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Q417: I have a foreign non-EU driving licence, how long can I drive on it in this country?

Answer

VISITING GREAT BRITIAN
Ordinary licences
While your full licence or driving permit is valid, you can drive vehicles weighing up to 3.5 tonnes, and with up to eight passenger seats, for up to 12 months from the date you came to Great Britain.

Vocational licences
If you hold a vocational licence, you can only drive large vehicles which have been registered outside Great Britain and which you have driven into Great Britain.

BECOMING RESIDENT IN GREAT BRITIAN
Ordinary licences
While your full licence is valid, you can drive any type of small vehicle shown on your licence for up to 12 months from the time you became resident in Great Britain. To continue to drive after this you must pass a GB driving test before the 12 month period ends. If you get a GB provisional licence during this period, you will not have to display 'L' plates or be supervised by a qualified driver, and you will be able to drive on motorways. If you do not pass a test within the 12 month period, you will not be allowed to drive as a full licence holder and the conditions of a GB provisional licence will apply. If you do not apply for a provisional licence within 12 months, you must stop driving and get a GB provisional licence – the conditions of a GB provisional licence will then apply – see Q357: I am going to act as the supervisor for a learner driver. What are my basic legal responsibilities and those of the learner? You can apply for a provisional licence online via the link below:

Apply for your first provisional driving licence

Vocational licences
You cannot drive large vehicles until you have passed the relevant GB driving test. You must pass a car driving test before applying for provisional entitlement to drive larger vehicles as a learner.

If you continue to drive after the periods stated above you will be committing an offence and your vehicle could be seized.

EXCHANGE DRIVING LICENCES
You can exchange a valid driving licence from any of the following countries:
Andorra, Australia, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Faroe Islands, Gibraltar, Hong Kong, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Republic of Korea, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland, Taiwan, Ukraine, UAE and Zimbabwe.

Notes:

  • If your driving test was not passed in a designated country, you will not be able to exchange it.
  • If you have an EU or EEA licence by exchanging one from a designated country, it will only be valid in GB for 12 months. However, you can exchange your EU or EEA licence for a GB licence.
  • If you have an EU or EEA licence by exchanging one from a country that is not a designated country, it will only be valid for 12 months and you cannot exchange it for a GB licence.

Visiting GB
Ordinary licences
If you are visiting GB and normally live abroad, and you hold a full ordinary licence from a designated country, you can drive any type of vehicle that:

  • weighs up to 3.5 tonnes
  • has no more than 8 passenger seats
  • is shown on your licence

You can use your ordinary licence for up to 12 months from the date you last came into GB, whether or not you brought the vehicle into GB.

Vocational licences
If you hold a vocational licence from a designated country, you are only allowed to drive lorries and buses that you have driven into GB and have been registered outside of GB.

Licences issued in Gibraltar
If you have a licence from Gibraltar you can drive lorries and buses registered in GB.

Becoming resident in GB
Ordinary licences
You can drive small vehicles for 12 months from the time you became resident in GB. To continue driving you must exchange your licence for a GB one before the end of the 12 months. If you do not do this you must stop driving. You can apply to exchange your licence at any time within 5 years of becoming resident in GB.

Vocational licences
You cannot drive medium-sized or large vehicles (lorry), or passenger carrying vehicles (bus), until you have passed the relevant GB driving test.

Licences issued in Gibraltar
If you hold a full Gibraltar vocational licence, you can drive these vehicles for 12 months, and can exchange a valid vocational licence within 5 years of becoming resident in GB.

If you continue to drive after the periods stated above you will be committing an offence and your vehicle could be seized.

You can find out if you can exchange your driving licence via the link below:

Exchange a foreign driving licence

Further information
The following questions may also be of use:

 

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​​The link below explains how you can replace a motorcycle CBT certificate:

Replace a lost or stolen motorcycle CBT certificate - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

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Answer

An LGV is a vehicle that weighs over 3,500 kg (3 and a half tonnes).
 
Drivers will need a different licence entitlement to drive different types of buses, coaches and lorries. Drivers must hold full (not provisional) category B entitlement (car) before they can take an LGV or PCV test . They must also gain a full category entitlement for a vehicle before taking a second test to add the trailer entitlement (+E). No additional entitlement is required to tow trailers that weigh less than 750 kg. If at any stage the driver loses their car licence entitlement, they will also automatically lose their LGV or PCV (Passenger Carrying Vehicle) licence.
 
Every person intending to use a goods vehicle (above 3.5 tonnes) in connection with any trade or business carried out by him, or a Passenger Carrying Vehicle on a road, for hire or reward, must apply to the Traffic Commissioner for an operator licence. The role of Traffic Commissioners is to promote road safety and the safety of the travelling public.
 
