Which Countries’ Driving Licence is Valid in the UK?

Which Countries’ Driving Licence is Valid in the UK?

If you’re an overseas healthcare professional who is looking to relocate to the UK for a new role, one question you might have is: will my driving licence be accepted in the UK?

This blog will hopefully answer this question for you and make the prospect of driving in the UK a little less daunting.

To start with, you must be at least 17 years old to drive a car in the UK. If you’re the holder of a foreign driving licence and need to change it to a UK one, there are certain conditions in place that’ll need to be considered when you apply. You may need to re-take your driving test too. Find out more here on the GOV.UK website.

Driving licences from other countries that are exchangeable

You can drive in the UK for up to 12 months on a licence issued in a ‘designated country’. These countries include:

·       Andorra

·       Australia

·       Barbados

·       British Virgin Islands

·       Canada

·       Cayman Islands

·       Falkland Islands

·       Faroe Islands

·       Hong Kong

·       Japan

·       Monaco

·       New Zealand

·       Republic of Korea

·       Republic of North Macedonia

·       Singapore

·       South Africa

·       Switzerland

·       Taiwan

·       Ukraine

·       UEA

·       Zimbabwe

After the 12 months, you must then exchange your licence for a UK one to keep on driving here. You can exchange your licence up to five years after becoming a UK resident (if it hasn’t already expired) without having to retake your driving test – this same rule applies if you have a driving licence issued in the Isle of Man, Gibraltar, Guernsey, and Jersey.

Do you need car insurance if you have a non-UK licence?

Even if you’re only planning on driving occasionally, having car insurance is a legal requirement in the UK. The minimum legal requirement is third party insurance – this is when you’re covered if you have an accident and cause damage to another person, animal, vehicle or property. To find out more, visit: www.admiral.com.

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