If you are just visiting UK you should be fine to use your foreign driving license to drive a car in the UK. On the other hand, if you came here and you are a resident (have permanent address, stay at least 185 days a year in the UK and intend to stay for at least 2 more years), you might want to exchange your license to the UK one.
Driving in Great Britain (GB) on a licence issued in a European Community/European Economic Area (EC/EEA) country
A valid community licence issued on the strength of a driving test within the EC/EEA, will allow you to drive in GB for a set period. Alternatively, you can exchange your licence for a British licence. Quick tip: Great Britain (GB) + North Ireland (NI) = United Kingdom(UK) ;)
EC/EEA member countries
Provided your licence remains valid you may drive in GB:
Car, motorcycle driving licence holders (ordinary driving licence):
- Until aged 70 or for three years after becoming resident, whichever is the longer period
Lorry, minibus, bus driving licence holders (vocational driving licence):
- Until aged 45 or for five years after becoming resident, whichever is the longer period
- If you are aged over 45 (but under 65) until your 66th birthday or for five years after becoming resident, whichever is the shorter period
- If you are aged 65 or over for 12 months after becoming resident
In order to continue driving after these periods, you must get a British driving licence.
Driving in Great Britain (GB) on a licence issued outside EC/EEA area
If you are the holder of an ordinary driving licence or a valid international driving permit, you can drive any category of small vehicle (up to 3.5 tonnes) shown on your licence. You will be able to drive for up to 12 months from the time you became a resident or up to 12 months from the date of coming to GB if you are a UK visitor. To ensure continuous driving entitlement a provisional GB licence must have been obtained and a driving test(s) passed before the 12-month period elapses.
Why should you change your foreign driving license to the UK one?
- UK driving license can be used as a proof of identity/signature and/or address. It has similar value to International ID cards, however, you cannot use your driving license as a identification proof in airports and some other places, so make sure you double check if it is accepted or not!
- Most companies offer cheaper car insurance for full UK driving license holders
- You must change your license if you are from EC/EEA member state aged 70 or for three years after becoming resident, whichever is the longer period
- You must change your license if you are from any other country after 12 months of staying in the UK
Things to note
- You will NOT get your old driver license back after you exchange it into the UK one!
- You will NOT need to pass UK test if you are eligible for exchange, you just fill in the form, pay and you can enjoy your new license
- You will NOT be able to change your license back into your foreign one! In most cases you will need to pass a driving test in your home country again
- You will NOT lose your accumulated driving experience on record, your new license will have the original pass date from your old license (great for getting cheaper car insurance)
How to exchange your foreign driving license to the UK one
If you are from EC/EEA member state OR: Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man
- Complete the application form D1, available here or from Post Office® branches
- Enclose original identity documentation confirming your identity
- Enclose one passport sized colour photograph
- Enclose the fee of £50.00, cheque or postal orders made payable to ‘DVLA, Swansea’
- Enclose your current driving licence (this will be returned to the issuing licensing authority)
- Send your completed application to DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1BT
- Your new driving licence will normally be issued within 15 working days from the day the DVLA receives your application
If you are from Northern Ireland
Same as for EC/EEA, but:
- If you have a paper licence or your name has changed on your photocard licence you will need to enclose original identity documentation confirming your identity.
- No fee is required.
If you are from Gibraltar or a Designated Country
You can only exchange your current driving licence for up to five years from when you become resident, provided your licence remains valid. Follow same procedure as for EC/EAA countries AND note:
Japanese or Republic of Korea driving licences
Your Japanese or Republic of Korea driving licence will need to be accompanied by an official translation. They are available for a fee from:
- The Consulate General of Japan at 101–104 Piccadilly, London, W1V 9FN or 2 Melville Crescent, Edinburgh, EH3 7HW
- The Embassy of the Republic of Korea, 60 Buckingham Gate, London, SW1E 6AJ
South African driving licence
Your South African driving licence that is a part of a book of life, will need to be accompanied by a letter of authority from the South African licensing authority. The licence part will be stamped to confirm the exchange and the book will be returned to you. If you are exchanging your South African photocard driving licence, this will be returned to the South African licensing authority.
Canadian driving licence
When exchanging your Canadian driving licence you will only be able to drive automatic vehicles. To be able to drive manual vehicles, you will need to provide acceptable proof from the issuing authority or an approved driving school showing that a manual car test was passed.
Any other country
- You will not be able to exchange your driving licence for a British one, however, you will be able to drive in Great Britain (GB) on your full, valid driving licence for up to 12 months from the time you first become resident
- You will need to stop driving once the 12 months are over
- If you wish to continue driving in GB you will need to get a GB provisional driving licence and sit a theory and practical driving test.
