Driving in theEurope: EU: UK licence holders living in the EUEU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland
Driving licence exchange and rules for drivingdrivers living in EUthe countries.EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland.
UK and EUEuropean driving licences
If you livemove into thean EU, country or Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland, you will not be able to renew your driving licence in the UK.
Consider exchanging your UK driving licence for ana EUlocal licence as soon as possible in line with specific advice for your country of residence.
If your UK licence is lost, stolen or expired, you maywill not be able to exchange it for ana EUlocal licence.licence in the country where you are living. You maywill have to apply for ana EUlocal licence and may have to retake your driving test. Please check with the licensing authority in your country of residence if your licence is lost, stolen or expired.
Check the driving advice for the country you live in.
Austria
If you intend to drive in Austria you must exchange your UK licence for an Austrian licence within 6 months of becoming resident in Austria. You can exchange your valid UK licence beforewithout 1taking Julya 2021test.
After without6 havingmonths you can no longer use your UK licence to takedrive ain test.Austria, but can still exchange it for an Austrian one, for as long as it is valid. This also applies to driving licences from Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man.
Belgium
You can exchange your licence without having to take a test. Consider doing this as soon as possible. If you hold a licence from Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey or theGibraltar, Isle of Man, you may need to take a test. See which Gibraltar licences can be exchanged without taking a test.
Bulgaria
You can exchange your licence without having to take a test. Consider doing this as soon as possible. If you hold a licence from Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man, you may need to take a test.
Croatia
You can exchange your licence without having to take a test. Consider doing this as soon as possible.
Cyprus
You can continueexchange to use your licence without exchangingtaking untila 7test. July 2021. You aremust encouraged to exchange your UK licence within this6 periodmonths otherwiseof becoming a resident in Cyprus.
If you maybecame needresident toin takeCyprus abefore test.31 December 2020, you must exchange your licence by 7 July 2021.
If you hold a licence from Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man, you may need to take a test.
Czech Republic
Most drivers can exchange their licence without having to take a test. Consider doing this as soon as possible. If you hold a licence issued by the Isle of Man, you will need to take a test to exchange your licence.
Driving in the Czech Republic.
Denmark
If your UK or Gibraltar photocard licence was issued before 1 January 2021, you can exchange your licence without having to take a test. You need to do this within 180 days of taking up residency in Denmark, or by 30 June 2021, whichever is later.
If your UK or Gibraltar licence was issued on or after 1 January 2021, oryou ifcan only exchange a Category B licence without having to take a test. You must do this within 180 days of taking up residency in Denmark.
If your licence was issued byin Jersey,Guernsey, GuernseyJersey or the Isle of Man, you maycan needonly exchange a Category B licence without having to take a testtest. toYou exchangemust somedo categories.this within 180 days of taking up residency in Denmark.
Estonia
Most drivers can exchange their licence without having to take a test. Consider doing this as soon as possible. If you hold a licence issued by the Isle of Man, you will need to take a test to exchange your licence.
Finland
You can exchange your licence without having to take a test for licence categories A1, A2, A or B. Consider doing this as soon as possible.
France
YouThis canguidance continuealso applies to usedriving licences from Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man.
If your UK driving licence untilwas first issued before 1 January 2022.2021
Your licence is recognised in France for as long as it is valid. Paper licences are usually valid until you are 70. For plastic photocard licences, the expiry date is on the front.
If your UK licence has expired, or has less than 6 months’ validity remaining, you must exchange it for a French licence. You maydo not need to take a testdriving test.
You can only exchange your licence if youit wantis due to exchangeexpire yourwithin licence.6 months. If you holddo not have a valid reason to request an exchange, your application will not be processed.
If your UK driving licence fromwas Gibraltar,first Jersey,issued Guernseyon or after 1 January 2021
Your licence will be recognised for 1 year from the Isledate of Man,issue youof mayyour needresidency permit (carte de séjour). If you intend to takestay in France for longer than 1 year, you must exchange your UK licence for a testFrench licence during this initial 1-year period. You do not need to drivetake ina France.driving test.
