If you become a resident of the UK, you will not need to register your licence straight away; however, when applying for a UK licence you must declare where your original licence was obtained to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). You will also need to inform your insurance provider of your licence’s origin from the first day you drive in the country to ensure you are legally covered.
The UK government website has a portal whereby you can check if you are eligible to drive in the country by simply inputting your details. But, please note that if you are thinking of driving in Northern Ireland, the rules are slightly different as they are governed by the Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA).
Which countries’ driving licences can be used in the UK?
If you have moved from a country within the EU or the EEA, you can drive in the UK until your licence expires. If you’re younger than 67, your EU licence will also be invalidated when you turn 70 years old, but if you’re 67 or older, you will have three years on the licence before it must be exchanged.
Note that you can exchange your licence for a UK one anytime you want if you’d prefer to do this before your EU or EEA licence expires.
If you got your licence in one of the following ‘designated countries,’ you can drive on your licence for up to 12 months from the date you become a UK resident and can then exchange your licence without taking a theory or practical driving test in the UK:
- Andorra
- Australia
- Barbados
- British Virgin Islands
- Canada
- Cayman Islands
- Falkland Islands
- Faroe Islands
- Hong Kong
- Japan
- Monaco
- New Zealand
- Republic of Korea
- Republic of North Macedonia
- Singapore
- South Africa
- Switzerland
- Taiwan
- Ukraine
- United Arab Emirates
- Zimbabwe
If you are from any of the following islands, the designated ruling also applies to you:
- Gibraltar
- Guernsey
- Isle of Man
- Jersey
If you passed your driving licence in a non-designated country, you will be able to drive in the UK for up to 12 months on your licence. However, after this, you will need to apply for a provisional licence and pass the UK theory and practical tests.
How to exchange a foreign driving licence for a UK licence
If you are a resident of the UK, you may be able to exchange your driving licence. In order to do this, you will need to fill out a D1 application form (or D9 for larger vehicles if you are registering an EU/EEA licence for a UK driver number without an exchange) and send it with your original driving licence, proof of identity (such as a passport or nine digit number from your biometric passport on the D1 form) and pay the fee to the DVLA.
This process can take around three weeks to complete, but it’s worth noting that you must be a UK resident to apply, which normally means you live in the country for at least 185 days in each calendar year.
If you are from the European Union (EU) or the European Economic Area (EEA) you will not need to retake a driving test to exchange your licence and can generally continue to drive in the UK until it expires (subject to age requirements). If you have moved from a country on the designated country list, you can only drive for up to 12 months on a foreign licence from the date you became a UK resident. If you are in the latter group, you have up to five years to exchange your licence for a UK one without taking a UK driving test, but you must stop driving once the initial 12-month period ends until your UK licence is issued.
How long can you drive in the UK with a foreign driving licence?
You are able to drive for up to 12 months from the day you enter the country using a foreign driving licence, no matter whether you’re from the EU, EEA, a ‘designated country’ or anywhere else on the planet.
However, if you are from a country outside the EU, EEA or designated country list such as the USA, Nepal or Bangladesh, you will need to apply for a provisional licence for when your 12-month period expires before taking the theory and practical tests.
You may be required to use an international driving permit (IDP) alongside your foreign driving licence or domestic licence. If you need an IDP to translate your driving licence you must purchase one from your home country before you travel. UK residents planning to drive abroad can purchase one from a PayPoint store for £5.50.
Can you rent a car in the UK with a foreign driving licence?
Yes, you can rent a car in the UK, but there are a few things you should make a note of. You will need to provide your original plastic driving licence card from your home country when renting a vehicle in the UK, will need to have been driving for at least 12-24 months and will need to be at least 21 years of age. If your licence is not in English, you will also need an IDP.
Driving insurance when in the UK
When driving in the UK you will need to ensure you have car insurance that works for you. Sterling offers cover for non-UK residents to help you get the cover you need.
Call us on 0344 381 9990 for a quick, no-hassle quote or book a callback at a time that suits you.