A Comprehensive Guide to Exchange Your Foreign Driving Licence in the UK

If you have recently moved to the UK for higher education or work, you will need to make arrangements for your transportation from home to college or workplace. Now, even if you have a valid foreign driving licence, it will be of no use in the UK after a certain period. Since your stay will be longer than that, you must take steps to convert your licence to drive in the UK.

The solution to the problem is to exchange the foreign licence. How will you do that? This blog will answer the question. We will take you through all the processes and guide you through the ways to convert or exchange your licence for a UK one.

How Long Can You Use Your Foreign Driving Licence in the UK?

The UK has certain rules and regulations for foreigners who move to the UK. Let’s take you through a few rules for foreigners who have recently moved to the country:

A. The First 12 Months – Driving as a Visitor or New Resident

The UK allows foreigners with a valid driving licence to drive in the UK for up to 12 months from when they become a resident in the UK. The key requirements include: 

➤ The vehicle you can drive

➤ The licence is valid and in date

➤ You must be of the appropriate age to drive in the UK with a foreign licence, Northern Ireland, or other parts of the country

Post 12 months, you need to take a theory test and a practical test to keep driving in the UK on a foreign licence. To appear for the test, you need to have a provisional driving licence. Once you pass the driving test, you will get a full UK driving licence. 

B. For EU/EEA and Swiss Citizens

Suppose you have a valid European Union (EU) or European Economic Area (EEA) country, or Switzerland licence. In that case, you are allowed to drive in the UK until the expiry date of the licence or until you reach the age of 70. Additionally, if you become a UK resident at the age of 67, you can drive with your existing licence for three years before exchanging it for a UK driving licence or an EU driving licence. 

C. Driving Licence from Designated Countries

The UK has bilateral agreements with several countries, including Australia, Canada, and South Africa. Citizens from these countries are allowed to convert their driving licenses to a UK one without a driving test. The only condition is that they must apply within 5 years of becoming UK residents. So, if you have an Australian licence, which is considered a licence from a designated country, you must apply for an exchange within 5 years after becoming a UK resident. 

D. Residents of Jersey, Guernsey, and the Isle of Man

If you are a resident of Jersey, Guernsey, or the Isle of Man, you need to exchange your driving licence for a UK licence without taking a driving test. The condition here is that your licence was issued on or after April 1, 1991. You can use your original driving licence for up to 12 months for driving in UK on a foreign licence after you become a resident. 

E. For All Other Countries

If you are from a country other than the ones listed here, you can continue to drive with your foreign licence in the UK for the first 12 months with your existing licence. After that, you must exchange your licence. To obtain a UK licence, you must pass both a practical test and a theory test. To attend the test, you need a provisional driving licence. 

F. For Residents of Northern Ireland

For those who have decided to reside in Northern Ireland, the rules to exchange your foreign licence are slightly different from the other parts of the UK. The driving licence may be exchanged for a Northern Ireland one following these steps: 

➤ Get the correct application form (DL1)

➤ Gather your essential details

➤ Check the application fee

➤ Complete and send your application

All these will help you exchange your licence for a Northern Ireland one.

Can an International Driving Permit UK (IDP) be Used Instead of Exchanging to Drive in the Country?

You can use an International Driving Permit in the UK, but that is not a replacement for a foreign licence. In fact, an IDP is considered valid only when it is present along with the original driving licence. Take a look at how it works: 

➤ Non-English licences – If your licence is not in English, the IDP provides a helpful translation that is useful during police checks or while renting a car. 

➤ Driving temporarily – You can drive in the UK using your foreign driving licence, along with an IDP, if necessary, up to 12 months after you become a resident.

➤ Not a permanent solution – It is necessary to exchange your driving licence after 12 months to continue driving in the country.

Which Country’s Driving Licence Can Be Exchanged in the UK?

• Monaco
• New Zealand
• Republic of Korea
• Republic of North Macedonia
• Singapore
• South Africa
• Switzerland
• Taiwan
• Ukraine
• United Arab Emirates
• Zimbabwe

That brings us to the main question: how to exchange your foreign driving licence for a UK one? The following section will explain the process.

​​How to Exchange Your Foreign Driving Licence for a UK One?

If you are from a designated country, you can exchange your foreign driving license without taking any tests. The national driving licence exchange process is straightforward. However, you need to follow the steps correctly to avoid delays. 