Germany
You canmust exchange your UK driving licence withoutfor havinga German one within 6 months of moving there. You will not need to take a test.driving Youtest shouldto exchange your UKlicence. licenceYour forlocal aBürgeramt Germancan onetell withinyou 6where monthsto ofexchange becomingyour residentlicence.
Living orin byGermany 30before June1 January 2021
If you were living in Germany before 1 January 2021, whicheveryou ismust later.exchange your driving licence for a German one to continue to drive in Germany. You maywill not need to take a driving test ifto youexchange holdyour a licence from Gibraltar.licence.
Greece
You can exchange your licence without having to take a test from 1 February 2021. A medical – physical and eye – examination will be required.
Hungary
MostYou drivers can exchange theiryour licence without having to take a test. Consider doing this as soon as possible. If you hold a licence issued by the Isle of Man, you will need to take a test to exchange your licence.
Iceland
You can exchange your licence without having to take a test. Consider doing this as soon as possible.
Ireland
UK and Northern Ireland licence holders’ resident in the Republic of Ireland must exchange their driving licence for an Irish licence. UK and Northern Ireland licences aren’t legal for driving in Ireland. However, they can be exchanged without the need to take a driving or theory test.
Italy
You maywill need to take a test to exchange your licence. If you have been resident in Italy for more than 12 months then you can continue to use your valid UK licence until 31 December 2021. If you are resident in Italy after 1 January 2021 your valid UK licence will be recognised for 12 months from the date you became resident.
Latvia
You can exchange your licence without having to take a test. Consider doing this as soon as possible.
Liechtenstein
Most drivers can exchange their licence without having to take a test. Consider doing this as soon as possible. If you hold a licence issued by the Isle of Man, you will need to take a test to exchange your licence.
Lithuania
You can exchange your licence without having to take a test if you obtained the licence before 1 January 2021. Consider doing this as soon as possible.
Luxembourg
MostYou drivers can exchangeconvert theiryour licence without having to take a test. ConsiderYou doingmust thisconvert asyour soonlicence aswithin possible.1 Youyear mayof needbecoming toa takeresident ain testLuxembourg.
If toyou exchangebecame Categoryresident Cin andLuxembourg Dbefore licences31 inDecember 2020, you must convert your licence by 31 December 2021.
Malta
You can continue to use your UK driving licence untilfor 1up Julyto 2021.12 Frommonths from the date you last entered Malta, or from 1 JulyJanuary 2021, youwhichever willis needlater. toTo obtain a Maltese licence, you must currently take a driving test in Malta.
The UK government is in continued discussions with the Maltese government on the right to exchange youra licence.UK Considerlicence exchangingfor youra local licence aswithout soonthe asneed possible.for a driving test. Licence exchange applications are on hold until an understanding is reached.
If you hold a licence from Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man you may need to take a test.
The Netherlands
You can exchange your licence without having to take a test. Consider doing this as soon as possible.
However, in some cases, you may need to provide a certificate of health that could involve a medical examination.
If you became resident in The Netherlands before 31 January 2020, you must exchange your UK licence by 1 May 2021. If you exchange by this date, you do not need to provide a health certificate. Your UK licence will no longer be valid to drive on Dutch roads after 1 May 2021.
If you became resident in The Netherlands between 31 January 2020 and 13 June 2020, your UK licence is no longer valid to drive on Dutch roads. You must not drive until you have exchanged it for a Dutch licence.
If you became resident in The Netherlands between 13 June 2020 and 15 February 2021, you must exchange your UK licence by 1 October 2021. Your UK licence must have been valid on 14 December 2020 to benefit from this extended validity.
If you became resident in The Netherlands after 15 February 2021, you must exchange your licence within 185 days of becoming a resident.
Norway
You can exchange your licence without having to take a test. Consider doing this as soon as possible.
Poland
You can exchange your licence without having to take a test. Consider doing this as soon as possible.
Portugal
You can continue to use your valid UK licence in Portugal until 31 December 2021. If you are resident in Portugal, you should exchange your UK driving licence by 31 December 2021.
If you hold a licence from Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man, you should exchange your licence within 90 days of registering for residence. You can exchange categories AM, A1, A2, B1, B and BE without having to take a test.
