Theory online - Countries we have driving licence exchange agreements with (designated countries)

The interactive website that partners The Car and Motorcycle Theory Test book

Buy a Copy Now Car Learners Marking Sheets Your road to a full licence Getting Started Before you go out on the road Starting to Drive The Car Theory Test Applying for the Theory Test Sitting the Theory Test Sitting the Hazard Perception Section of the Theory Test Are Your Ready for the Practical Driving Test Applying for the Practical Driving Test The Day of the Driving Test Car Drivers Show me Tell Me Questions and Answers Show Me questions for Car Drivers Tell Me questions for Car Drivers Now You're on the Road Motorcycle Learners Your road to a full Motorcycle licence Getting Started Before you go out on the road Compulsory Basic Training The Theory Test Applying for the theory test Sitting the Theory Test Sitting the Hazard Perception Section of the Theory Test Training for your practical motorcycle test Applying for the Practical Motorcycle Test The Day of the Motorcycle Test FAQs FAQS for Learner Car Drivers FAQs for Learner Motorcyclists Hazard Perception Forms and Downloads Information Licences INF28 - Driving a Minibus INF29 - Minimum Test Vehicles INF30 - Requirements for Towing Trailers in Great Britian INF32 - Wheelclamping and removal of vehicles without tax INF34 - Exemption from Vehicle Excise Duty for Historic Vehicles INF38 - Driving in Great Britain (GB) as a visitor or a new resident Licences from Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man INF46 - Registration Numbers and You INF55 - SORN Statutory Off Road Notification - A guide for motor traders INF94 - Customer service guide for drivers with Medical Conditions INF95 - A general guide to Driving Licences

Countries we have driving licence exchange agreements with (designated countries)

You can exchange your driving licence from the following countries:

Australia, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Falkland Islands, Faroe Islands, Gibraltar, Hong Kong, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland and Zimbabwe.

Visiting Great Britain

If you are visiting GB and normally live abroad, and you hold a full ordinary licence from a designated country, you can drive any type of vehicle that:

weighs up to 3.5 tonnes;
has no more than eight passenger seats; and
is shown on your licence;

for up to 12 months from the date you last came into GB, whether or not you brought the vehicle into GB. If you hold a full vocational licence from a designated country, you are only allowed to drive lorries and buses that are registered outside GB and you have driven into GB. If you have a Gibraltan licence you can also drive lorries and buses registered in GB.

Coming to live in Great Britain

Ordinary licences

You can drive small vehicles for 12 months from the time you started living in GB. To continue driving you must get a GB licence before the end of the 12 months. You do this by exchanging your licence for a GB one. If you do not do this you must stop driving. You can apply to exchange your licence at any time within five years of starting to live in GB.

Vocational licences

You cannot drive medium-sized or large vehicles or passenger-carrying vehicles until you have passed the relevant GB driving test. If you hold a full Gibraltar vocational licence you can drive these vehicles for 12 months and can exchange a valid vocational licence within five years of starting to live in GB.