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Foreign licence holders
If you hold a valid driving licence form any of the European Community and European Economic Area countries you can drive in GB on your foreign licence until aged 70 or for three years after becoming resident, whichever is the longer period, after which the licence must be exchanged to a GB licence. This is a straight forward exchange and does not require a driving test. For more details go to the DirectGov website.
If you hold a valid driving licence from one of the designated countries (Gibraltar, Australia, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Falkland Islands, Faroe Islands, Hong Kong, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland and Zimbabwe), you can drive small vehicles for 12 months from the time you became resident. To ensure continuous driving entitlement a GB licence must be obtained before this period elapses, by exchanging your licence for a GB one. If you do not do this you must stop driving although you may apply to exchange your licence at any time within five years of becoming resident. For more details go to the DirectGov website.
If you are a driver from any other country not mentioned above and provided your licence remains valid, you can drive any category of small vehicle shown on your licence for up to 12 months from the time you became resident. To ensure continuous driving entitlement a provisional GB licence must have been obtained and a driving test passed before the 12-month period elapses. If you obtain a provisional licence during this period, you are not subject to provisional licence conditions e.g. displaying 'L' plates or being supervised by a qualified driver or being precluded from motorways.
However, if you do not pass a test within the 12-month concessionary period you will not be allowed to drive as a full licence holder and provisional licence conditions will apply. If you do not apply for a provisional licence within the first 12 months you must stop driving and obtain a British provisional licence with a view to passing a driving test. Provisional licence conditions will then apply.
For more information on applying for a provisional licence click here. You can apply for a provisional driving licence by completing the D1 application form that is available from the DVLA form ordering service or Post Office branches. The current cost of a first provisional driving licence is £50.
You will have to pass both the theory and hazard perception test and the practical driving test to obtain a full GB licence. Please look at the tests page for more information and advice on both tests.
Once you have passed the theory test it is advisable to get a few hours of professional instruction before attempting the practical test. Book your lessons in good time before your test to ensure you have the opportunity to practice the things your instructor has advised you to improve. There may be some difference in the way you drive in your own country or you may have developed some driving habits that would not be acceptable on a GB test. Please look at the tests page for more information and advice on both tests. Recommended minimum of 2x 2 hours.
Please Contact us for further information.