Guidance
Driving in the EU: UK licence holders living in the EU
Driving licence exchange and rules for driving in EU countries.
UK and EU driving licences
If you live in the EU, you will not be able to renew your driving licence in the UK.
Consider exchanging your UK driving licence for an EU 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 may not be able to exchange it for an EU licence. You may have to apply for an EU licence and 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
You can exchange your licence without taking a test. You must exchange your UK licence within 6 months of becoming a resident in Austria. If you became resident in Austria before 31 December 2020, you must exchange your UK licence by 1 July 2021.
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 the Isle of Man, you may need to take 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 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
You can continue to use your licence until 1 January 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 France.
Germany
You can exchange your licence without having to take a test. You should exchange your UK licence for a German one within 6 months of becoming resident or by 30 June 2021, whichever is later. You may need to take a test if you hold a licence from Gibraltar.
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
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.
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 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
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 continue to use your licence until 1 July 2021. From 1 July 2021, you will need to take a test to exchange your licence. Consider exchanging your licence 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.
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.
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. If 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 and before 2 September 2021.
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 1 July 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.
