- The validity of your foreign driver’s license depends on the reason for your stay, as well as the country where it was issued.
- Tourists can typically use their foreign driver’s license for up to a year while in the UK, however, getting an international driving permit (IDP) might be a good idea for licenses issued in a foreign language.
- Driver’s licenses issued in a member state of the EU or EFTA are valid in the UK up until the age of 70.
- Permits from the EU/EFTA, the Channel Islands, and a number of designated countries can also simply be exchanged for a British license.
Can you buy car insurance for UK drivers in USA? FREE Car Insurance Comparison. Here's what you need to know. Your UK Driver License will be accepted for a limited period of time in the US. You might be able to find a specialty company that will consider your driving history from the UK and factors it in when calculating premiums. Any person with a valid driving licence issued in their country of origin is permitted to drive in the United Kingdom for at least 12 months. After this period, you will need to exchange your documents for a UK licence, or pass the DVSA’s UK driving test.
The validity of your driver’s license depends on the country where it was issued as well as the planned duration of your stay. In quite a few cases, your existing license from your home country will remain valid for a limited time, and you’ll be able to legally drive in the UK.
Please note that the following information only applies to Great Britain, i.e. England, Scotland, and Wales. There are separate regulations for driving in Northern Ireland, which you can find later in this article, and on the website of the Northern Ireland government services.
The minimum age for driving cars and motorbikes is 17 years old (16 years old for mopeds). If you want to get a vocational license required for driving buses or trucks, you will need to contact the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) for more information. The same also applies if you have any health issues or medical conditions that might interfere with your driving ability.
Original Driver’s License from an EU or EFTA Country
If the driver’s license you are currently using was issued in a member state of the EU or EFTA, the following regulations apply to you:
- If you are visiting Great Britain and intend to stay less than 12 months, continue to use your current license.
- As a resident of the UK, you can keep using your license for three years after you become a resident or until your 70th birthday (whichever is the longer period).
- If you received your current EU/EFTA license in exchange for a license from a non-EU state, this is a special case and you may only use it for up to 12 months.
- As a European and a resident of Great Britain, you can also exchange your current license for a British driver’s license.
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A Special Case: Northern Ireland
As mentioned above, the regulations for driver’s licenses in Northern Ireland are different from the rest of the UK. Still, drivers from Northern Ireland do not have much to worry about. These are your options:
- You can exchange it for a full British driver’s license immediately.
- Or you can continue using it until it runs out, then apply to renew it as a British driver’s license.
Original Driver’s License from the Channel Islands and Designated Countries
Driver’s license or permits from Jersey, Guernsey, and the Isle of Man are not considered fully equivalent to a British license. If your driver’s license was issued there, you have the following options:
- If you are visiting Northern Ireland and intend to stay less than 12 months, you can continue using your current license.
- If you are a resident of the Channel Islands and Designated Countries, you can continue to use your license for 12 more months after receiving residency. You can also exchange it for a British license within the first five years of your stay, provided the original license is still valid.
The same rules apply if your driver’s license was issued in a so-called “designated country”. In November 2016, the list of designated countries included Andorra, Australia, Barbados, the British Virgin Islands, Canada, the Falkland Islands, the Faroe Islands, Hong Kong, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, South Korea, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland, and Zimbabwe.
Original Driver’s License from Any Other Country
If your original driver’s license was issued outside of the EU/EFTA and not in a designated country, the following conditions will apply to you:
- If you are a visitor and intend to stay less than 12 months, continue using your current license.
- As a resident of Great Britain, you can keep using your existing license for a year after becoming a resident. You will then need to apply for a provisional driver’s license and take a theoretical and practical driving test.
Regardless of whether you are a tourist or a resident in your first year, if your original driver’s license is not in English it might also be a good idea to get an international driving permit (IDP).
Note that you will need to get this in the same country that issued your original driver’s license. This permit includes translations into multiple languages and ensures, in combination with your foreign license, that officials around the world are able to easily identify what types of vehicles you are permitted to drive.
How to Exchange Your Driver’s License for a British Driving License
To exchange your license, you must meet the following conditions:
- You must be a resident of Great Britain, i.e. have lived for at least 183 days at a permanent address in the country between April 6 and April 5 the following year (the tax year). You also qualify if your only home was in the UK and you spent at least 30 days there in the tax year.
