Driving in the UK

Licence (International Driver's Licence)
All drivers must comply with the British minimum age requirements:

• 17 years old for car or motorcycle


• 18 years old for medium-size vehicles


• 21 years old for lorries and buses

Do you have an EU/EEA licence?
If you have received a driving licence in one of the following countries, then your licence is recognised by the EU/EEA:
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Republic of Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Portugal, Slovenia, Slovakia, Spain and Sweden.

Visitors who have a valid licence from their country are allowed to drive in the UK any vehicle stipulated by their licence. Residents in the UK holding a valid licence from their country are authorised to drive in the UK for a certain period of time:

• Ordinary Licence (car and motorcycle) – may drive for three years after becoming a resident. You should register, but do not have to, with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) to notify them of your name, address and driving entitlement.


• Vocational Licence (heavy vehicle driving as an occupation) – may drive for five years after becoming a resident. You must also register with DVLA. For further information, the DVLA can be telephoned on 0870 240 0009. Bear in mind that the UK requires higher visual standards for vocational drivers than in other countries.

If after these periods you want to continue driving in the UK, you will be required to exchange your licence for a British driver’s licence. You will not have to go through an actual UK driving test, but you will have to swap your current licence for a UK one.

Do you have a licence from another country?
Certain conditions set by the British government affect how long you may use your foreign licence in the UK. Visitors with a foreign licence may drive in the UK provided their licence is valid for more than 12 months from the date of entry into the UK.

Residents with a valid foreign licence are allowed to drive for up to 12 months from the time they become a resident. If you wish to continue driving after this period, you will need either to exchange your foreign licence for a British licence or to obtain a provisional UK licence and pass a UK driver’s test before the 12 months is up.

It would be a good idea to obtain an International Driver's Licence if you do intend to drive in the UK. You can get an international licence from the AA for a small fee, provided you have a valid driver’s licence in your possession. Some car hire companies require drivers to present an international licence if they wish to hire a car. So to make things a little easier, you may want to visit your local AA to get this licence. Click here to find your nearest AA.

If you would like to find out whether or not you can drive in the UK if you have a licence issued in another country, please click here.

Applying for your provisional licence
A provisional licence is the equivalent to the learner’s licence that you need to obtain before you can go for your driver’s test. You can apply for your provisional driver’s licence online, in person or via the post. Your application must include original documentation confirming your identity, a colour passport-size photo and the relevant fee for the licence. Find the application forms here, or contact the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) directly at:

• Drivers’ Customer Services (DCS)
  Correspondence Team
  DVLA
  Swansea
  SA6 7JL
  Tel: 0870 240 0009
  Email: drivers.dvla@gtnet.gov.uk
  Website: www.dvla.gov.uk

Exchanging your foreign driving licence
The government will only allow exchange of a foreign driver’s licence for a British one to those who have passed their test in particular countries with whom the British government has an agreement. Nationals with licences from all other countries will have to pass a local driver’s test to obtain a British driver’s licence in order to drive legally on Britain’s roads.

To exchange your licence, all you need to do is fill in an application form (which can be found at the DVLA office, on the DVLA website or at your nearest post office) and send it to DVLA. Your foreign licence will be sent back to the issuing authority and replaced with a British licence. When you return to your country you will be able to exchange your British licence for your original licence.

Those holding a licence for automatic cars will only be able to exchange their licence for an equivalent British licence for automatic vehicles. If you would like to drive a manual vehicle, you will be required to take and pass a manual driver’s test in Britain.

Contact the DVLA to find out if you are able to exchange your foreign driver’s licence for a British licence, or whether you need to take and pass a driver’s test in Britain before being issued a British licence. For more information on driver licensing, visit the government website.