Visiting another country with your UK driving license
You may use your UK licence for driving in other European Community/European Economic Area [EC/EEA] member states. However, you should note that while the minimum age for driving a car in GB is 17 individual member states may apply their own age restrictions for entitlements. Check with a motoring organisation if you want to drive in a non-EC/EEA country. They will advise you whether you need an International Driving Permit.
International driving permit
An international driving permit (IDP) is a formal document issued to visitors to another country which translates details of a driving licence into several languages, enabling foreign authorities to interpret the driving entitlements held, their validity periods and the identity of the holder. They are issued by the Automobile Association (The AA) and Royal Automobile Club (RAC).
To get an IDP, you must be resident in GB, have passed a driving test and be over 18 years of age. The fee for a permit is £5.50.
UPDATE
Now you can use a new interactive tool to check if you can exchange your license to the UK one, just follow the link here.
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I have another question for all you people…..
My missus had a South African licence which expired. She eventually went back to SA ro get it renewed and now got it back. However, heres the question, weve been residing in the UK for more than 5years. Can she still exchange it? (She hasnt been driving for a while as work was walking distance from home)
Hi Clive, yes, as long as her licence is still valid she should be able to exchange it.
Hi Admin, would love some more help and advice on this please. She did apply for the UK licence and just got a reply today, whereby they are rejecting her application on the grounds that she’s been here longer than 5 years. Any advice please?
Hello Admins,
I have been searching for an answer to my question through the entire internet and I had multiple contacts with the DVLA and my home Ministry of Transportation but I can’t seem to get an answer. I have a Greek driving licence which was stolen here in the UK. I am a resident and I work here so going back to Greece to get a new licence is out of the question. The DVLA won’t issue a new licence if I do not have the old one or some kind of paper to verify that I hold a licence, on the other hand the ministry of transportation in Greece won’t release such document to me as I am a private citizen and they only provide such documents to agencies. Is there any possible way for me to get my licence again? It is quite important for my work.
Thank you in advance for your time.
Kind Regards.
Hi Miko, I would suggest contacting your embassy to ask whether they have any process in place for lost/stolen documents as they should. To be honest I believe that the ministry of transportation in Greece do not have any reason for not issuing you another licence if it got stolen regardless of whether you are resident or not.
Hi
Can you please advise… I was disqualified in 1996 , I think , and have been in cyprus since.I understand I shudve been consulted as to what to do to get my licence back,but maybe as I was out of the country it got lost…. anyhow.I’m now back in the UK for most of my time,and was wondering if someone could tell me how I can get my licence back. Will be appreciated. Andrea
Please contact your local DVLA
Dear Mr and Miss Admin,
You’ve got a very helpful website!
I’ve got a Belgian driving licence (issued in 2004). In the expiry date box is says “permanent”. Do you know if I changed it for a UK licence this would be permanent or need to be renewed regularly?
I am thinking of doing this because I often have trouble with getting ID’ed (in shops for tobacco for example) and they don’t accept my Belgian driving licence as ID.
I’ve never been done for speeding or anything else traffic related. Are the fines different for UK residents who have UK licence or EU licence ?
Sorry two question in one post, hope that’s ok – thanks in advance for any guidance you can offer!
Kind regards
Eric
British license will be valid for 10 years, it will not be permanent. But it can be later extended again, and again… In terms of fines I believe they are the same
Hello,if i lost my latvian driver licence in uk-its possible to change here in uk and if yes than what i need to do? Thanks…
Hi Raitis. Unfortunately, for this you will need to contact Latvian Embassy asking what the process would be or go back to Latvia and apply for a new one. Even though all European driving licences are valid in the UK and can be easily exchanged for the British one, you cannot obtain it unless you have your original one present.
Hello
I am british and 64 years old. I was banned for drink driving years ago and even though my ban period is over, the DVLA will not return my licence unless certain medical tests are completed. I want to continue driving in the UK, so can I use my foreign Thai driving licence to drive for 12 months, if say I leave the UK (go to France for example) and enter the UK again? Normally I have permanent residency in the UK but it’s not clear what is meant by “you can drive for 12 months starting from when you become a UK resident”
Thanks
If you spend more time in the UK than anywhere else it will NOT re-set your time if you go somewhere else and come back I am afraid. “You’re normally a resident if you have a permanent address in Great Britain that you’ve lived at for at least 185 days.”
Good day,
I am living in the UK and my South African license card has expired, I would like to exchange it for a UK license, so I was wondering if the DVLA will except an official confirmation letter from South Africa, stating that the license ids invalid and only the photo card has expired.
Please get back to me if you are aware of the processes
Kind regards
Arthur Cooper
You can exchange your driving licence up to 5 years after becoming resident in the UK so long as your licence remains valid. – I believe being valid includes being within the expiry date… If you visit your local DVLA office they might make you an exception, but only maybe
Hello,
I was wondering if I can still exchange my Canadian license for the UK automatic license after more than 5 years living in the UK?
