Which Countries' Licences Are Valid in the UK?

The United Kingdom recognizes and accepts valid driver’s licences issued by all EU/EEA member states, some European countries, and a few other select countries. These include:

European Countries

– Austria
– Belgium
– Bulgaria
– Croatia
– Cyprus (except for North Cyprus)
– Czech Republic
– Denmark
– Estonia
– Finland
– France
– Germany
– Greece
– Hungary
– Iceland
– Ireland 
– Italy
– Latvia
– Liechtenstein
– Lithuania
– Luxembourg
– Malta
– Netherlands
– Norway
– Poland
– Portugal
– Romania
– Slovakia
– Slovenia
– Spain
– Sweden
– Switzerland
– USA (only if you have an International Driving Permit; this is available from the American Automobile Association)

Non-European Countries

In addition, several countries not in the EU/EEA have agreements with the UK that allow their driving licences to be exchanged for a British licence. These countries include:
– Australia
– Barbados
– British Virgin Islands
– Canada
– Falkland Islands
– Faroe Islands
– Gibraltar
– Hong Kong (for licenses issued before July 1997)
– Japan
– Jersey
– South Korea
– Malaysia
– New Zealand
– Singapore
– South Africa
– Taiwan.

If you hold a valid driving licence from one of the countries listed above, you can legally drive in the UK for up to 12 months. After that, you will need to exchange your licence for a UK one if you wish to continue driving in the UK.

Who Needs To Take The British Driving Test?

If you have a licence from any other country not listed above, then it is not valid in the UK, and you will need to take a full British driving test to obtain a UK driving licence. Check out this mock theory test to prepare for your UK driving test.

Note: This does not apply to licences issued in Northern Cyprus, which cannot be exchanged for a UK licence. If you hold a valid driving licence from Northern Cyprus, you must take the British driving test to obtain a UK driving licence.

You Must Comply With All Driving Laws In The UK

It is important to note that even if your licence is valid in the UK, you must still comply with all other relevant driving laws. This includes any rules on the type of vehicle you can drive, age restrictions, and other legal requirements for driving in the UK.

You should also be aware that if your licence expires or is revoked for any reason while in the UK, you will need to surrender it and obtain a UK licence or face legal consequences.

Check Before You Drive

It is your responsibility to check whether your country’s driving licence is valid in the UK, and you should always make sure that you are familiar with all relevant laws before driving in the UK.

Conclusion:

In summary, if you are from a European country or select other countries like Australia, Canada, and Japan, you may be able to exchange your licence for a UK one. However, if your driving licence is not from any of these countries, you must take the full British driving test to obtain a UK driving licence. It is important to check the relevant laws before driving in the UK and be aware that if your licence expires or is revoked while you are there, you will need to surrender it and obtain a UK licence.

For more information, it is recommended that you contact your local authorities for more specific information regarding the validity of foreign driving licences in the UK, any other requirements, and related laws.

Source:

https://www.gov.uk/driving-nongb-licence
https://www.gov.uk/exchange-foreign-driving-licence