The following are the steps you need to follow to get your driving licence in the UK: 

A. Step 1: Check Your Eligibility 

Before you start the process, you need to check if you meet all the criteria: 

➤ You are a resident of Great Britain

➤ You have a valid licence from a foreign country

➤ You are exchanging a foreign driving licence for a car or motorcycle

➤ You are not disqualified from driving for any reason

➤ The 5-year rule states that you must exchange your driving license within 5 years of becoming a resident. Waiting any longer will mean that you have to take the driving test in the UK.

B. Step 2: Get the Right Application Form

Find the right application form. You need the D1 application form, and you can get it from: 

➤ Most larger post offices

➤ Ordering it online for free from the gov.uk website

C. Step 3: Gather Your Essential Details

This is the most important part of the entire licence exchange process. You need to collect and send all the following items: 

➤ The completed D1 application form

➤ The original foreign driving licence. Do not share photocopies; share the original licence as the Driver and Vehicle Agency will keep it.

➤ You need to submit your proof of identity. For most non-UK nationals, this acts as their Biometric Residence Permit (BRP). You need to send the original BRP card.

➤ A passport-sized coloured photograph of driving licence holders is necessary for a driver’s licence in the UK.

➤ You need to pay an application fee of £43 by cheque or postal order to DVLA for a successful application. The fee can change. Check the gov.uk website for the latest updates before writing a cheque.  

D. Step 4: Important Point: What if Your Licence Is Not in English?

If your current licence is not in English (for example, it is in Polish Language), it is necessary to sign up with a translation service provider to translate it into English. You need to follow all the rules and regulations for translating the licence. Hiring a professional translator will ease the process and help you apply for a UK driving licence faster. 

The DVLA does not accept a simple word-to-word translation. They need a certified translation of your driving licence. It can only be provided by an accredited translation company. The document must include: 

➤ Confirmation of the accuracy of the translation from the translator

➤ The date of translation

➤ Full name and details of the translation company

E. Step 5: Complete and Send Your Application

Once you have all the necessary documents and a translated driver’s licence, you complete and send the application:

➤ Fill out the D1 form carefully. Pay attention to the section on ‘exchange a foreign driving licence UK.’

➤ Gather all the documents and put all of them in a secure envelope.

➤ It is highly recommended that you send it using a tracked and insured postal service. 

➤ Send it to the address given in the D1 form.

F. Step 6: What to Expect

Once you send the form, you need to wait. Here’s what to expect after you send the form:

➤ Generally, it takes up to 3-4 weeks to process your application.

➤ Your BRP card will be sent back to you separately. Don’t panic if you don’t receive it on the same day you get your new licence. 

➤ You will get your new UK driving licence via post. 

The driving licences issued by the DVLA will allow you to drive in Great Britain. However, there’s one more point that you need to take into consideration before driving a car in the UK: car insurance. 

The following section will take you through the importance of car insurance in the UK and the challenges you might face. Also, if you are curious about how Translating a Restricted or Provisional Driver’s Licence works and how to use them, do read our blog. 

Navigating UK Car Insurance: A Crucial Step for Foreign Drivers

You cannot drive in the UK without car insurance. The first thing is to see if you are able to exchange your licence for a UK one, pass a driving test, and apply for a licence within 12 months. 

The next step is to apply for car insurance. But the challenge here is that UK insurance premiums are calculated based on risk. Since the companies will not have any data on you driving in the country, they will automatically classify you as high-risk. As a consequence, it will lead to: 

➤ High insurance rates

➤ Limited options

The solution? Ask for your driving history from outside of the UK from your previous insurance provider. It will help you prove yourself to be a safe driver and can help you get major discounts. 

However, ensure the details are in English. If they are not in English, avail driving licence translation services to translate and present it to the insurance company.

Endnote:

You can use your driving licence in the UK for 12 months after you arrive. Post 12 months, you will not be allowed to drive in the UK on a foreign licence. To drive in the UK, you must exchange your foreign licence for a licence in the UK. For drivers from non-designated countries, it is necessary to apply for a UK provisional driving licence for foreigners and pass the UK theory and practical driving tests. However, the driving test does not apply to designated countries.

The solution is to exchange your international licence for a UK one as soon as possible if you wish to drive your car in the UK. Follow the process and ask for help from professional translators to translate your licence into English, if necessary.