Romania
Most drivers can exchange their licence without having to take a test. Consider doing this as soon as possible. If you hold a licence issued by the Isle of Man, you will need to take a test to exchange your licence.
Slovakia
You can exchange your licence without having to take a test. IfYou you have been resident for over 185 days starting from 1 January 2021, you must exchange your UK licence for a Slovak one within 60 days of completing the 185 days andof before 2 September 2021.residence.
Slovenia
You can exchange your licence without having to take a test until 31 December 2021, or within one year of becoming resident, whichever is longer.
Spain (including Balearic and Canary Isles)
You can continue to use your licence until 131 JulyOctober 2021. You may need to take a test if you want to exchange your licence. If you hold a licence from Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man, you may need to take a test to drive in Spain.
Sweden
You can continue to use your licence until 1 July 2021. After this, you will be able to exchange your UK licence without taking a test.
Switzerland
You can exchange your licence without having to take a test. Consider doing this as soon as possible. If you hold a licence from Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man, you may need to take a test.
Rules for driving in EU countriesEurope
You must check the rules for driving and living in different EUEuropean countries and follow any local laws.
Last updated
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Updated guidance for UK driving licence holders living in Belgium, Bulgaria, Hungary and Slovakia.
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Updated guidance for UK driving licence holders living in Malta.
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Updated guidance for UK driving licence holders living in Austria.
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Updated guidance for UK driving licence holders living in Germany.
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Updated guidance for UK driving licence holders living in France and Spain.
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Updated guidance for UK driving licence holders living in Italy.
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Updated guidance for UK driving licence holders living in Cyprus, Denmark and Luxembourg.
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Updated guidance for UK driving licence holders living in Austria.
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Updated guidance for UK driving licence holders living in The Netherlands.
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Updated guidance for UK driving licence holders living in Portugal.
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Updated guidance for UK driving licence holders living in Sweden.
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Updated guidance for UK driving licence holders living in Portugal.
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Updated guidance for UK driving licence holders living in the EU. Also updated rules for driving in Denmark and Germany.
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First published.
Update history
2024-02-23 09:14
Updated guidance for UK driving licence holders living in Latvia.
2023-12-31 00:01
If you live in Portugal, you can drive on a UK driving licence as long as it is valid provided you have registered it with the Instituto da Mobilidade e dos Transportes (IMT). Alternatively, you can exchange a UK driving licence for a Portuguese one without taking a test.
2023-03-27 13:40
From 30 March 2023, you can exchange a UK driving licence for an Italian driving licence without needing to take a test.
2023-03-16 17:25
New arrangements for exchanging UK and Gibraltar driving licences in Spain from 16 March 2023.
2022-12-30 14:20
UK driving licence holders living in Italy have until 31 December 2023 or 12 months from becoming a resident, whichever is later, to exchange their driving licence.
2022-12-23 09:47
If you live in Portugal you can continue to drive on a UK driving licence until 31 December 2023.
2022-02-28 15:36
UK, Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey and Isle of Man licence holders living in Malta can now apply to exchange their licence at any time.
2022-02-23 11:01
UK licence holders resident in Spain can now continue to drive using their valid UK driving licence until 30 April 2022.
2022-01-14 12:45
UK driving licence holders resident in Italy before 1 January 2022 can continue to drive until 31 December 2022.
2021-12-31 16:10
Updated guidance for UK driving licence holders living in Malta.
2021-12-29 13:56
UK driving licence holders in Spain can continue to drive on their UK licence until 28 February 2022. Guidance for UK driving licence holders living in Greece or Italy also updated.
2021-11-22 10:52
UK driving licence holders in Portugal can continue to drive on their UK licence until 31 December 2022.
2021-10-26 17:49
UK driving licence holders in Spain can continue to drive on their UK licence until 31 December 2021.
2021-09-22 12:13
Updated guidance for UK driving licence holders living in Belgium, Bulgaria, Hungary and Slovakia.
2021-03-29 13:38
Updated guidance for UK driving licence holders living in Portugal.
2021-03-26 12:04
Updated guidance for UK driving licence holders living in Sweden.
2021-01-29 12:19
Updated guidance for UK driving licence holders living in Portugal.