Many thanks
You can exchange your driving licence up to 5 years after becoming resident in the UK so long as your licence remains valid. – Looks like not I am afraid, but you can always consult DVLA ;)
Dear Admin,
I m a visiting Scientist from France coming into the UK for one year. I just got an insurance for a car and I m going to buy the car tomorrow. The insurer told me that the addresses of the car and that of the driver license were different and that it could be an issue. I m not resident in the UK, and I cannot change the address on my French driver license, how can I respect the UK law? What I can do? thanks
Sincerely,
Caroline
As long as your insurance are insuring you – you will be fine! I have no clue how can they say “it could be an issue”?! They either insure you or not
Hi mr/ miss admin
I have been looking for answer for my question and I hope you will help me to find the correct answer.
I visited United Kingdom 2 times before as a student in 2010 for 8 months and in last year for 10 months and I left uk in July 2013 .each time in different vise (all tier 4 student ) In first time I used to rent a car . Second time I haven’t because I didn’t understand the role .now I’m currently student (new teir 4 visa )and I came with new visa I entered in August 2013 . The question is CAN I drive for 12 month with international licence ?
Thanks for your help
And your time
https://www.gov.uk/non-gb-driving-licence
Dear Admin.i am 39.i hold EU full driving license B,C categories.i want to start learning C+E(HGV class 1) in the UK.what i have to do at first?changing my EU driving license yo UK?or can apply at once for provisional UK driv,license for HGV class 1?and can i learn having EU(B+C cat) and provisional UK driv.license(HGV class 1) in one time?Thank you.
I do not know the requirements for C + E (if you need to have C already or not). Give a call to DVLA and they will be able to help you. You can use EU and UK provisional at the same time, please note that provisional UK license has many restrictions!
I got a UK provisional and theory test. I’m going to South Africa for three months can I take a test in South Africa and exchange it when I come back?
No, you cannot take theory test in one country and pass your driving in another! However, you can do both tests in South Africa and exchange your full license to UK later
Hi… I’m a duel citizen UK and South Africa I will be going to South Africa for about three months . if I do my driving in South Africa will I be allowed to change it to British one ?
You can exchange your driving licence up to 5 years after becoming resident in the UK so long as your licence remains valid. The fee is £50.
Hi!I would like to exchange my hungarian driving license to the UK one.Until Im waiting for the uk one can i drive?or I have to wait until i will receive?and i have to call my insurance company about the changes?thankyou
I would not recommend to drive while your license is being exchanged. IF you are stopped you need to bring your license within a week or so while exchange might take up to a month, so if you are stopped early in the process you will get in to a biiig trouble. It is always good practise to keep your insurance company updated.
Good evening
I would like to transfer/exchange my B and C license from Czech Republic and 6R (restricted bike) license from New Zealand.
Is it better to do it at the same moment, will it be cheaper? And actually is it possible?
Thank you.
Sorry Bob, I have no idea if this is possible. I am sure you will NOT be able to use a standard exchange process and you need to contact DVLA to help you out in this case.
Hi there.
I’m South African, I am married to a British national. My visa status is currently being challenged at the high court as the UKBA gave an unfair decision on my spouse visa. My wife’s only transport to work and back is myself, we literally have no other option. My wife didn’t get her GCSE’s and she has now been offered a managerial position where she works, if she loses this chance, she won’t get it again. My 12 month allowance on my S.A license is up and I need to exchange it but the dvla say because I’m not a citizen, they won’t exchange it. Is this correct? I’ve been living in the country since May last year.
I desperately need help!
Hi,
Even though you are not citizen, you are still a resident. As per Gov.uk, if you have a full, valid license issued in South Africa – “You need to exchange your licence after 12 months – you have 5 years since you became resident to do this.” Please note one thing: You can no longer use an old South African book of life-style licence or letter of entitlement to drive in the UK as a visitor or exchange these for a UK licence. You must have a new, valid, credit-card style licence or a letter of entitlement to one.
If you have a new style license, you will be able to exchange it. Read more here
Hello, I’m just thinking about exchanging my EU driving licence for the UK one. While reading questions and answers I’ve seen the one asking about Canadian driving licence. Is that a rule for all driving licence that they can be exchanged up to 5 years after becoming resident or is it only for Canadian automatic one as I understand? I’ve been in UK more than 8 years now. Thank you
Hi,
For Canadian licenses: “You can exchange your driving licence up to 5 years after becoming resident in the UK so long as your licence remains valid. The fee is £50.
You can drive automatic vehicles only – to drive manual vehicles you need to prove that you passed a manual car test.”