- Your foreign license must still be valid.
- You must be willing to surrender your old license to the DVLA.
- If you are from Japan or South Korea, you need to provide a certified translation of your old license. Please contact the Japanese or Korean Embassy in the UK for further information.
If you are eligible and want to exchange your previous driver’s license for a British one, you need to submit the documents listed below to the DVLA by mail (you will find the address on the application form):
- A completed application form D1 from the DVLA
- Your foreign driver’s license
- Any other documents you might need (such as ID, proof of a legal change of name, etc.)
- 43 GBP in licensing fees
You should receive your new British driver’s license within three weeks. Please remember that you are not allowed to exchange an international driving permit.
Also keep in mind that if your foreign license is only for automatic vehicles and you would like a British license that is valid for manual transmissions as well, you will need to pass an additional driving test.
If you’re still unsure if you can use your non-GB driver’s license in Great Britain, you can take this quick and simple test.
If you have a driving licence issued outside the UK and plan to stay here for more than 12 months, you may find the rules governing your entitlement to drive somewhat complex. Additional requirements need to be understood if you have to obtain motor insurance.
Read our guide to driving in the UK with a non-UK licence – and make sure you stay within the law.
I already have a licence - am I allowed to drive in the UK?
Any person with a valid driving licence issued in their country of origin is permitted to drive in the United Kingdom for at least 12 months. After this period, you will need to exchange your documents for a UK licence, or pass the DVSA’s UK driving test.
Bear in mind to drive a car legally in the UK you must be at least 17 years old – and at least 21 years old to drive a lorry or a bus.
If you have a European Union (EU)/European Economic Area (EEA) licence
Holders of a licence issued in EU/EEA nations can drive in the United Kingdom until the document expires. You won’t need to retake your test or exchange your driving documents. But once you turn 70, or three years after you become a UK resident (whichever is the longer of the two), your licence will expire.
I exchanged my non-EU licence for an EU licence – where do I stand?
You're permitted to drive in Great Britain for a year, before you will need to take and pass the DVSA driving test. If you do not take the test, you will not be allowed to drive.
I have an exchangeable international driving licence...
You're allowed to drive in the United Kingdom for a year if your licence was issued in Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey, Isle of Man or a ‘designated country’.
Designated countries are those whose driving test standards are considered comparable to those of the UK. These countries are: Australia, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Falkland Islands, Faroe Islands, Hong Kong, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland and Zimbabwe.
Once the 12-month period has elapsed, you can exchange your licence for a UK licence without having to sit the DVSA test. However, you must do this within five years of obtaining UK residency.
I have a non-exchangeable international driving licence...
Even if your licence was issued in a non-EU/EEC/designated nation, you are nevertheless permitted to drive in the United Kingdom for one year. You will then need to apply for a provisional UK licence, then sit and pass the DVSA driving test in order to continue driving. Lessons are not mandatory, but could be useful in ensuring you pass first time.
You do not need this to drive in the United Kingdom, but if your original licence does not feature an English translation you may find it useful in proving to the authorities that your licence is valid.
What if I only have a non-UK provisional licence?
In this situation, you must apply for a provisional UK licence to drive in the UK. You can then take the test after six months.
Whether you are staying in the UK long-term or just for a few days, you are required by law to have car insurance. A hire car will include insurance cover in the fee.
The three types of UK car cover are:
- Third party (only covers damage to other vehicles and property – not your own)
- Third party, fire and theft
- Comprehensive
What if I bring my own car to the UK and it has been insured overseas?
You should automatically have third party cover. Check with your insurer to make sure.
Is it expensive to get UK motor cover with a non-UK licence?
If you do need to obtain UK car insurance and you have a non-UK licence, you may well find it extremely costly to take out cover.
Many cover providers ignore any no claims bonuses accrued overseas, even if you have driven for many years in your own country without any incidents.
It’s a good idea to exchange your licence for a UK licence as soon as is permissible. For those with a non-exchangeable international licence, you will eventually need to take the UK’s DVSA driving test. This can be done once you've lived in the UK for six months.