Foreign Drivers in the UK

It is not possible for the Court to endorse foreign driving licences and you will therefore be summonsed to Court for the matter to be dealt with at Court. Any penalty points that have been imposed by the Court are stored on a record held at the DVLA. These points will count towards ‘totting up’ and if you later exchange your foreign driving licence for a UK driving licence they will appear on your new licence.

Drivers who hold an EU licence
If you have a full and valid driving licence, which has been issued in an EU country you may be able to drive in the UK on this licence. If the licence remains valid in the issuing country then you will be able to use the licence to drive in the UK until you are 70 years of age, or for three years after you have become a resident, whichever is the longer period. At this point, you should then exchange your driving licence for a full GB licence. You should complete form B1 available from post offices.

Drivers outside of the EU
If you have a full driving licence, which has been issued outside of the EC, you can drive in the UK on this licence for a period of 12 months.

If you are a resident in the UK beyond this period you will need to exchange your licence for a full GB licence in the following countries:

• Australia
• Barbados
• British Virgin Islands
• Canada
• Falkland Islands
• Hong Kong
• Japan
• Monaco
• New Zealand
• The Republic of Korea
• Singapore
• South Africa
• Switzerland
• Zimbabwe

If you do not exchange your licence before the twelve-month period runs out, you will not be able to drive and you could be convicted of driving otherwise in accordance with a valid driving licence.

If you hold a driving licence issued in a country other than those listed above, you must take a UK driving test to obtain a full GB licence if you intend to drive after the initial twelve-month period. You must obtain a GB provisional licence before booking a driving test.

If you are a vocational driver from an EC country you must register with the DVLA within twelve months of becoming a resident.

In our experience the best way to discuss and consider any defence of your case is to telephone us on our freephone number 0800 32 888 46. Our telephones are manned by driving defence experts throughout the day, evening and weekends including bank and public holidays.

If you wish to contact us via e-mail, please complete the online enquiry form and we will contact you immediately.