5 Year rule applies to many countries: Andorra, Australia, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Falkland Islands, Faroe Islands, Hong Kong, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland, Zimbabwe.
Please note that you are NOT allowed to drive with your Canadian license in the UK anymore as 12 months already passed.
Hi,
I have Polish (EU/EEA) driving license is it still 5 years rule?
Thank you
Hi,
I have an Irish driving licence which is valid until 2018. I have been living in Northern Ireland for just over 3 years now. I’m not sure whether i’m required by law to exchange my licence (as in, is my insurance technically invalid right now?) or if it is just highly advisable to exchange it now?
The reason I don’t want to exchange my irish licence to a northern irish (uk) licence is because I plan on returning to Ireland in a years time. It’s alot of hastle to get passport photos, send off my original passport, ID’s etc. paying £60, and so on.
Thanks in advance
Seb
You can drive in Great Britain on your full, valid driving licence until you’re 70. No law requires you to change it.
Hello,
I have a valid EU (Lithuania) driving license. It is due to expire end of the this year. I am a resident in the UK for 9 years, but I didn’t drive in the UK. I would like to change my EU license to UK one. Two years ago I got married and changed my last name (now different to the one on my current EU driving license) – would it be sufficient for me to send the certified copy (with oficial transaltion to English language) of marriage certificate along with my current passport (with my new name)?
Also I understand the “5 year” rule does not apply to me (EU license), is this correct?
I would very much appreciate the prompt response.
Thank you in advance
Hi Irina, to exchange your license it has to be in your new name. You will either have to contact Lithuanian embassy or change details while you are back to Lithuania before your current license can be changed to the full UK license. Regarding the 5 year rule you are right, it does not apply to you.
Hi,
A question, i have a cypriot licence can i drive a bus in uk without to change it?
You can drive in Great Britain on your full, valid licence until you’re 45, or for 5 years after you become resident in Great Britain (6 months in UK), whichever is longer. If you’ve over 45 but under 65 you can drive for 5 years or until you are 66, whichever is shorter.
I’m a Canadian who now resides in the UK. For the past year I have been driving legally in the UK on my Canadian License with valid UK insurance at a rate of approx £1500/year. I recently received a renewal request for year 2 of my uk insurance at a rate of approx £900/year, still on my foreign license. I was advised to renew insurance and then contact when I had exchanged/upgraded my license as required after 1 year of driving on my Canadian License. I followed these instructions and exchanged my license for a UK Automatic only DL and then upgraded to a full UK DL. The issue I am having is that since I notified my insurance company that I now possess a full UK license they are now not only saying that my insurance rates have not decreased but rather increased to over £2000 per year! I have been driving manual transmission vehicles for over 17 years and have never even had a speeding ticket. It makes zero sense to my why I would be charged more for insurance for simply following the rules and upgrading my license. They are now treating me as a new driver and it seems like no one I speak to has ever dealt with my situation before and I am being penalized because of some technicality? I am wondering if anyone else has encountered this same bizarre situation and has any advice for me. Many thanks.
Hi,
This does not sound right at all. Not only your rate should go down, but also you should get no claims discount of one year if you did not have any accidents in the first year. The best suggestion would be to switch your insurance provider to someone else who do not have ridiculous ways of generating quotes. For the matter of interest, what is your current insurance provider? If you need some advice, Good insurers are NFU Mutual or LV=. If you are really careful driver, Admiral will probably give you the lowest quote of all three, but they are the hardest to deal with in case of accident – it will be sorted, but will cause more pain than the other two. I would give all three a ring and see what quote they will give you and make a decision later. All the best!
Hi,
My friend had a Slovakian Hgv class C licence and has changed it for a British license. The company he is working for has told him he has to sit two modules before he can drive again for them as he does not have the acquired rights to drive Hgv in the UK. Can you advise please?
Hi, this could be companies internal policy for employee safety… Check the back on the British License, does is say category C? If it does, looks like everything went fine and I really cannot help you here… need to ask the employer for the reasons.
When I came to UK I was not 18 years old so, I did not get an international licence. I have been living in UK for 3 years and now I will be 18 in january. Can I still drive on international license for 12 month after I get an international licence ?
It depends on the country it is issued. If it is issued within the EEA country, then yes.
Hi i am from south Africa and i am living in the uk now and my driving license have expired can some one plz help me out
You need to contact local South African embassy to get your license extension
Hi Admin,
I have sent my foreign Driving license for an exchange, I just found out they are ready to exchange and now the application is in the medical department which can take upto 4-6 week to get processed. My question is can I drive till the time I get my British driving license?
Thanks
No, you need to wait until you get it because if you get stopped by the police you will have 2 weeks to bring your license in, so if it takes longer you are risking to get into serious trouble.