If you’re considering relocating to the UK, or you’re already living there as an expat, a big part of settling in for many of you will be getting behind the wheel and on the roads—but there are different things to bear in mind depending on your situation.
Whether you’re learning to drive for the first time, or you already have a license from another country, here’s Remitly’s guide to driving in the United Kingdom.
Table of contents
UK driving authorities
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), based in Swansea, is the government agency responsible for the drivers and vehicles themselves in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales). They deal with everything from issuing driving licenses to recording vehicle sales, registrations and taxation.
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is about road safety. They license driving schools and driving instructors, carry out tests to make sure lorries and buses are safe, and run roadside safety checks on drivers and vehicles. They also administer the GB driving test.
The rules are not the same on all UK roads; in Northern Ireland the Driver and Vehicle Agency handles vehicle and driver testing and issues driving licenses.
What you need to get a UK driving license
In the UK, you can start learning to drive mopeds at 16 years old and cars at 17. At 15 years and nine months old, you can apply for the provisional driving license required to start taking lessons.
You’ll need:
- An identity document, like a valid UK or other passport or a national photocard.
- Proof of your permission to live in Great Britain for at least 185 days.
- Proof of the address where you’ve lived for up to the last three years.
- Your national insurance number (if applicable).
- To fill in D1 form and pay the application fee, which is £34 online (click here for step-by-step instructions) or £43 if you send the form by post (forms are available at most Post Offices).
- You must also be able to read a number plate from 20 meters away.
There are separate rules for Northern Ireland, which you can check out here.
Getting your full UK driving license: the test
- When you’ve taken any necessary driving courses and you’re ready for your driving test, you can book it at any approved test center. You’ll have to do a theory test and a practical driving test. You can book your test online in Great Britain, up to 24 weeks in advance. You’ll need:
- To have lived in England, Scotland or Wales for at least 185 days in the 12 months before the day you take your test.
- Your GB driving license number (found on your provisional license),
- A credit or debit card,
- If you’ve taken driving lessons in Great Britain, your driving instructor’s personal reference number.
- For Northern Ireland, here’s the details of all the test centers.
Theory section
In Great Britain, the theory test is in two parts:
- Multiple-choice questions, mainly focused on your knowledge of the Highway Code, followed by
- A hazard perception test, which uses video clips to see if you can identify developing hazards in everyday road scenes.
You can practice both parts online before your real test. If you pass, you’ll get a pass certificate, which will include a test number. You’ll need this to book your practical test. The certificate is valid for 2 years. If you don’t pass your practical test within that time, you’ll have to retake the theory test.
Here’s what you need to know about the theory test in Northern Ireland.
Practical test
In England, Scotland and Wales the practical test lasts about 40 minutes. It’s in five parts:
- An eyesight check,
- “Show me, tell me” vehicle safety questions,
- General driving ability,
- Reversing your vehicle,
- Independent driving.
The test is also about 40 minutes long in Northern Ireland, including a section of independent driving and a sight test. You can prepare yourself for the Northern Ireland test here.
UK driving test prices
The price of your test depends on the type of license you’re applying for, whether you’ve ever been disqualified, and when you want to take it.
For cars, the theory test costs £23 and the standard practical test costs £62 for weekday tests and £75 (£95 in Northern Ireland) for evening, weekend or bank holiday tests.
Check out all the costs here for Great Britain and here for Northern Ireland.
Driving in the UK on a European Economic Area (EEA) or European Union (EU) license
You can drive in the UK on an EU or EEA license. There are different rules depending on whether you’re visiting the UK or living there, and there are also different rules depending on what type of driving license you need. For cars or motorcycles, if you become a resident of Great Britain under the age of 67, you can drive on your EU license until the age of 70. If you are 67 or older when you become a resident, you can drive on your EU license for 3 years.
After that, you’ll need to exchange your license for a GB one. It’ll cost £43 and you won’t have to retake your test.
Again, for Northern Ireland the rules might be different. Check here for information about exchanging your license.
Driving in the UK on driving licenses from non EU/EEA countries
You can drive a car or motorcycle for 12 months on a full license from a country outside the EEA, EU or Switzerland, either as a visitor or for 12 months after you become a resident.
After that, the next step will depend on where you’re from:
- If you’re from a “designated country or territory,” such as Australia, Canada or South Africa, you can exchange your license up to five years after becoming a resident, if it has not expired.
- For any other countries, you’ll need to follow the process to get a UK provisional license and take the tests. Remember, you must be a resident to do this.
Driving in the UK for the first time
Driving in the larger cities in the UK like London, Glasgow or Belfast, might be a bit daunting at first. While things like road signs are usually pretty similar everywhere, there are some different challenges to driving in the UK; they drive on the left, for example, and their vehicles’ steering wheels are on the right.
Consider getting used to UK driving on quieter roads if you can, until you’re settled in. Good luck!
FAQs
To start lessons, apply for a provisional driving license through the DVLA at www.gov.uk (or click here for Northern Ireland). Once you’ve passed your theory test and your practical driving test, you’ll be issued with a full driving license.
Yes, in Great Britain, only if they’re with a DVSA-approved driving instructor in a dual-control car. In Northern Ireland, it is not permitted.
While an IDP is not always essential, it is sometimes required for police inspections or car insurance, especially if your license is not in English. You can drive a small vehicle like a car or motorcycle in the UK for 12 months after you enter the country if you have a full and valid non-GB license, unless you’re from Russia, Iran or Belarus.
Yes, for a year. Then you’ll need to exchange it for a British or Northern Irish license. There’s some specific advice for citizens of the USA here.
