Driving in Europe: UK licence holders living in the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland
Driving licence exchange and rules for drivers living in the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland.
UK and European driving licences
If you move to an 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 a local 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 will not be able to exchange it for a local licence in the country where you are living. You maltwill have to apply for a local 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 without taking a test.
After 6 months you can no longer use your UK licence to drive in 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 Jersey, Guernsey or Gibraltar, 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 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 exchange your licence without taking a test. You must exchange your UK licence within 6 months of becoming a resident in Cyprus.
If you became resident in Cyprus before 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 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, you can 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 in Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man, you can 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.
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
This guidance also applies to driving licences from Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man.
If your UK driving licence was first issued before 1 January 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 do not need to take a driving test.
You can only exchange your licence if it is due to expire within 6 months. If you do not have a valid reason to request an exchange, your application will not be processed.
If your UK driving licence was first issued on or after 1 January 2021
Your licence will be recognised for 1 year from the date of issue of your residency permit (carte de séjour). If you intend to stay in France for longer than 1 year, you must exchange your UK licence for a French licence during this initial 1-year period. You do not need to take a driving test.
Germany
You must exchange your UK driving licence for a German one within 6 months of moving there. You will not need to take a driving test to exchange your licence. Your local Bürgeramt can tell you where to exchange your licence.
Living in Germany before 1 January 2021
If you were living in Germany before 1 January 2021, you must exchange your driving licence for a German one to continue to drive in Germany. You will not need to take a driving test to exchange your licence.
Greece
If you hold a valid UK or Gibraltar driving licence you can drive in Greece without restrictions.
If you hold a Jersey, Guernsey or Isle of Man licence, you should contact the competent Greek Directorate of Transport and Communications (in Greek) in the area of your residence to find out what you must do to drive legally in Greece.
Hungary
You can exchange your 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 will need to take a test to exchange your licence. If your licence was issued before 1 January 2021, you can continue to use your valid UK licence until 31 December 2022. All other valid licences can be used for a period of 12 months from becoming a resident in Italy.
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
You can convert your licence without having to take a test. You must convert your licence within 1 year of becoming a resident in Luxembourg.
If you became resident in Luxembourg before 31 December 2020, you must convert your licence by 31 December 2021.
Malta
You can use your UK driving licence for up to 12 months from the date you last entered Malta. After then you must hold a Maltese driving licence.
Until 28 February 2022, you can exchange your UK, Jersey, Guernsey and Isle of Man driving licence without taking theory and practical tests.
The UK and Maltese governments continue to negotiate long-term arrangements for the exchange of driving licences without the requirement for a test.
If you need to drive in Malta, you should not wait for the outcome of these negotiations to exchange your licence.
If you hold a licence from a UK Overseas Territory, contact the British High Commission for help with exchanging your licence.
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 2022. If you are resident in Portugal, you should exchange your UK driving licence by 31 December 2022.
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. You must exchange your UK licence for a Slovak one within 60 days of completing 185 days of 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 28 February 2022. 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 Europe
You must check the rules for driving and living in different European countries and follow any local laws.
Last updated 31 December 2021 + show all updates
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