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), on behalf of the Traffic Commissioners, maintain the Operator Licensing scheme. DVSA process all Operator Licence applications. The DVSA website includes comprehensive guidance on how to apply and manage licence details, which can now be changed electronically.
 
Further information can be obtained from either the DVLA or the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DSVA).

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Answer

The usual length of time to return a licence is four weeks. If you have still not received your licence back after this length of time you should contact the Central Ticket/Fixed Penalty Office of the police force involved, they should be able to assist you.

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You should inform your insurance company of any penalty points you have received. The details you provide to them form the basis for your insurance quote and subsequent insurance cover. If any of the details change or are incorrect and you do not inform your insurer, it may affect your cover.

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Answer

To hold a licence to drive a moped you have to be 16 years old. To hold a licence for a car you have to be 17 years old, unless you are getting or have applied for the enhanced rate of the mobility component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) in which case the minimum age is 16. To ride a motorcycle you have to be 17 years old.

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Question

Q417: I have a foreign non-EU driving licence, how long can I drive on it in this country?

Answer

VISITING GREAT BRITIAN
Ordinary licences
While your full licence or driving permit is valid, you can drive vehicles weighing up to 3.5 tonnes, and with up to eight passenger seats, for up to 12 months from the date you came to Great Britain.

Vocational licences
If you hold a vocational licence, you can only drive large vehicles which have been registered outside Great Britain and which you have driven into Great Britain.

BECOMING RESIDENT IN GREAT BRITIAN
Ordinary licences
While your full licence is valid, you can drive any type of small vehicle shown on your licence for up to 12 months from the time you became resident in Great Britain. To continue to drive after this you must pass a GB driving test before the 12 month period ends. If you get a GB provisional licence during this period, you will not have to display 'L' plates or be supervised by a qualified driver, and you will be able to drive on motorways. If you do not pass a test within the 12 month period, you will not be allowed to drive as a full licence holder and the conditions of a GB provisional licence will apply. If you do not apply for a provisional licence within 12 months, you must stop driving and get a GB provisional licence – the conditions of a GB provisional licence will then apply – see Q357: I am going to act as the supervisor for a learner driver. What are my basic legal responsibilities and those of the learner? You can apply for a provisional licence online via the link below:

Apply for your first provisional driving licence

Vocational licences
You cannot drive large vehicles until you have passed the relevant GB driving test. You must pass a car driving test before applying for provisional entitlement to drive larger vehicles as a learner.

If you continue to drive after the periods stated above you will be committing an offence and your vehicle could be seized.

EXCHANGE DRIVING LICENCES
You can exchange a valid driving licence from any of the following countries:
Andorra, Australia, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Faroe Islands, Gibraltar, Hong Kong, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Republic of Korea, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland, Taiwan, Ukraine, UAE and Zimbabwe.

Notes:

  • If your driving test was not passed in a designated country, you will not be able to exchange it.
  • If you have an EU or EEA licence by exchanging one from a designated country, it will only be valid in GB for 12 months. However, you can exchange your EU or EEA licence for a GB licence.
  • If you have an EU or EEA licence by exchanging one from a country that is not a designated country, it will only be valid for 12 months and you cannot exchange it for a GB licence.

Visiting GB
Ordinary licences
If you are visiting GB and normally live abroad, and you hold a full ordinary licence from a designated country, you can drive any type of vehicle that:

  • weighs up to 3.5 tonnes
  • has no more than 8 passenger seats
  • is shown on your licence

You can use your ordinary licence for up to 12 months from the date you last came into GB, whether or not you brought the vehicle into GB.

Vocational licences
If you hold a vocational licence from a designated country, you are only allowed to drive lorries and buses that you have driven into GB and have been registered outside of GB.

Licences issued in Gibraltar
If you have a licence from Gibraltar you can drive lorries and buses registered in GB.

Becoming resident in GB
Ordinary licences
You can drive small vehicles for 12 months from the time you became resident in GB. To continue driving you must exchange your licence for a GB one before the end of the 12 months. If you do not do this you must stop driving. You can apply to exchange your licence at any time within 5 years of becoming resident in GB.

Vocational licences
You cannot drive medium-sized or large vehicles (lorry), or passenger carrying vehicles (bus), until you have passed the relevant GB driving test.

Licences issued in Gibraltar
If you hold a full Gibraltar vocational licence, you can drive these vehicles for 12 months, and can exchange a valid vocational licence within 5 years of becoming resident in GB.

If you continue to drive after the periods stated above you will be committing an offence and your vehicle could be seized.

You can find out if you can exchange your driving licence via the link below:

Exchange a foreign driving licence

Further information
The following questions may also be of use:

 
 
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