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.
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.
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.
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.
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